Azure vs AWS | Comparison, Advantages and Disadvantages

06 May 2022

When it comes to cloud computing, the two biggest players are Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Each of these services has its own unique features, pros and cons, and target audiences. If you’re in the process of choosing a cloud service for your business, you may be wondering which one is best – AWS or Azure?

There are many things to consider before choosing a cloud provider. Both AWS and Azure have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to understand how each one can meet your specific needs. In this post, we’ll compare Azure vs AWS so you can make an informed decision about which cloud service is best for your company.

What is Azure?

Microsoft Azure is a global, customer-focused cloud computing platform. Built for robust solutions in the cloud, Azure provides a best-in-class platform for building, deploying, and managing applications, services, and infrastructure. It provides the tools and services that help you build, scale, and manage cloud-based applications and services for your business. It also provides the flexibility to choose the infrastructure and services that are best for your applications and needs.

What is AWS?

AWS is the another comprehensive and flexible platform as a service for the modern business. It provides a comprehensive set of services for everything from data storage to application hosting and reflects the needs of the modern business. AWS services such as Amazon EC2, Amazon S3, Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC), and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) allow you to build and scale your business without having to manage the infrastructure. AWS also offers professional services such as Amazon Web Services Professional Services and AWS Consulting.

Azure vs AWS : Difference

There are several options for hosting your applications and data. Some of these alternatives are IaaS-based, while others are PaaS-based. We’ll also compare and contrast some of the significant difference between Azure and AWS.

• Pricing

When it comes to pricing, both Azure and AWS offer a pay-as-you-go model. However, Azure is generally considered to be more cost-effective for smaller workloads, while AWS is better suited for larger workloads.

Azure offers a range of pricing options, including a free tier for basic services, and discounts for long-term commitments. AWS also offers a free tier for basic services, but its pricing can be more complex and difficult to understand, particularly for businesses with varying workloads.

• Ease of Use

Both Azure and AWS are known for their ease of use. However, Azure is considered to have a more user-friendly interface, particularly for businesses with limited IT resources. Azure’s interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, with a range of tools and resources to help businesses get started quickly.

AWS, on the other hand, has a more complex interface, which can be overwhelming for businesses with limited IT resources. However, AWS does offer a range of resources and tools to help businesses navigate its interface.

• Integration

Both Azure and AWS offer a range of integration options. However, Azure is generally considered to be more flexible in terms of integration. Azure offers a range of hybrid cloud capabilities, which allows businesses to seamlessly integrate their existing IT infrastructure with the cloud. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses with existing Microsoft systems, such as  Microsoft 365.

AWS also offers a range of integration options, including APIs, SDKs, and command-line tools. However, its integration capabilities are generally considered to be more limited than Azure’s.

• Security

When it comes to security, both Azure and AWS offer robust security features. Azure offers a range of security features, including network security, identity and access management, and data encryption. Azure also complies with a range of industry-specific security standards, such as HIPAA and PCI DSS.

AWS also offers a range of security features, including network security, identity and access management, and data encryption. AWS also complies with a range of industry-specific security standards, such as HIPAA and PCI DSS.

Azure vs AWS: Other Differences

• In terms of interface, Azure has a nicer or smoother one, however AWS offers better provisioning with few instances. As can be seen, each tool has advantages. In terms of reach, these services are nearly equal, with both offering analytics and Big Data capabilities. EMR is available through AWS, whereas HD Insights is available from Azure. Cortana Intelligence Suite, which includes Hadoop, Spark, Storm, and HBase, is also available through Azure.
• Machine learning studios are accessible on both AWS and Azure for the development of machine learning models. Unlike Amazon Sage Maker, Azure’s studio does not need a thorough understanding of data engineering, Python coding, and open-source libraries.
• AWS cloud object storage solution provides high availability and automated replication between regions. Temporary storage in AWS begins when an instance is launched and ends when the instance is terminated. It also offers block storage, which is akin to hard disc storage. It may be either joined to or kept distinct from EC2 instances.
• One of the main differences between Azure and AWS is the scope of services they offer. Azure has a more extensive range of services that cover a wide range of scenarios, including artificial intelligence, internet of things, and blockchain, while AWS services are more focused on infrastructure, storage, and databases.

For VM-based volumes, Azure, on the other hand, use page blobs and temporary storage. Its block storage is comparable to AWS’s S3.

• In the hybrid cloud market, Azure outperforms AWS, which is still a work in progress.
• Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) allows you to create isolated networks within the Cloud. Users may construct subnets, route tables, private IP address ranges, and network gateways with this feature.

As a rival to VPC, Microsoft Azure Virtual Network allows you to perform everything VPC does. Both providers offer solutions for extending on-premise data centers into the cloud, as well as firewall choices.

Let’s look at some advantages and disadvantages of Azure and AWS,

Advantages of Azure

With more and more companies turning to the cloud to save money and gain flexibility, it’s more important than ever to know what’s out there. One of the most talked-about players in the industry is Microsoft Azure. Azure is a platform for building and running online services that can be accessed from anywhere on any device through the cloud. Azure provides customers with a wide range of core services including: –

Compute: Virtual machines, web and database servers, storage and more

Data: Relational and NoSQL databases, data analytics, Hadoop/HDFS, NoSQL databases, and messaging services –

Network: Load balancing, content delivery, and CDN, plus security and monitoring – Other services: Workplace, Identity

Scalability: Azure allows you to scale up or down your resources according to your needs, which can save you money on resources you don’t need all the time.

Global presence: Azure has data centers all around the world, which means you can choose to store your data in a location that is closest to your customers, which can improve the speed and performance of your applications.

Security: Azure has a number of security measures in place to protect your data, including encryption, secure data centers, and regular security audits.

Integration with other tools and services: When compare AWS vs Azure both integrates with a wide range of tools and services but Azure integrates with more tools and services like, Visual Studio, Active Directory, and Microsoft 365, which can make it easier for you to build, deploy, and manage your applications.

Cost: It offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which means you only pay for the resources you use. This can help you save money on resources that you don’t need all the time, and can be especially helpful for small businesses or startups that don’t have a lot of money to invest upfront.

Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform. It offers a suite of services that can be used to host your applications, data, and workloads. Azure provides a range of services for business users and developers, including compute, storage, networking, analytics, and mobile. Each service can be scaled up or down as needed, taking the complexity out of managing your infrastructure.

Disadvantages of Azure

The drawbacks associated with using Azure. For one, you have to pay to use some of the services. The main one that require heavy payment is Microsoft SQL Server. But it’s worth paying for these services as it helps to run the business operations more effectively.

Advantages of AWS

AWS provides cloud services that can be accessed online without the burden of operating and maintaining hardware servers and data centers. AWS does not need to purchase or maintain costly infrastructure because it runs on a cloud. Because they don’t have to worry about maintenance, employing specialists, or making equipment purchases, this makes it easier for Amazon’s clients to manage their businesses.

Disadvantages of AWS

The main disadvantage of using AWS is the management and learning curve required. Also, if you compare the price of AWS with the price of other hosting services, you will realize that AWS is much more expensive in the long run especially for running Windows based services. This platform’s services cannot be used in every country. The AWS website lists the countries in which the service is available. However, not all countries are the same.

Azure vs AWS : Which one is better?

When it comes to choosing between Azure vs AWS, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Both platforms offer a wide range of cloud services and robust security features. However, the choice ultimately comes down to your business needs, budget, and IT resources. If you are looking for a more cost-effective option for smaller workloads, Azure may be the better choice. However, if you need a more scalable and robust option for larger workloads, AWS may be the better choice. Ultimately, it is important to carefully consider your options and choose the cloud platform that best fits your business needs.

If you are still confused to choose between Azure and AWS, feel free to contact us, our consultants will guide you in a right path.