AWS vs Google Cloud Platform vs Azure
Last Updated : 17 May, 2024
Before we come to the difference between AWS, GCP, and Azure, we have to know what a cloud
is. Without buying the hardware, the client can utilize the hardware and pay for what he uses. If
we want to make a physical server, then we have to wait 30–40 days, and the cost will also be very
high. Now for the cloud platform, we can make any server( how many want) within 5–10 minutes
with the lowest cost. cloud is demanding self-service.
Examples: Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Alibaba Cloud, IBM
Cloud, Salesforce, Tencent Cloud, Oracle, etc.
Difference between GCP vs Microsoft Azure vs AWS
Subject Google Cloud Microsoft Amazon Web
Platform Azure services
Launched 2008 2009 2006
Storage Domain Cloud Storage Blocked storage S3
Stackdriver monitoring Azure Application
Monitoring Cloud watch
services Insight
Block Storage Persistent disk Page blobs EBS
Fortigate Next Application Gate Web Application
Firewall
Generation Firewall Away Firewall
Cloud
Shield DDos Cloud Armor
Services(Protection)
Market Share 9% 22% 33%
Azure traffic
DNS Service Cloud DNS Amazon Route 53
manager
Compute Engine
Automation Azure Automation AWS Opsworks
Management
Subject Google Cloud Microsoft Amazon Web
Platform Azure services
22 Regions (61 zones
Location 60+ Regions 26 Regions
Zones)
Cloud security Azure Security
Security AWS Security Hub
Command Centre Centre
What exactly is cloud computing?
Cloud Computing means storing and accessing the data and programs on remote servers that are
hosted on the internet instead of the computer’s hard drive or local server. Cloud computing is also
referred to as Internet-based computing, it is a technology where the resource is provided as a
service through the Internet to the user. The data that is stored can be files, images, documents, or
any other storable document.
The following are some of the Operations that can be performed with Cloud Computing
Storage, backup, and recovery of data
Delivery of software on demand
Development of new applications and services
Streaming videos and audio
For more detail about cloud computing refer this link.
Overview of AWS, Azure and GCP
Amazon Web Services: AWS is a cloud service platform offered by Amazon. The benefits of
AWS has flexibility, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and security. AWS has currently 26 regions
(Global availability). In AWS what services you used, you have to pay for it, AWS provides over
200 featured services globally. Examples – Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), Amazon
S3, etc. It has a 33% global market share.
Microsoft Azure: Azure is the Microsoft cloud solution. It contains all different types of services
whether you need a VM, a big or small website, to run a database or your container, or just some
kind of Server support all those services are available in Azure. The beauty of it is like all other
cloud solution providers you pay for what you use, so instantiate buy yours by yourself by going
through the portal what you need and you will pay for it. Azure has more than 200 services.
Google Cloud Platform: Google Cloud Platform is a public cloud computing service offered by
Google. It has multiple services example – computing, Storage, Networking, Big data, Developer
Tools, IOT, Cloud AI, Data Transfer, Identity & Security. Google Cloud Platform is a world-
leading company Google Cloud Platform has high-level security and GCP has the biggest
networking and better pricing model.
How to choose a cloud service provider
Choosing a cloud service provider can be a significant decision for any organization. Here are
some key factors to consider when making your choice:
Service Offerings: Evaluate the range of services offered by each provider and match them
with your specific needs. Consider compute, storage, networking,
databases,
AI/ML, IoT, analytics, and other specialized services.
Scalability: Ensure that the provider can accommodate your current and future scalability
requirements. The ability to scale resources up or down based on demand is crucial for many
businesses.
Performance and Reliability: Look into the provider’s track record for uptime and reliability.
Check for redundancy and failover mechanisms to minimize downtime.
Security: Assess the provider’s security measures, including data encryption, compliance
certifications, access controls, and monitoring capabilities. Ensure they meet your
organization’s security and compliance requirements.
Cost: Compare pricing structures, including pay-as-you-go vs. reserved instances, discounts,
and any hidden costs. Consider your budget and projected usage to determine the most cost-
effective option.
Support and SLAs: Review the provider’s support options, response times, and
service level agreements (SLAs).
Make sure they offer adequate support for your needs, especially if you’re running critical
workloads.
Geographic Presence: Consider the provider’s global footprint and availability zones. Choose
a provider with data centers in regions that align with your business requirements for latency,
data sovereignty, and disaster recovery.
Integration and Compatibility: Assess how well the provider’s services integrate with your
existing systems, tools, and workflows. Compatibility with third-party software and open
standards can be important for seamless integration.
Community and Ecosystem: Look into the provider’s developer community, documentation,
and ecosystem of partners and third-party tools. A strong ecosystem can provide additional
resources, support, and innovation opportunities.
Vendor Lock-In: Consider the potential for vendor lock-in and evaluate each provider’s
flexibility and portability options. Look for open standards and APIs that facilitate
interoperability and data migration.
Future Roadmap and Innovation: Research the provider’s roadmap and commitment to
innovation. Choose a provider that continually invests in new technologies and services to stay
ahead of evolving business needs.
Advantages of AWS, Azure and GCP
Advantages of Amazon Web Services:
Users using AWS may pay for only the resources they truly use. Therefore, AWS is affordable.
AWS provides many different kinds of the services and has a size and dynamic developer and
partner ecosystem.
Users can access or store the data with a low latency because of the AWS’s multiple data
centers around the globe.
Advantages of Microsoft Azure:
Azure’s global network of data centers guarantees a very low latency for retrieve any type of
the data.
Azure provides a strong safety features.
Easy communication with
on-premises systems
is made feasible by Azure, providing a seamless hybrid experience. where security and
deployment are better.
Advantages of Google Cloud Platform:
The Google Cloud Platform enables resource scaling easy. As an example, we can swiftly
construct virtual machines if our business needs additional servers.
Because of GCP’s extensive global network of data centers, accessing any data has extremely
little latency.
GCP offers solid safety.
Use cases for AWS, Azure and GCP
Amazon Web Services
AWS provides web app and web hosting and administrative services, include the
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2).
The backup data can be maintained on AWS. But for a free tier account, it is not free.
We may distribute the user’s load between multiple instances utilizing an AWS service
comparable to a
load balancer.
Microsoft Azure
Hosting and managing web applications and websites. And you have to pay for what you used.
Building and deploying machine learning models using
Azure Machine Learning.
Developing the blockchain application using Azure.
Google Cloud Platform
GCP is also used in games. GCP is running multiplayer games.
GCP provides the virtual desktop experience.
GCP is used to process the big query and analyze the big data.
Disadvantages of AWS, Azure and GCP
Disadvantages of AWS:
While users may find AWS to be cost-effective, using specific services comes at more expense.
Since AWS offers numerous services, consumers might discover it challenging to get around
the platform.
Given the wide range of services provided by AWS, some users might discover that they are
unable to tailor these services to suit their specific needs. Thus, AWS’s customer service is
inadequate.
Disadvantages of Azure:
Comparing with some other cloud providers, Azure might be more expensive.
Azure is also dependent on the Microsoft connection.
Workloads operating on Linux cannot be as well accepted by Azure as workloads operating on
Windows.
Disadvantages of GCP:
Comparing with some other cloud providers, GCP is more expensive.
Because Google provides so many services, it can be difficult.
The Google Cloud Platform is more dependent on Google or is a part of their ecosystem.
Pricing
The cost of cloud services such AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and more varies
according to multiple variables, such geographical location, usage specificity, volume of
consumption, and any special agreements or discounts you may have with the provider. However,
I may offer you with an additional broad summary of the cost structures:
Amazon Web Services (AWS):
Pay-as-you-go pricing is available from AWS, so you only have to pay for the
resources you use.
With a variety of pricing calculators and tools, you may compute fees according to
how much you use.
In addition, AWS offers savings plans for predictable workloads and discounts for
reserved instances.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP):
Pay-as-you-go pricing is additionally utilized by Google Cloud Platform, with
billing based on usage.
For many of its services, Google frequently emphasizes per-second billing, which is
beneficial for workloads which are transitory.
GCP provides committed use discounts for committing to a specific instance type for
a term, as well as sustained use discounts for instances that are active for a
substantial amount of the month.
Microsoft Azure:
Azure offers a similar pay-as-you-go billing structure that depends on utilize.
Azure offers an array of tools and pricing calculators that help in estimating costs.
Similar to AWS, Azure provides discounts for reserved instances and offers Azure
Hybrid Benefit to customers who currently possess a Windows Server or
SQL Server
license.
AWS vs Google Cloud Platform vs Azure – FAQs
Which one is better, AWS or Azure or Google Cloud?
The “optimal” option between AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud depends on your specific
needs, preferences, and current setup. All of the three platforms offers an extensive
selection of services; AWS is the most advanced and widely used, Azure specializes in
hybrid cloud solutions and business integration, and Google Cloud is well-known for its
expertise in AI/ML and data analytics.
