Public cloud computing services have grown at an astonishing rate. Once a tiny part of the world’s computing infrastructure, they are projected to be a 400-billion dollar market by 2022.
The three biggest players in the cloud environment world are Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. These three tech giants have the resources, infrastructure, and security to provide hosting for all but the most secure companies.
Finding the right cloud environment for your company will depend on your individual needs, as each have their pros and cons.
So, of AWS vs Azure vs Google, which one is the best cloud environment for your company’s needs? Read on to discover the strengths and weaknesses of all three.
AWS has held the largest share of the cloud market since it debuted in 2006. As of late 2019, it is the choice of 33% of users. While your first thought of Amazon may involve warehouses full of physical goods, AWS actually accounts for the majority of Amazon’s profits.
In many ways, AWS is the hidden infrastructure that nearly a third of the internet runs on.
Let’s take a look at the pros first.
As a market leader, AWS has had time to develop hundreds of different services to suit every company’s need. It offers special tools for security and enterprise applications, mobile development, management, and much more.
For anyone working with machine learning, AWS’s SageMaker software simplifies the process greatly. Amazon also has a variety of off-the-shelf machine learning processes for functions like image recognition and text-to-speech deep learning.
Those concerned about security can take heart in the fact that Amazon has used the underlying AWS infrastructure to build custom platforms for security-minded customers such as Dow Jones, AstraZeneca, and even the CIA.
However, AWS does come with some drawbacks.
The scale of AWS can be a distinct advantage. But, if you’re just looking to use AWS for simple tasks, it can be hard to navigate.
While Microsoft and Google remain primarily software companies, Amazon is expanding into many other industries. Recently it has made inroads into healthcare, finance, and physical stores. Companies may be wary of expanding the market share of a potential competitor.
Azure is Microsoft’s entry into the cloud arena. It offers many of the same services as AWS. Microsoft’s cloud-first approach has led to Azure expanding its market share in recent years.
Let’s take a look at some of the pros of Microsoft Azure.
Many companies already use Microsoft products such as Microsoft Teams or Windows Server. Azure is designed to integrate seamlessly into an existing Microsoft infrastructure.
For open-source users, Azure works well with Linux and other open-source platforms.
Azure is often offered at a discount to the aforementioned Microsoft users. Or, it is sold as part of a package including many other useful Microsoft products for your company.
Here are some of the major complaints about Azure.
A major global outage in 2019 left Azure customers stranded. AWS and Google Cloud have also had outages, but Azure is more likely to fail on average.
Limited Tech Support
Some customers find Microsoft’s tech support offerings to be inadequate and costly.
Google Cloud is the new player in the cloud environment world. It has offered a variety of new services to entice customers away from AWS and Azure.
Instead of providing services from the proverbial mountaintop, Google Cloud has embraced a more collaborative approach. Engineers and customers often work together to some extent.
Here are the best aspects of Google Cloud.
Thanks to the technology that powers its search engine, Google is about even with AWS when it comes to support for machine learning.
Rather than chasing big contracts, Google has decided to focus on providing a cutting-edge experience to startups and smaller companies with the potential for rapid growth. This makes Google Cloud easy to work with and receptive to suggestions. It also gives it an agility that may work to its advantage as it works to capture market share in the coming years.
Google has emerged as the fastest of the three major cloud companies in making fixes to its offerings. While it has work to do, particularly with enterprise accounts, Google has demonstrated a commitment to constant innovation and growth.
Google Cloud may have some drawbacks, particularly for larger companies.
Google Cloud’s dedication to working with smaller, more dynamic companies has a flipside. It is not as well-equipped as Amazon or Microsoft to handle large contracts and large company needs. Nor is it as willing to craft custom architecture for those large companies.
Unlike AWS and Azure, Google has no presence in China. Google services have been blocked in China since 2010, which may pose a problem for companies that do a lot of business with Chinese clients.
Overall, your choice of cloud environment will depend on your company’s needs. The AWS vs Azure vs Google question has no universal solution.
AWS currently has the largest market share and number of features. This makes it ideal for companies that need proven effectiveness.
If your organization is already integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, Azure might be the best choice.
Meanwhile, Google is closing the gap in its market share with a commitment to the cutting edge of cloud technology.
If you’re still confused about which cloud environment to pick, number8 has been in the industry for more than 20 years, we would be glad to help you decide the best option for your company. Schedule a time to talk with one of our team members by using our contact form to get in touch or call us at (502)212-0978.
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