Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, intelligence, and more—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation and more elastic resources.
Cloud computing offers many benefits, including:
- Agility and scalability: Cloud computing allows businesses to quickly and easily scale their IT resources up or down as needed, without having to invest in and maintain their own infrastructure.
- Cost savings: Cloud computing can help businesses save money on IT costs by eliminating the need to purchase and maintain their own hardware and software.
- Reliability: Cloud providers offer high levels of reliability and uptime, so businesses can be confident that their applications and data will be available when they need them.
- Security: Cloud providers offer a wide range of security features to protect businesses from cyber threats.
Which platform is right for you?
The best cloud computing platform for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. If you are looking for a platform with the widest range of services and the largest market share, then AWS is a good choice. If you are looking for a platform with strong Windows integration and a wide range of PaaS services, then Azure is a good choice.
Here are some specific scenarios where one platform may be a better fit than the other:
- AWS is a good choice for:
- Businesses that need a wide range of cloud services.
- Businesses with existing AWS investments.
- Businesses that need strong IaaS support.
- Businesses that need to support open-source technologies.
- Azure is a good choice for:
- Businesses that need strong Windows integration.
- Businesses that need strong PaaS support.
- Businesses with existing Microsoft investments.
- Businesses that need to comply with specific industry regulations.
If you are not sure which platform is right for you, you may want to consider working with a cloud consultant who can help you assess your needs and make a recommendation.