Microsoft Azure vs AWS: What are the similarities and differences between Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services?
The twain shall meet. In this article, we will explore the similarities and differences in these two cloud computing giants to help you make a more fully informed decision when it comes to choosing a provider.
We will start with some background information on each of them, then take an in-depth look at their pricing structures as well as their technical capabilities.
Finally, we’ll give you our thoughts on which is better for what purposes. Ready?
Let’s go!
What is Microsoft Azure?
Azure is a cloud computing service that provides both PaaS and IaaS, enabling the user to create their own apps in an environment built for maximum security.
The supported languages are ASP .NET Core, NodeJS, Java, PHP, and Python.
Microsoft Azure also has support for containers like Docker and Kubernetes.
There is even a full-stack development tool called Visual Studio Code with extensions created specifically for developers using Azure services!
What is it used for?
Organizations typically use Microsoft Azure to host websites on demand as well as migrate operations from premise-based servers to the cloud infrastructure at any time without incurring downtime or interruptions of service.
Organizations can extend Azure beyond application hosting by using it as storage space (or “blob storage”) for file-based data, as a database server with SQL Server or MySQL support, and analytics engine using Azure’s built-in machine learning and predictive capabilities.
What is Amazon Web Services (AWS)?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a highly scalable, reliable, low-cost infrastructure platform in the cloud that powers hundreds of thousands of businesses globally.
AWS’s simple web service interface allows developers to create sophisticated and scalable applications with ease.
The AWS Cloud offers many services such as compute power, database storage, content delivery network, deployment from source control repositories on GitHub, and Microsoft Visual Studio Team System & TFS Server integration for large enterprise customers.
How is Azure different from AWS?
Microsoft Azure vs AWS: Services
AWS offers a wide range of services, but it is specifically geared towards web applications and their components (e.g Lambda).
Azure has more features in its PaaS offering for building mobile apps or targeting enterprise needs such as higher levels of security than other providers can offer at the same price point
Microsoft Azure vs AWS: Support
Azure provides better support for DevOps than AWS does because it includes integration with Visual Studio Team Services which many developers find to be an easier way to set up continuous integration/delivery pipelines.
There are also improvements in debugging tools and deployment methods that make this cloud provider very attractive to those who want these capabilities integrated into their workflow
Microsoft Azure vs AWS: Pricing
AWS offers a better range of pricing options for customers with different needs, such as using AWS Reserved Instances.
Microsoft Azure vs AWS: Disaster recovery
Azure is built on the Windows Server operating system and has been tested by Microsoft to be reliable in the event that there are disasters affecting networks or power outages.
The major difference between Azure and AWS is that Microsoft Azure offers more support for private clouds than AWS does because it comes with full Windows Server licensing (although this can’t make up for the difference in pricing).
This means that you have greater control over security settings on your data, which could come in handy if your company has strict compliance requirements.
In some cases, companies will use one provider as their public cloud and another provider as their private cloud so that they can meet these needs without breaking the bank or compromising on security.
Microsoft Azure vs AWS: Application
Azure is considered by many to be more business-friendly and has the backing of Microsoft, one of the largest tech companies on earth.
AWS is seen as being more developer-oriented or software-focused.
But the two don’t differ that much.
In fact, here are some similarities between Azure and AWS;
- Both providers are part of the tech behemoths Microsoft and Amazon.
- They both offer a robust collection of cloud services, including everything from workloads to storage to database management.
- Both providers offer a free tier with limited resources to get your feet wet in the cloud.
How does Azure compare to AWS in terms of performance?
Who’s the winner between Microsoft and Amazon Web Services?
We think that it really depends on your needs. If you are looking for a provider with more technical capabilities, then we would recommend going with Microsoft Azure.
However, if the price is what matters most to you, then Amazon’s services may be better suited for your situation.
It all boils down to this: do research! Make sure you know exactly what each service can offer before making any final decisions about which cloud computing company will work best for your specific requirements.
What should I consider when choosing between these two providers?
When deciding which provider is right for you, take into account any specific needs that will affect how well they can help meet those needs – such as their business model (Cloud vs Software), technical capabilities (Web hosting vs Streaming Video), and pricing structure.
Is Azure more expensive than AWS?
The answer depends largely on your needs and requirements because each company has its own unique features and offerings as well as different prices depending upon those services chosen.
If you are looking for a platform that offers more choices and control over features, Microsoft Azure is likely the right choice.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) may be better if you need to integrate with other AWS services or want an easier setup process where all of your accounts are managed in one place.
Which One Should You Use?
If you are not sure whether to go with Azure or AWS, then consider the following:
Want to use your own hardware?
If you want to be able to use your own hardware for a private cloud (e.g., using VMware vSphere), then Microsoft is the best choice because it comes bundled with an OS license that costs $200 per core.
This could come in handy if your company has strict compliance requirements; however, this will add up when compared to Amazon’s pricing which starts at $0.0075/hour of compute time
Want access to serverless capabilities?
AWS might be a better option if you are looking specifically for serverless capabilities and need excellent support from its team of engineers who are always on hand responding to questions 24 hours a day.
Azure may not have as many services but does offer more features when it comes to mobile apps or enterprise needs such as higher levels of security at the same price point
AWS is a better bet if you are looking for more services in general, but this could come with a tradeoff of limited control over your data and increased fees (e.g., $0.30/GB)
Why should I choose AWS over Azure?
Amazon Web Services is the superior option for a myriad of reasons, including price and ease of use.
We recommend Amazon Web Services over Microsoft Azure because it’s easier to use than Azure and its pricing structure may be cheaper in some circumstances.
In particular, if you are not using too much storage or computational power then AWS might work out better for your budget!
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!