Wednesday, May 14

Which Cloud? A client Q&A on Cloud choices

A client Q&A on Cloud choices - AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud (GCP)


Q1: Which cloud provider is best for global reach and availability?

AWS leads with the widest global network, offering 31+ regions and 99 availability zones. Azure follows with 60+ regions and strong regional presence, while GCP covers 37+ regions with a growing footprint[7].

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Q2: How do the compute services compare?

- **AWS:** EC2 for scalable VMs, Lambda for serverless, Elastic Beanstalk for app deployment.
- **Azure:** Virtual Machines, Azure Functions (serverless), App Services.
- **GCP:** Compute Engine (VMs), Cloud Functions (serverless), App Engine[3][4][5].

All three offer robust and scalable compute, but AWS is the most mature and feature-rich[1][4].

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Q3: What are the differences in storage solutions?

- **AWS:** S3 (object), EBS (block), Glacier (archival).
- **Azure:** Blob Storage (object), Disk Storage (block), Archive Storage.
- **GCP:** Cloud Storage (object), Persistent Disk (block), Coldline (archival)[4][5].

All provide secure, scalable storage, but AWS is known for reliability; GCP is cost-effective for archival[1].

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Q4: Which platform excels in AI and Machine Learning?

- **AWS:** SageMaker, Rekognition, Polly.
- **Azure:** Azure Machine Learning, Cognitive Services.
- **GCP:** Vertex AI, AutoML, Vision AI.

GCP stands out for advanced analytics and AI/ML, while AWS and Azure offer broad enterprise-ready options

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Q5: How do they compare on security and compliance?

- **AWS:** Most mature, broad certifications (GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA), tools like IAM, Shield, Inspector.
- **Azure:** Strong integration with Active Directory, Azure Security Center, regional compliance focus.
- **GCP:** Strong in data privacy, encryption, Security Command Center, privacy-centric certifications (GDPR, CCPA)[6][8][9].

All support major standards, but AWS is best for global compliance, Azure for regional, GCP for privacy-focused needs[8].

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Q6: What about hybrid and multi-cloud capabilities?

- **AWS:** Outposts for hybrid, strong APIs.
- **Azure:** Azure Stack, best for integrating with on-premises and Microsoft tools.
- **GCP:** Anthos for multi-cloud and hybrid, open-source friendly[5][7].

Azure leads for hybrid, especially for Microsoft-centric enterprises[5].

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Q7: How do pricing models differ?

- **AWS:** Pay-as-you-go, 12 months free tier, generally higher cost.
- **Azure:** Pay-as-you-go, $200 credit, manageable pricing, good for Microsoft users.
- **GCP:** Pay-as-you-go, $300 credit, lowest entry cost, especially for analytics and startups[5][7].

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Q8: Which is easier to use and integrate?

- **AWS:** Steep learning curve, but vast documentation.
- **Azure:** Familiar for Microsoft users, seamless with existing MS tools.
- **GCP:** User-friendly, especially for developers and analytics workloads[1][5].

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Q9: What about DevOps and marketplace offerings?

All three offer mature DevOps pipelines and large marketplaces for third-party tools, with AWS and Azure having broader offerings than GCP[5][6].

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Q10: Which provider is best for my organization?

- **AWS:** Enterprises needing flexibility, global presence, and mature services.
- **Azure:** Organizations heavily invested in Microsoft, needing hybrid solutions.
- **GCP:** Startups, analytics-driven businesses, or those prioritizing AI/ML and cost savings[1][5][7].

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**Summary Table: Feature Ratings**

| Feature            | AWS         | Azure       | GCP         |
|--------------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| Global Reach       | 5/5         | 5/5         | 4/5         |
| Compute Services   | 5/5         | 4.5/5       | 4/5         |
| Storage Solutions  | 5/5         | 4.5/5       | 4/5         |
| AI/ML              | 4.5/5       | 4/5         | 5/5         |
| Security           | 5/5         | 4.5/5       | 4/5         |
| Hybrid             | 4.5/5       | 5/5         | 4/5         |
| Ease of Use        | 3.5/5       | 4.5/5       | 4.5/5       |
| Pricing            | 4/5         | 4.5/5       | 4.5/5       |

 
Useful links:
[1] AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud: The Ultimate Comparison in 2025 https://dynatechconsultancy.com/blog/aws-vs-azure-vs-google-cloud-the-ultimate-comparison
 
[2] AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud: Cloud Services Compared 2025 https://www.channelinsider.com/cloud-computing/aws-vs-azure-vs-google-cloud/
 
[3] Compare AWS and Azure services to Google Cloud | Documentation https://cloud.google.com/docs/get-started/aws-azure-gcp-service-comparison
 
[4] AWS vs GCP vs Azure: Which Cloud Platform is Best in 2025? https://getsdeready.com/aws-vs-gcp-vs-azure-which-cloud-platform-is-best/
 
[5] AWS vs Azure vs GCP: Which Cloud Platform is the Right Fit Your ... https://vlinkinfo.com/blog/aws-vs-azure-vs-gcp/
 
[6] Cloud security comparison: AWS vs. Azure vs. GCP - Pluralsight https://www.pluralsight.com/resources/blog/cloud/cloud-security-comparison-aws-vs-azure-vs-gcp
 
[7] AWS vs Azure vs GCP [2025 Cloud Comparison Guide] - Acropolium https://acropolium.com/blog/adopting-cloud-computing-aws-vs-azure-vs-google-cloud-what-platform-is-your-bet/
 
[8] AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud: A Security Feature Comparison | Jit https://www.jit.io/resources/cloud-sec-tools/aws-vs-azure-vs-google-cloud-a-security-feature-comparison
 
[9] AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud Security: Comparison - BizBot https://bizbot.com/blog/aws-vs-azure-vs-google-cloud-security-comparison/
 
Feel fee to share any good link that I have missed in this blog.    Cheers!

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