AWS vs Azure: Which Cloud Platform Is Right for Your Business?
Choosing between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure is one of the most consequential technology decisions your business will make. Both are enterprise-grade cloud platforms, but they excel in different areas. This comparison is based on our experience managing 500+ cloud deployments across both platforms.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
Choose AWS if you need the broadest service catalog, are building cloud-native applications, or need advanced ML/AI capabilities. Choose Azure if your organization uses Microsoft 365, Active Directory, or wants simplified hybrid cloud with Azure Arc. Most of our clients with Microsoft-centric environments save 30-40% on Azure through Hybrid Benefit. We manage both platforms and can help you decide based on your specific workloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AWS or Azure?
It depends on your workloads. Azure is typically 20-40% cheaper for organizations with existing Microsoft licenses (Azure Hybrid Benefit). AWS can be cheaper for cloud-native workloads with heavy spot instance usage. We recommend a cost analysis with both platforms before deciding.
Can I use both AWS and Azure?
Yes, multi-cloud is increasingly common. About 30% of our clients use both platforms, running different workloads on each. We provide multi-cloud management through our public cloud solutions.
Which cloud is better for compliance?
Both meet major compliance standards (HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, FedRAMP). Azure has a slight edge for government workloads with Azure Government and dedicated sovereign regions.