AWS Vs Azure Vs GCP: Finding The Right Cloud Computing Service For You

With the rapid pace of technological advancements, the importance of cloud computing is growing. Just in case you do not know what cloud computing is, we have got you covered. Cloud computing is an on-demand delivery of database, storage, computing power, and applications. Users can gain access to this through cloud services platforms via the internet. Cloud services providers enable users to store files and use applications on remote servers. They can then access their data anytime over the internet. Generally, users pay for these services on a pay as you go basis. This technology is known as cloud computing because the data gets stored on ‘the cloud.’ The user does not need to be in a particular region to access it.

The most popular model in cloud computing is Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS). In the IaaS model, these companies host the core infrastructure. They maintain hardware, software, servers, and storage on behalf of the customer. Typically, this includes hosting applications in a highly scalable environment. The customers only pay for the infrastructure they use. The shift to the cloud environment has fueled the IaaS market to grow even more. According to research firm Gartner’s latest figures, it is estimated to be worth $49.1 billion in 2020. The Three biggest public cloud vendors are:

  1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  2. Microsoft Azure
  3. Google Cloud Platform

Experts recommend that organizations choose their cloud service on a case-by-case basis. This helps them match the applications and workloads with the vendor that best fits their needs. Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of leading vendors instead of sticking to the same vendor all the time is the way to go.

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Let Us Have A Look At Each Player In Detail.

1.Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon is the oldest player in the public cloud services market. Their application services, combined with computing power and database infrastructure, are the most critical components of a successful enterprise. According to Gartner, AWS has been the market share leader in cloud IaaS for over ten years. It also has the most comprehensive network of worldwide data centers. AWS is the most mature, feature-rich, and enterprise-ready service provider. It has the best capabilities for governing a lot of users and data.

Amazon’s cloud platform offers almost every feature that the cloud computing industry has to offer. With their services, you can gain easy access to computing power and storage. They also provide developer tools, management tools, mobile, and application services.

Why Choose AWS

It has the highest computation and storage options available in the market. They also have the broadest range of VM types. Their VM types enable users to run small or big workloads. It also provides the highest configurations of GPU enabled VM types. Hence, it is ideal for machine learning and AI workloads. AWS also has a variety of services for network and data security. The depth of services it provides makes it suitable for an extensive number of enterprises.

2.Microsoft Azure

Since Microsoft came late to the market, they used some strategies to differentiate themselves from AWS. They focused first on software and platform instead of infrastructure. This was a good move for Microsoft since its key strengths lied in both enterprise and consumer software. Initially, their target customers were developers. Later they expanded focus to IaaS services.
It primarily offers solutions for app developers. It allows the user to process and compute at a high capacity in just a few minutes. Azure allows users a lot of flexibility with virtual machines and can even run large-scale parallel batch computing. It offers more power and capacity for enterprise development.

Why Choose Azure

This platform would be most preferred by users who are already using some Microsoft products. While Azure offers a breadth of features, the Microsoft portfolio on cloud sets it apart. It can efficiently run high-end HPC and SAP workloads. It also has a set of services for ML/AI workloads. The license mobility of Microsoft products is relatively easy. Therefore, if you have existing licenses for Windows OS or MS-SQL, Azure is the cloud service for you.

3.Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Google’s cloud service platform has a robust offering to containers. It specializes in high compute offerings like Big Data, analytics, and machine learning. It also offers significant load balancing and scaling. As Google was late to the game, it has the lowest market share. Their current market share is 4%. Like Azure, even Google started with platform services. Recently, they have begun expanding to offer IaaS services.
Although GCP offers fewer services than its competitors, it has all the requirements for mobile app development. Google makes up for its lack of features with cost-efficiency. It provides significant discounts for long term usage. Google’s competitive pricing puts pressure on other service providers to keep prices low.

Why Choose GCP

VM startup times in GCP are extremely fast compared to other competitors. They also have the best networking with a global low latency network. Google bills users based on the memory used rather than VMs used. This minimizes wastage of unused storage. Though it might lack in features, it is a price leader.

Philippe Noël

Co-founder and CEO of Fractal

Each cloud provider has a specific area of focus. AWS was once a startup and has built with a startup mindset, while Azure inherited its enterprise-focus from the Windows Server and sysadmin tools days, making it ideal for established, existing companies. Google comes in at a different side due to its user-focused days, working on high-level APIs and AI training. I find it is typically best to pick the cloud provider which has built for your company/product stage, so AWS for a startup, Azure for enterprises transitioning to cloud, and GCP for high-level APIs.

Feature Comparison: AWS Vs. Azure Vs. GCP

FEATURESAWSAZUREGCP
Maximum Processors in VM12812896
Maximum Memory in VM390438001433
SLA Availablity99.95% Annual Uptime99.90% Annual Uptime99.95% Annual Uptime
Operating Systems SupportedWindows, SLES, CentOS, CoreOS, OpenSUSE, RHEL, Cloud Linux, Debian, FreeBSD, Ubuntu, Oracle LinuxWindows, SLES, CentOS, CoreOS, OpenSUSE, RHEL, Debian, FreeBSD, Ubuntu, Oracle LinuxWindows, SLES, CentOS, CoreOS, OpenSUSE, RHEL, Debian, FreeBSD, Ubuntu
MarketplaceAWS MarketplaceAzure MarketplaceG Suite Marketplace
Cloud Services with ProtectionShieldDDoS Protection Service-
BackupObject Storage, Cold Storage, Archive, SnowMobileBackup-
Database MigrationDatabase Migration ServiceDatabase Migration Service-
Dedicated Network ConnectionDirect ConnectExpress Route-
Developer ToolsDeveloper ToolsDeveloper Tools-
Protection with Data EncryptionKey Management ServiceStorage Service Encryption-
FirewallWeb Application FirewallApplication Gateway-
PricingPer HourPer MinutePer Minute
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Wrapping Up

The features of the best cloud service providers are listed in this article. We hope our analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of these services will help you choose the right cloud for you. When comparing AWS, Azure, and GCP, there are many features and costs to consider. Each platform offers a different catalog of facilities. You must pick the one that best fits your development needs. Remember, it does not have to be the same provider every time. You can even combine services from two or three clouds. It is most crucial to find the right fit for your requirements every single time.

Content Team

This blog is from Mindbowser‘s content team – a group of individuals coming together to create pieces that you may like. If you have feedback, please drop us a message on contact@mindbowser.com

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