There’s been a lot of talk about choosing the right cloud service offering. However when it comes to the top choices for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platforms Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are leading the way.
Some say that AWS has had an advantage in developing their cloud service since they’ve been the leaders in the market for almost 10 years, yet Azure continues to build on their offerings including their sought after hybrid cloud approach. While there are some basic similarities between Azure and AWS such as easily spinning up a new virtual server, VPN capabilities for private clouds and secure remote access, it’s where they differ that will help you decide which option to choose for your business.
AWS offers tons of application services, deployment options and powerful analytics for data stream processing in real-time. Gartner has estimated that AWS has five times the capacity of the 14 competitors combined, including Azure and Google. Although AWS may take the capacity lead from their competitors, one of the biggest advantages Azure has over AWS is their relationships with users. It’s this long-standing rapport with users, coupled with the close integration with all of Microsoft’s tools, which will provide a shorter learning curve for users since they are comfortable with the look and feel.
There are other noteworthy differences than simply capacity and familiarity. The chart below jumps into a detailed high-level comparison of Azure and AWS. For a more in-depth side-by-side comparison click here.
Similar to considering any new IT solution, the deciding factor often comes down to how much it will cost your business. However, since both Azure and AWS are transparent with their pricing and even offer online price calculators, you won’t find any surprises in the cost department.
There really is no clear cut, easy answer. If you like the familiar look of Azure, how it works hand-in-hand with other Microsoft tools (including ERP and CRM solutions) and its hybrid focus, then Azure may be the right cloud platform for you. However, if you are using Red Hat Linux then AWS is your best and only option.
Ultimately, the best way to decide which cloud is right for you is to figure out your business needs. Once you create your list of needs, evaluate each provider based off the most important criteria to your business. If you still can’t decide, consider doing a free trial or asking an IT professional.
This publication contains general information only and Sikich is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or any other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should you use it as a basis for any decision, action or omission that may affect you or your business. Before making any decision, taking any action or omitting an action that may affect you or your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. In addition, this publication may contain certain content generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) language model. You acknowledge that Sikich shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by you or any person who relies on this publication.
About the Author
Ryan Overtoom
Ryan Overtoom leads the managed hosting and managed services areas, as well as the Network Operations Center team. He directs the implementation of technology solutions that meet the business needs of clients. Ryan has numerous industry certifications including 15 years of experience in the IT industry, and works with clients in various verticals including medical, manufacturing, professional services, government and not-for-profit. He works directly with critical technology services including strategic IT planning, network architecture review and design, hosting, managed services, disaster recovery/business continuity, server and desktop virtualization, application delivery, system reliability and implementation.
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