Blue-Green vs Canary Deployment Strategies Quiz Quiz

This quiz explores the key differences, advantages, and use cases of blue-green and canary deployment strategies in software delivery. Improve your understanding of deployment patterns and discover when and why to use each approach for efficient, low-risk application updates.

1. Blue-Green Deployment Basics

   In a blue-green deployment, what happens to user traffic when deploying a new version of an application?

   1. User traffic is split randomly between all available environments.
   2. All user traffic is switched from the old environment to the new one at once.
   3. User traffic is gradually shifted in 10% increments.
   4. Only internal testers receive the new version first.

   Explanation: In a blue-green deployment, traffic is rerouted all at once from the current (blue) to the new (green) environment. This allows for an immediate switchover with a quick rollback if needed. Canary deployments shift traffic gradually, making option three incorrect. Option two describes random traffic distribution, which is not part of either strategy. Option four refers to phased internal testing, which is not standard in blue-green deployment.

2. Canary Deployment Process

   Which deployment strategy involves releasing a new application version to a small subset of users before making it available to everyone?

   1. Canary deployment
   2. Grey deployment
   3. Rolling restart
   4. Blue-green deployment

   Explanation: Canary deployment means releasing updates to a small group of users first, allowing issues to be identified before a full rollout. Blue-green deployment involves a full switch for all users at once. Grey deployment and rolling restart are terms that may sound similar but do not specifically describe this gradual exposure approach.

3. Rollback Simplicity

   If a new release causes problems and needs immediate rollback, which deployment strategy typically allows for the fastest reversion?

   1. Manual deployment
   2. Canary deployment
   3. Incremental deployment
   4. Blue-green deployment

   Explanation: With blue-green deployment, rolling back is as simple as routing all traffic back to the previous environment, providing very fast recovery. Canary deployment rollbacks may involve re-adjusting traffic splits, which can be slower. Manual and incremental deployments often require additional steps, making them less efficient for instant rollback.

4. Risk Control in Production

   Which strategy is best for detecting issues in a new release with minimal risk to the entire user base?

   1. Canary deployment
   2. Parallel deployment
   3. Blue-green deployment
   4. Direct deployment

   Explanation: Canary deployment exposes a new version to a small user group, reducing the risk to most users while allowing early detection of issues. Blue-green deployment will shift everyone at once, which might affect all users if a problem occurs. Parallel and direct deployments either run side-by-side or update immediately, neither of which specifically manages risk through gradual exposure.

5. Cost Considerations

   Which statement about infrastructure costs in blue-green deployments is true?

   1. Blue-green deployments usually require double the infrastructure temporarily.
   2. They always lower infrastructure costs during deployment.
   3. They eliminate the need for any testing environment.
   4. They never require more than one active environment.

   Explanation: Blue-green deployments need two complete environments—blue and green—running simultaneously during the switch. This can temporarily double costs. They do not necessarily lower costs, as in option two. Option three is incorrect because both environments must be active during deployment. The last option is incorrect, as a testing environment is still recommended.

6. Deployment Pattern Selection

   A business wants to minimize risk and gather feedback from only 10% of users before rolling out fully. Which deployment strategy should they choose?

   1. Canary deployment
   2. Batch deployment
   3. Direct cutover
   4. Blue-green deployment

   Explanation: Canary deployment allows for gradual exposure to a small segment, such as 10%, permitting feedback and risk reduction. Blue-green deployment switches all users at once, and batch and direct cutover do not specifically offer limited, planned exposure like canary does.

7. Traffic Routing

   How is user traffic handled during a blue-green deployment cutover?

   1. Traffic is switched from blue to green all at once.
   2. Traffic changes are limited to internal users only.
   3. Traffic is alternated hour by hour between environments.
   4. Traffic is split evenly between blue and green for weeks.

   Explanation: In blue-green deployment, all traffic is redirected from the blue to the green environment in a single move, making the transition immediate. The other options do not accurately describe the typical process, as gradual splits or hourly alternations are not standard and internal user limitation is not a defining feature.

8. Monitoring and Rollout

   Which deployment approach emphasizes monitoring user experience after exposing a small group to a new release before continuing the rollout?

   1. Canary deployment
   2. Blue-green deployment
   3. Snapshot deployment
   4. Static deployment

   Explanation: Canary deployment specifically monitors early users for issues before expanding the rollout. Blue-green deployment moves everyone at once, which limits focused monitoring on a small group. Static and snapshot deployments are unrelated to this phased, monitored release process.

9. Update Visibility

   In which deployment strategy will some users see the updated version of the application before others?

   1. Blue-green deployment
   2. Canary deployment
   3. Rolling restart
   4. Monolithic deployment

   Explanation: Canary deployments introduce updates to a selected group first, so only some users see changes initially. Rolling restarts do sequential updates but not necessarily by user group. Blue-green deployment switches all users simultaneously, and monolithic deployment typically updates everything at once without gradual exposure.

10. Best Use Case Scenario

    When is blue-green deployment especially preferred over canary deployment?

    1. When gradual feedback and real-time user monitoring are required.
    2. When only specific features need to be tested.
    3. When an immediate, complete switch with simple rollback is desired.
    4. When infrastructure resources cannot be duplicated.

    Explanation: Blue-green deployment excels when a fast, total switchover is needed and rollback must be simple. Canary deployment is better for gradual feedback and targeted monitoring, making option two incorrect here. Options three and four do not align with the strengths of blue-green deployment.