Recently, public cloud adoption has become an indispensable part of most organizations’ infrastructure roadmap and strategy. The cloud market has arrived at its tipping point, particularly since remote work is gradually ruling the work dynamics.
According to Canalys, cloud spend hits a record high in Q1 2020, up 34% because of the high demand for remote working.
For those planning to adopt cloud, several questions pop up. These are “Which cloud platform should I adopt?” “Which platform gives the most cost-effective services for my requirements?” and “How should I approach my cloud adoption?”
As organizations are searching for strong cloud providers, the comparison for AWS versus Azure versus Google Cloud can’t be neglected as they are viewed as the giants of cloud computing space.
As per Gartner’s Magic Quadrant report for cloud IaaS, the competition between Amazon (AWS), Microsoft (Azure), and Google (Cloud) has been all the rage as all the three are articulated leaders.
Choosing one cloud provider over the others will come down to the needs of every company and the workloads they are running. Let’s review all three cloud providers to help you choose your preferred one.
Amazon Web Services
Amazon Web Services is the earliest of the three major cloud suppliers. It is offered in 22 geographical regions with 69 availability zones. Its main services are the Simple Storage Service (S3) and the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2). However, it offers hundreds of extra services that offer managed databases, development and management tools, machine learning, cloud storage, data pipeline tools and that’s just the beginning.
Pros
– Huge scope of operations, offering broad and customizable services.
– Appropriate for dealing with critical and mission-driven workloads.
– AWS has likewise worked effectively at translating its scale into economic advantages for users.
– A comprehensive network of global data centers.
Cons
– It’s tricky to understand the cost structure of AWS. Amazon Web Services offers discounts for several services, however, these reduced expenses don’t stand valid for all the AWS services, which causes a lot of confusion.
– Limited private or hybrid cloud capacities.
AWS is suitable for larger companies having a global reach that require stable, flexible, and reliable services.
Azure
Microsoft Azure is a public cloud service accessible in approximately 54 geological areas with a network of 162 availability zones. It is a solid competitor for Amazon with strong capabilities in both compute and storage, with incredible Platform as a Service (PaaS) choices and robust support for hybrid cloud environments.
Pros
– Appropriate for companies that are fundamentally dedicated to Microsoft technology.
– Azure delivers Hyperscale solutions addressing the scalability issues regarding storage, compute, and memory.
– Companies can save up to 40% on virtual machines when deploying Azure Hybrid Cloud.
Cons
– Azure lacks training, technical support, and documentation. It also has limitations on the width of its ISV partner ecosystem.
– They also ignore the difficulties that non-Microsoft users face while utilizing Azure.
– Recent outages have raised questions on Azure’s reliability. On May 2nd, 2019, Microsoft witnessed a 2-hour outage, pulling off the power of control from its users.
Azure is suitable for organizations using Windows-based platforms and business applications. Likewise, companies that need a hybrid solution and are migrating for the first time can rely on Azure.
Google Cloud Platform
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is available in 20 geological districts. It utilizes Google’s worldwide fiber network which gives fast connectivity between its data centers. While it is the latest of the three major cloud suppliers, Google’s compute capabilities, cloud storage options and an increasing number of services are permitting it to get up to speed to AWS and Azure. Also, its prices are very customer-friendly.
Pros
– GCP provides high computer offerings in the form of analytics, machine learning, and big data compared to Azure and AWS.
– It additionally offers incredible scale and load balancing.
– The vital advantage of Google Cloud Platform narrows down to Google Kubernetes Engine, which is a unique manager. Google intends to bring other standard cloud services, for example, AWS and Azure to Kubernetes.
– GCP provides live migrations of virtual machines.
– Its open-source nature offers scalability and a flexible cost structure.
Cons
– It likewise doesn’t have the same number of worldwide data centers as its two fundamental rivals, yet it’s growing at a fast speed.
– GCP is frequently utilized as an optional supplier instead of an essential supplier.
– Google needs to up its game with regards to the range of services it offers. AWS and Azure offer solid rivalry in this space.
GCP is suitable for companies who wish to have a more cost-effective and leaner solution. Its comprehensive container-based model is the best fit for companies creating and deploying cloud-based software and applications.
Conclusion
In wide terms, AWS keeps on driving the path in terms of offering the amplest range of maturity and functionality. Yet, apparently, Microsoft has begun to overcome any gap between the two and will keep on doing as such with its ongoing investment in working out the Azure cloud platform and further plans to strengthen ties with its on-premise software.
Google could demonstrate a stronger enterprise competitor under its new leadership. It was at this point gaining great ground with specific clients, particularly with its Kubernetes and machine learning expertise.