Which Cloud Platform Should You Choose in 2023: AWS or Azure?

Cloud computing is one of the most ubiquitous phenomena in the IT industry.

For the uninitiated, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services on-demand, ranging from apps to storage and processing power, often via the Internet and on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The most common applications making use of cloud computing are social media apps. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and numerous more social networking sites use cloud computing. Cloud platforms like Azure, AWS, GCP, etc., have made it possible to push the horizons with cloud computing and cater to a larger audience.

This blog will look at AWS and Azure, two of the most high-performing cloud platforms, and understand which suits your project needs best.

TOC:

• Introduction:
• All you need to know about AWS
• AWS Pros & Cons
• All you need to know about Azure
• Azure Pros & Cons
• Conclusion

All you need to know about AWS

AWS provides numerous services (almost anything you can think of under the sun). It is Amazon’s response to deploying DevOps using cloud platforms and dedicated tools and services. By merging AWS with DevOps practices, AWS provides customized services that enable enterprises to design and deliver products more quickly.

AWS enables application development teams to create safe source code quickly using continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD). From Netflix to Salesforce, many companies have used the power of AWS to their advantage.

Despite this, it also has its pros and cons. Let’s look at a few:

AWS Pros

• Most firms claim that their commercial data infrastructures are supported and expanded by reliable and secure data connections through AWS.
• AWS is an excellent choice for many enterprises due to its high-performance capabilities.
• Using AWS, you can customize the programming language, operating system, database, and other assets to develop the best solution for your team.

AWS Cons

• AWS necessitates the formation of a sizable infrastructure team.
• One disadvantage of AWS is that billing becomes (typically) difficult because some services have numerous tiers, different ways to buy things, etc.
• If not used properly, AWS can incur a lot of costs.

All you need to know about Azure

Microsoft Azure is a collection of cloud services tailored to the needs of small to average-sized businesses. It is intended to allow each company to build, manage, and deploy applications on a global network without requiring them to give up their favored frameworks or tools.

There are already over 100 Azure products offered to users, ranging from AI machine learning services to management tools that will provide you with app insights that detect and diagnose issues in your services. When paired with third-party devices and apps, Azure is designed to be your one-stop destination for development.

World-renowned companies such as Asahi, Bridgestone, Daikin, etc., have used Azure at some point.

Let’s look at some of the pros and cons Azure has:

Azure Pros

• Microsoft Azure provides global data centers with high availability and redundancy, unlike other suppliers. As a result, Azure can provide a service level agreement, or SLA, of 99.95% (about 4.38 hours of downtime per year), which most enterprises cannot match.
• Microsoft Azure prioritizes security, adhering to the conventional security model of Detect, Assess, Diagnose, Stabilize, and Close. Paired with strong cybersecurity controls, this architecture has allowed Azure to earn many compliance certifications, all of which position Azure as a leader in IaaS security.
• When selecting a cloud provider, it is critical to keep IT budgets in mind, which is why the Microsoft Azure platform appeals to many enterprises. Azure’s pay-as-you-go pricing model enables SMBs to better manage their IT expenditures by purchasing only what they require.

Azure Cons

• Azure, like most cloud service providers, requires expert management and maintenance, which includes patching and server monitoring.
• Unlike local servers, Azure necessitates skill to ensure that all moving pieces function properly.
• In contrast to SaaS platforms where the end-user consumes information (for example, Office 365), IaaS (Azure) shifts your company’s processing capacity from your data center or office to the cloud.

Conclusion

Azure and AWS are both great cloud platforms. Each one has its unique traits that you can leverage to your benefit.

Amazon AWS is designed for larger enterprises with more stringent requirements and requiring a comprehensive service set. It is appropriate for applications requiring higher data processing and extensive user authentication functions. This makes it more cost-heavy.

On the other hand, Azure provides numerous features, such as Office 365 connectivity with the domain. On-premise server migration, application migration, and lift and shift workload migration are simplified through Azure, as most of them can be migrated with a single click. Because most organizations use Microsoft Servers and apps, the cost is generally less than AWS.