Businesses are moving to the cloud left, right and centre. Due to this, new tools and products are put onto the market everyday. In this blog, we will focus on the two most popular players in the cloud game, Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure.

 

What is the Cloud?

Unfortunately, in terms of tech, the cloud isn’t the fluffy white things we see in the sky, it’s a term for internet-based computing services such as storage or servers. The only similarity between these is that typically, the logo for any cloud-based services is the same ones we see in the sky!

What is Microsoft Azure?

As the name suggests, Azure is a cloud product developed by Microsoft. Azure offers a wide range of cloud services such as servers and storage. This integrates with the Microsoft 365 system, offering a powerful solution to those already using other Microsoft products such as Outlook.

What is Amazon AWS?

Again, as suggested by the name, AWS has been developed by Amazon. Yes, this is the same Amazon which we get our online shopping done from. Being a relatively new player on the scene, it actually holds a bigger market share than Microsoft with an impressive 33% compared to Microsoft’s 22%. AWS offers similar services to Azure, with cloud storage and server solutions being the main service provided.

What are the Differences Between Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure?

There are a handful of differences between Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure. Apart from the obvious difference being that one is developed by Microsoft and the other Amazon, some of the differences relate to the core services provided.

Azure is typically seen as the better option for smaller businesses. This is due to the reduced complexity and slightly more simple nature of the product. Part of the reason it is also seen as a more SMB friendly option is due to it being familiar to many within a business. It integrates with other Microsoft products such as OneDrive and SharePoint which are tools commonly used among small businesses in the UK. The overall cost is also lower, further supporting its status as the leading choice for smaller businesses. With Azure, you are also able to pay for what you need. The most simple way of understanding this is picturing grocery shopping. Azure acts like buying the amount of groceries you need at that moment, AWS works more like bulk buying.

 

AWS on the other hand could be compared to a Swiss army knife, it has a tool for almost everything. This is perfect for larger companies who need this feature, but for the majority of small businesses, these tools will go unused and therefore the cost is harder to justify than Microsoft Azure. It is also more likely to come at a surprise for your business staff due to the unfamiliarity of the Amazon AWS system compared to the more user-friendly Microsoft system.

Besides these downsides to AWS, the system itself is known to be powerful and just as strong in terms of cybersecurity as Microsoft Azure. It truly depends on your business size and needs which you choose.

 

Three Cherries: Bristol Microsoft Azure Specialists

At Three Cherries, we specialise in delivering the best of the best business IT support in Bristol and Somerset. Being a Microsoft house, we know a thing or two about deploying Azure and can guide your business in the right direction in terms of cloud solutions. From spinning up virtual servers to talking you through the services offered within Azure, contact us today to find out more!