Ever since its first appearance, cloud computing has advanced significantly. With 60% of the world’s corporate data stored in the cloud, the question is no longer whether to take on the technology or not, but which cloud vendor to go for. With many cloud providers entering the cloud computing market, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform stand out as the leading contenders.
Let’s take a look at the three platforms and which could be the right choice for your business.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing gives businesses the possibility to access computing power, databases, storage, applications, and other IT resources on demand, with these services made available through the web with a cloud service platform. It enables companies to keep their information and operate programs from a shared location instead of having to keep them on their computers.
Cloud computing is broken down into three main service models:
- SaaS (software as a service)
- PaaS (platform as a service)
- IaaS (infrastructure as a service)
What Amazon Web Service (AWS) offers
AWS is a cloud computing platform that was launched in 2006. It is suitable for organizations of all sizes and has a range of pricing schemes to suit any budget. Since its introduction, AWS has grown to become one of the biggest and most commonly used cloud computing services.
AWS is an outstanding example of infrastructure as a service (IaaS), which offers adjustable computing, storage, and load-balancing amenities for companies to execute their programs. AWS is constructed based on a wide web of data centers, located everywhere in the world.
AWS has a vast selection of services like computing, networking, storage, database, analytics, and application services. It is very robust and can offer a lot of features, but it is also the most intricate out of the three platforms discussed in this article. Businesses that are looking for a way to customize their computing resources and require extensive scaling should consider AWS.
What Microsoft Azure offers
Microsoft developed Azure in 2010 to compete with Amazon Web Services (AWS). It is now regarded as the second largest commercial cloud computing platform after AWS and provides four distinct varieties of cloud services: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and serverless functions.
Azure offers an extensive range of computing, data storage, and app services, with hybrid cloud capabilities for both on-site and cloud computing. It also supports open-source languages, technologies, and platforms, allowing for the creation and maintenance of any kind of application.
Companies that are seeking a broad array of cloud computing services, have an existing connection with Microsoft, and require hybrid cloud abilities will benefit the most from using Azure.
What Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offers
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a cloud computing solution created by Google that caters to the needs of businesses ranging from small to large. It was released in 2011 as a response to Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure and has since become one of the most widely-used cloud computing services. GCP offers different pricing plans to accommodate any budget.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a leading PaaS providing a wide range of application services for companies. Situated on a vast network of data centers around the world, GCP offers services such as computing, networking, storage, database, analytics, and application services.
GCP is an incredibly powerful platform that can offer a variety of capabilities, yet it is the most straightforward to use of the three platforms we will discuss. It is best for companies who wish to launch their operations quickly without needing to modify their computing environment too much.
Compare: AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform
When choosing a cloud computing service consider cost, security, regulations, scope, and services offered by the provider.
All three cloud hosting services (AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform) have their pros and cons, making them suitable for different businesses. Each of them is powerful but certain features make one stand out from the other. Let’s look into them further.
Availability
When selecting a cloud provider, the most important thing to consider is the range of services and their availability. This has a major impact on the effectiveness of your cloud since there are parameters such as latency and compliance with regulations, especially when data is involved.
- AWS has 96 availability zones in 30 regions globally
- Azure has 60+ announced regions, with a minimum of three availability zones in each
- GCP has 27 regions with 82 availability zones
Security
Each cloud provider has a unique set of security offerings, so businesses must determine what they need from a cloud platform. A managed security service provider can help companies understand security and compliance issues and select the best cloud platform for their industry.
Costs
AWS is the largest of the 3 platforms and tends to be the most cost-effective option for small companies. Even though AWS has decreased prices, numerous businesses find it difficult to understand the pricing system and successfully control their expenses while using the service.
Microsoft has an edge over its competitors due to its cloud services which include Windows Server, Office, SQL Server, Sharepoint, and more. Moreover, they provide considerable discounts to their customers who have service agreements.
Google Cloud Platform is cheaper compared to Azure. Nonetheless, it is essential to remember that the costs only cover the infrastructure. Extra costs may be incurred.
Scalability
All of these platforms offer outstanding scalability. AWS is mostly suitable for companies that need to expand quickly and are prepared to put money into establishing their infrastructure. GCP is generally the best choice for organizations that need a very scalable platform, however, don’t want to construct the required infrastructure by themselves. Azure is the right alternative for businesses that wish to be able to scale as necessary, but don’t want to stick to a certain level of scalability, in particular those companies that are already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Cloud computing services
Although all three of these systems offer a vast selection of cloud computing services, they each possess special expertise. AWS, for instance, is the optimal choice for those who count heavily on machine learning and AI technology. Azure is ideal for those who need a lot of relational database management. As for Google Cloud Platform, it is appropriate for all types of business operations.
Choose your cloud computing platform
When deciding between the three platforms, take into account how each would fit into your organization’s current setup and future objectives. Factors like cost, scalability, dependability, access, and security are all essential elements to consider. Reach out to the cloud specialists at Aquarius IQ for specialized guidance and support to make sure that whatever platform you select, it is the ideal fit for your company.
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