The battle is on! When we think of giants in the cloud computing domain, AWS, and Azure come to mind. Both these big names have already proven their capabilities and some sort of battle is going on between them. Simply put, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure remain indispensable in cloud application development.
Both these platforms touch millions of companies and live across the world for bringing a positive change. AWS has better provisioning and Azure has an easy-to-use interface. These platforms have many other features and functionality as well. Therefore, it is challenging to select the right cloud platform for your tailored cloud-powered application.
In this post, we are going to compare AWS and Azure to help you find the right cloud platform for your business application. Without further ado, let’s start with the introduction of AWS.
What is AWS?
AWS is one of the most preferred choices for companies to leverage the benefits of cloud computing. Also known as Amazon Web Services, AWS is the most inclusive and popular cloud platform that offers more than 200 fully-featured services from numerous data centers.
AWS is made and maintained by the eCommerce giant Amazon. This cloud platform includes a combination of PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). AWS service offerings include tools like compute power, content delivery services, and database storage for users.
Millions of enterprise customers ranging from the thriving startups to established enterprises and even government authorities count upon AWS for reducing costs and bringing agility. AWS also promotes innovation and enables companies to get a secure and seamless experience.
How about discussing the benefits of AWS in cloud-based apps?
Key Benefits of AWS in Cloud Application Development
AWS is a robust cloud ecosystem that gives numerous benefits. AWS cloud development remains customer-centric and addresses the data-related requirements of modern enterprises.
Some key benefits of AWS include-
High Scalability
This is one of the biggest advantages of the AWS platform. It enables users to deploy new applications and scale up workloads quickly to meet high demand. It is also possible to scale workloads down when the demand is less. Also, users can get one or more virtual servers either for an hour or a day with AWS. It facilitates enterprises to pay only for what they use.
More Flexibility
AWS application development offers high flexibility as this platform offers high customization. AWS has created advanced and business-friendly features or tools. For example, AWS Lambda enables developers to run their code without any administrative expenses and difficulties in managing servers. As a result, AWS cloud development remains highly flexible.
Reduced Cost
A pay-as-you-go model makes AWS a cost-efficient platform. Users need not pay upfront expenses or make long-term commitments. The cost is scaled as business grows and usage increases. This is specifically useful for startups and small businesses. Low entry price and freedom from maintenance are two main advantages of AWS cloud platform.
Top Security
AWS has industry-recognized certifications including ISO 27001, FedRAMP, HIPAA, and PCI DSS Level 1. Also, it comes with SOC 1 and SOC 2 audit reports. All the data centers of AWS have multiple security layers at both operational and physical levels. AWS keeps its data centers as hidden as possible by locating them in out-of-the-way places.
After understanding AWS and looking at its benefits, how about digging deep into Microsoft Azure?
What is Azure?
Known as Windows Azure until 2014, Microsoft Azure is a powerful cloud computing platform that assists developers to build, deploy, and manage custom applications. Azure has capability in different domains including storage, delivery database, migration, and computing.
We can classify services of Microsoft Azure in three broad verticals- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). It hosts multiple data centers and delivery points for ensuring quick content delivery.
Azure also supports the development, testing, deployment, and management. Azure cloud development gains ground because of its multiple business benefits. Enterprises can store any data type and share it across VMs. This is the reason why 95 percent of companies in the Fortune 500 list count on Azure.
Here we discuss the top benefits of Azure application development for enterprises.
How Azure is Beneficial for App Development
Reduced cost and higher flexibility and top security are common benefits of Microsoft Azure and AWS. Another noteworthy benefit of Azure is it facilitates easy and effortless integration of Microsoft applications in the Windows server. Its rich ecosystem offers end-to-end integration solutions ranging from development to deployment of the tool.
Azure application development includes unit testing, integration testing, and other processes as the platform can unify all of them efficiently. Moreover, tools including Threat intelligence, Advanced Threat Analytics, and multi-factor authentication makes Azure applications highly secure.
Both Microsoft Azure and AWS have the capability to bring revolutionary changes in the domain of cloud application development and deployment. Let’s compare them so that you can find the right platform for your company.
Comparing Two Lions of Cloud Computing- AWS vs. Azure
Here we consider core factors including networking, storage, development tools, and cost to compare AWS and Azure.
Networking
AWS offers a virtual private cloud (VPC) with 210 edge locations across 77 zones and 24 global regions. It is more flexible and can be used to create isolated networks.
Azure offers a virtual network (VNET) which is present in 60+ global regions with 170 points of presence (PoP). It is highly secure and remains easier to manage as compared to AWS.
Storage
AWS has its industry-standard Simple Storage Service (S3) or large block storage.It also supports Big Data, NoSQL, and relational databases.
Azure supports additional backup for import-export, site recovery, and archival options. Microsoft Cloud is its primary storage, and is capable of resolving your existing data storage issues.
Development Tools
AWS offers around 20 IoT, ML/AI tools, including the Lex interface that facilitates the Alexa technology. AWS' development tools are more mature and have a larger global community.
Azure has a serverless platform known as Azure Functions, and combined with Azure DevOps pipelines. It allows app developers to streamline and manage complex workflows. Azure's development tools are more integrated with software and applications based on Microsoft.
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
AWS CloudFront is a CDN solution that is available at a very affordable price. It is more advanced with a global presence.
Azure's CDN solution is scalable enough to manage high loads and cache content from Azure storage blobs that are publicly available.
Also, it is more integrated with Azure's other services.
Database
AWS utilizes relational databases for storage and remains compatible with various database engines. Its database services are more mature and have a larger global footprint.
Azure uses MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL database for relational databases, Redis Cache for caching needs, and Cosmos database for NoSQL services. Its database services are more integrated with Azure's other services.
Cost
AWS offers a complex pricing structure that often needs a third-party app for management.The pricing structure of AWS is more flexible, but Azure's pricing is more transparent.
Azure offers a simpler pricing structure that is easier to understand and manage.
Does this comparison between Azure and AWS make you confused? Here is our take on choosing the right platform for your organization.
AWS vs Azure- Which One Should You Choose for Your Organization?
Azure is a good choice for established enterprises, especially those who already use the products and licenses of Microsoft. It is also ideal for hybrid cloud deployments.
AWS, on the other hand, is a good choice for organizations of all sizes, in any industry, on any budget, and located anywhere in the world. It offers a wide range of services classified in IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. AWS offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which can help you to reduce costs.
The best choice for your enterprise will depend on your specific business needs and objectives. If you run a large enterprise that uses Microsoft products, then Azure is a good choice. If you are looking for a cloud platform with a wide range of services and a pay-as-you-go pricing model, then AWS is a preferred platform.
Here it is fair to mention that you should consult a reputed cloud application development company to select the right platform.
Wrapping Up
Silver Touch Technologies is a trusted cloud-managed services provider. We provide seamless solutions in public, private, and hybrid cloud domains. Our experts in cloud technology can assist you to improve processes and drive digital transformation. Do you want to know more about our services and solutions? Email us at info@silvertouch.com and initiate a cloud journey for your company.
FAQs
What is AWS and Azure?
AWS is one of the most preferred choices for cloud computing, known as Amazon Web Services, offering over 200 services. Azure, on the other hand, is Microsoft's cloud platform with capabilities in storage, databases, and more.
Which is better AWS vs Azure?
AWS and Azure each have strengths. Azure suits Microsoft-centric enterprises, while AWS suits organizations of all sizes, industries, and budgets. The choice depends on your specific needs; consulting experts can help.
What are the key benefits of AWS in cloud application development?
AWS offers high scalability, flexibility, a pay-as-you-go cost model, and top-notch security with certifications like ISO 27001, FedRAMP, and more.
What are the benefits of Azure application development for enterprises?
Azure facilitates easy integration with Microsoft applications, offers advanced security features, and provides a rich ecosystem for end-to-end solutions.
What factors should I consider when choosing between AWS and Azure for my organization?
Consider factors such as your organization's existing technology stack, budget, and specific needs when choosing between AWS and Azure.
