top of page
Writer's pictureViolet Swierkot
Nov 5, 20243 min read

AWS vs Azure: Which Cloud Platform Stands Out in 2024?

Recently, while managing a cloud migration project at the University of Suffolk, I had insightful discussions with colleagues and BT engineers who spoke highly of AWS for its flexibility and robust capabilities. Their recommendation prompted me to dive into a detailed, research-backed analysis to ensure we made the best-informed decision. Which cloud platform would your organisation choose?




In 2024, the cloud landscape remains dominated by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. Organisations worldwide rely on these platforms for their advanced infrastructures and extensive service offerings. Recently, in overseeing a cloud migration project at the University of Suffolk, I had valuable conversations with colleagues and engineers at BT, who highly recommended AWS for its flexibility and robust offerings. This led me to conduct a comparative analysis, backed by academic-quality research, to make a fully informed decision.

Global Reach & Availability

Global infrastructure is crucial for organisations with distributed teams or specific compliance requirements.


  • AWS has established itself as a leader with over 31 regions and 99 Availability Zones worldwide, which ensures minimal latency and high availability.

  • Azure has responded with 65+ regions and over 160 data centres, strategically expanding in emerging markets, making it a serious contender for global coverage.


Verdict: AWS has a slight edge in reach, though Azure’s expansion into key markets makes it highly competitive, especially for region-specific requirements.

Service Portfolio & Integration

Both platforms offer a comprehensive range of services, though with unique advantages.


  • AWS provides over 250 services, including AWS Lambda for serverless computing and SageMaker for AI, which has been ideal for organisations prioritising innovation.

  • Azure offers more than 200 services and is unmatched in its seamless integration with Microsoft products like Office 365 and Dynamics. For businesses already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem, Azure’s Cognitive Services bring strong AI capabilities to the table.


Verdict: AWS takes the lead in service variety, while Azure’s compatibility with Microsoft products makes it the clear choice for organisations with a Microsoft foundation.

Cost Structures

Pricing flexibility often influences cloud adoption, with both platforms offering various cost optimisation models.


  • AWS offers complex pricing with On-Demand, Reserved Instances, and Savings Plans, which allows organisations to manage costs closely.

  • Azure provides a simpler pricing model for those using Microsoft licenses, offering the Azure Hybrid Benefit for significant savings on Windows Server and SQL Server, ideal for Microsoft-aligned organisations.


Verdict: For those invested in Microsoft, Azure’s transparent pricing and hybrid benefits may offer an advantage. AWS provides flexibility but requires a nuanced understanding of its pricing options.

Hybrid Cloud Capabilities

As hybrid and multi-cloud strategies grow in popularity, platform flexibility becomes increasingly important.


  • AWS has made strides with hybrid options like AWS Outposts, extending cloud infrastructure to on-prem environments.

  • Azure leads the hybrid space with Azure Arc and Azure Stack, which are designed for managing resources across multi-cloud and on-prem environments.


Verdict: Azure stands out in hybrid solutions, providing a more cohesive platform for organisations with complex multi-cloud or on-prem requirements.

Conclusion: Deciding on AWS or Azure in 2024

Given the insights from BT engineers and further research, both platforms offer distinct benefits for different types of organisations.


  • Choose AWS if: You value an extensive global reach, require a broad array of services, or need flexible pricing options for customisation.

  • Choose Azure if: Your organisation uses Microsoft products, needs strong hybrid support, or seeks straightforward, cost-effective pricing for Microsoft license holders.


In many cases, adopting a multi-cloud strategy that leverages AWS’s extensive infrastructure alongside Azure’s integration strengths may deliver the best of both worlds, providing an optimal balance of resilience, performance, and cost-effectiveness.


References: 


10 views0 comments

コメント

bottom of page