AWS or Azure
Cloud service is the fastest growing industry. The business world appears to be hungry more than ever for cloud computing power.
The two most popular cloud service providers are:
- Amazon’s Web Services
- Microsoft Azure
Both cloud service vendors promise your business efficiency and scalability necessary to take you to new heights. Each vendor is extremely reliable because they pour in lots of resources into the research and development of its cloud-based tech. However, the differences in how the two services work begs the question:
Which cloud service suits your business best between AWS and Azure? To answer the question correctly, we’re going to compare AWS vs. Azure in terms of:
- Cloud infrastructure
- Security offerings
- Hybrid solutions
- Ease of use
Let’s get started.
Introducing the Two Cloud Solutions: AWS and Azure
AWS
Amazon launched AWS in 2006, and it’s the most popular cloud infrastructure across the globe. By 2018, AWS had taken 44.2% of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), with their revenue increasing yearly.
Due to AWS’ long-standing status in the cloud service world — and its size — AWS offers a wide range of services at different pricing options to deliver value for money.
With AWS, your business can tap into services such as:
- Cloud computing
- Data analytic
- Internet of Things Integration
- Robotic
- Virtual reality developments
- Machines learning
AWS is rooted in Linux’s RedHat OS, which provides flexibility when dealing with different machines and operating systems.
Microsoft Azure
On the flip side, we have Microsoft Azure. The cloud solution has a 15% market share — smaller than AWS. Despite the small market share, 90% of Fortune 500 businesses use Azure for their cloud needs.
The business world appears to prefer Azure regardless of its market share, which brings one question into perspective:
How do AWS and Azure compare?
Which Cloud Solution Has an Excellent Cloud Infrastructure?
AWS and Azure offer cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) for virtual computers, networks, machines, and storage. However, businesses appear to prefer Azure’s platform for creating cloud infrastructure.
With Azure’s platform, application developers have tools, environments, and building blocks to deploy new cloud services quickly. More importantly, Azure has the ‘dev-ops’ connections feature that allows management, monitoring, and continuous app development.
In other words, Azure does most of the infrastructure management for businesses, allowing them to focus on other issues.
Which Cloud Solution Delivers the Best Securing Offerings?
AWS uses CU8 security technology on their Relational Database Service, which is relatively strong but outdated. AWS also has a host of internet security add-ons beyond the typical VM security features, including:
- Data management UI’s
- Managed service firewalls
- Encryption at rest
- Virtual network integration and audition
- Authentication
However, the encryption at rest feature in AWS only comes with the enterprise license. What’s more, AWS doesn’t enforce security features like SSL and encryption.
Azure, on the other end, has nearly all the security features a business can need. Instead of using the outdated CU8 security technology, Azure uses the latest CU12 to ensure your application always runs on the latest features.
More importantly, SSL and encryption are security requirements in Azure. Microsoft takes security integration a step further and includes advanced threat detection and data masking capabilities. As a result, businesses rely on Azure cloud security because it guarantees safety for all operations and data on its cloud.
Which Cloud Solution Offers a Better Hybrid Solution?
The hybrid solution suits businesses that aren’t ready or willing to commit to an all-cloud platform. The option allows companies to be more flexible and agile without considering 100% migration.
Both AWS and Azure support a hybrid cloud.
However, while AWS is testing the hybrid waters, Azure has nearly all hybrid capabilities — seamlessly connecting data centers to the cloud. What makes it excellent are features such as:
- Azure Stack — a hybrid program that allows you to build, deploy, and run computing apps across your system
- SQL server support to offer customers using Microsoft database and Azure
- A cohesive host of PaaP and SaaS products — Azure has a superior Platform as a Service (Paas) and when it combines with a SaaS product, creates a seamless hybrid environment
Unlike developing hybrid software on AWS, Azure allows apps to leverage resources in the data center, at the service provider, or within Azure. More importantly, Azure offers a broader range of hybrid solutions that improve performance and usability, such as:
- Cache
- Virtual private networks (VPNs)
- ExpressRoute connections
- Content delivery networks (CDNs)
Which Cloud Service is Easier to Use?
While the difficulty of use is subjective — depending on what your business tries to achieve and how familiar your team is with the cloud infrastructure — many people perceive AWS as complicated.
However, AWS is not literally complicated, per se. The platform has a new feeling and way of software architecture that many people have no experience or knowledge of. As a result, adopting AWS cloud infrastructure has a steep learning curve.
On the other hand, Azure appears to be an extension of the Windows environment that many businesses have been using for years. If your company uses Windows, you’ll have a gentle learning curve with Azure.
More importantly, Azure offers development tools such as:
- Github
- XCode
- Hadoop
- Visual Studio
- Eclipse
You can also use third-party tools, apps, and solutions from the Azure Marketplace.
Which Cloud Service Has the Best Value Overall?
Obviously, the best cloud solution for your business depends a lot on what’s important to you and what you work on most.
For example, if you’re looking for a backup repository or cloud data recovery solution, you’ll appreciate that you can find what you need on AWS fast. However, if you’re after a cloud solution with known products and a scripting language that your IT team has been utilizing for years, you’ll love Azure.
Orion Networks Partners with Both Azure and AWS to Address All Cloud Needs of Your Business
AWS and Azure cloud ecosystems offer countless benefits, including superior compute power, unrivaled security, scalability, and cost-efficacy. While they’re slightly different, the best option for your business depends on what you want to achieve and what matters to you.
Orion network partners with both cloud service providers to deliver diverse cloud solutions for businesses. Contact us today to get cloud services depending on your business needs.
