Which is better - Amazon AWS or Azure?

Azure and Amazon AWS are both public cloud hosting solutions. But what does that mean exactly? What is a cloud hosting solution anyway?

Most companies nowadays have IT architecture. Depending on the demands of the business, on-site hardware for storage may not be tenable. 

Public cloud solutions are used to access applications, storage and machine technology remotely. A third party provider hosts these, using their own technology, delivering resources to users over a network. Tech companies need a greater bandwidth and take advantage of cloud storage solutions for any or all of the following advantages:

• Scalability

• Unlimited storage without loss of functionality

• Security

• Cost-effective

• Back-up and restore data securely

• Mobility; work from anywhere, with automatic software integration

• Reduced management

Two of the largest competitors in this space are Azure, from Microsoft, and Amazon’s AWS. In layman’s terms, we’ll break down some of the base aspects you should consider when making your decision. 

Both allow you to set up a Virtual Machine (VM); basically a computer that exists without hardware; you’re accessing all the same features and tools, without the physical source. The source comes from the cloud. 

Amazon AWS

• Pay per hour, on demand

• Reserve an instance (server) for 1 - 3 years with upfront, discounted cost

• Billed on a sliding scale depending on usage

• No cancellations on reserved instances; instead, you can sell at the Amazon Marketplace

• Built for open source integration

• Exceptional customization power and flexibility

• Largest market share, as first-to-market in 2006

Microsoft Azure

• History of on-premises service provision to companies

• Built to integrate seamlessly with Microsoft’s other products, like ASP .NET or Visual Studio; therefore, much cheaper to use with these frameworks

• Pay-per-minute or short-term prepaid commitments

• Flat monthly rate

• Cancellation fee of 12% for reserved instances

• More global regions than any other provider

Both offerings prioritize compliance with multiple certifications. They also only allow screened persons to access the cloud. 

AWS and Azure have a huge presence in the market, and have their advantages. In a technical context, there are more aspects to consider; the needs of your project or organization, budget available, timeline, and programs you need to work with. It’s also important to make sure your location is serviced by the plan you want to opt for. For example, AWS doesn’t have their Cost Explorer available in Northern California or Ohio. 

At Synic, we opt for Microsoft Azure, which works well with the frameworks we favor for app and web development. While Azure has less customization, it is without a steep learning curve. Anyone can pick it up if they’re already using Microsoft products, using the same account. The consistency of our provider means that there’s a throughline and logic to work processes. Our developers love it. In turn, this is excellent for our clients who may be less tech literate, to observe the ongoing development process.

If you’re looking for impartial support when choosing your cloud provider, Synic can act as your external IT advisors. With a proven track record of experience and dedicated team, we’ve got a passion for finding the best solution for your business.