Azure vs. AWS: Understanding the Cloud-Based Approach for Businesses

As businesses increasingly shift to the cloud, choosing between the two cloud giants, Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS), becomes critical. Each platform offers unique features and advantages, but understanding how they compare can help you make an informed choice. 

In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences, from cost savings to flexibility and security, so you can determine the best solution for your needs. Whether you're considering a single provider or a hybrid cloud approach, Trusted Tech Team is here to help you navigate the complexities of Azure vs. AWS and find your business's most effective cloud strategy.

Cloud Security & Development

Cloud services are gobbling up market share from on-premises data centers because they are some of the best ways to enhance a solution’s security posture by adding security to the development lifecycle and embedding it within its CI/CD pipelines. During this process, it is best to scan your code prior to deploying it to the cloud infrastructure to avoid vulnerabilities.

The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Toolkit for Azure DevOps, available in the Visual Studio Marketplace, is an excellent tool for supporting businesses, including start-ups. This toolkit adds tasks to build and release pipelines in Microsoft Azure DevOps and Azure DevOps Server, which integrate with AWS services like CodeDeploy and AWS Cloud Formation. It also runs commands for Windows PowerShell via AWS Tools. 

Analyzing the Multicloud Approach

Interestingly, Azure and AWS are complementary AND competitive within the cloud market.

Comparing AWS vs. Azure offers insights for businesses considering hybrid or cloud solutions as part of their digital transformation. Since each cloud computing platform independently built its capabilities over time, both offer unique design elements and implementation processes. 

As a result, many companies employ and integrate BOTH to maximize their options and to leverage their dominance in the cloud services market. A hybrid cloud platform can also be beneficial for various workloads and use cases. 

While both platforms possess similar components and capabilities (e.g., both enable Windows AND Linux-based solutions), the relationship between their cloud computing services is often unclear. In other scenarios, one cloud provider may offer a specific service but not the other.

Determining The Difference

According to Microsoft, AWS is five times more expensive than Azure for Windows Server and SQL Server. Though AWS and other competitors claim to offer similar on-demand pricing to the Azure Hybrid Benefit, they actually require you to repurchase your Windows Server and SQL Server licenses. Because of the required repurchase, this pricing model may significantly increase the total cost of cloud computing. The only places AWS ends up being cheaper are with Linux based EC2 and Web Hosting.

To calculate your monthly and annual savings for Microsoft Azure core licensing, please click here. When choosing a cloud service provider, understanding these pricing differences helps you create a business case and budget while determining the most cost-effective option.

Making the Comparisons

Although AWS is the current market share leader, experts foresee Azure overtaking AWS due to its superior cost savings, flexibility, and security. Contact us or learn more with this link for a comprehensive comparison between AWS and Azure services. 

Using this comprehensive comparison, you get a detailed look at key differences, such as virtual machines (VMs), object storage, database services, big data, machine learning, latency, and serverless computing options. 

Trusted Tech Team is an accredited Microsoft CSP Direct Bill Partner. We carry multiple Solutions Partner certifications, including the now-legacy Microsoft Gold Partner competency. Based in Irvine, California, we report the cloud technology trends affecting IT pros everywhere.