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With the increasing adoption of cloud computing, companies of all sizes are looking to migrate their infrastructure to this technology . According to a study we conducted at Skyone and published by Mordor Intelligence , cloud migration among companies is expected to grow by 276% by 2026.
Among the most popular cloud service options are AWS , Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud . However, choosing the right platform for your cloud migration can be challenging, as each offers a range of unique services, pricing, and features.
Therefore, in this article, we will analyze these three main cloud platforms, examining their characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as comparing their essential service offerings, such as computing, storage, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and much more.
By the end of this text, we hope you will have a clear understanding of which cloud provider can best meet your company's specific needs.
Enjoy your reading!
Why is cloud migration so important for businesses?
Migrating to the cloud represents a vital evolution in the IT environment of modern companies. This is because it allows for agile adaptation to today's competitive market, where scalability and resource flexibility are essential.
Furthermore, planning this cloud migration strategy can result in significant savings in operational and maintenance costs, since a physical data center
Another advantage is scalability, as companies gain the ability to scale their IT resources according to demand, easily increasing or decreasing them as needed.
Therefore, migrating to the cloud requires meticulous planning , but the risks are known and manageable. Thus, well-structured strategies facilitate a smooth transition process to the cloud.
And the benefits go even further, influencing operational agility and continuous innovation within the corporate environment. A successful cloud migration strategy positions companies on the path to digital transformation , allowing them to be more resilient and prepared for the future.
What are AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud?
When we talk about cloud migration, AWS (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are three of the cloud computing providers , offering a wide range of services, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions.
Thus, they enable users to create public cloud environments to host applications and manage data in a scalable and secure way.
History and evolution of each platform
Launched in 2006, AWS pioneered the public cloud market and quickly established itself as a leader. It constantly expands its global service and infrastructure offerings, remaining at the forefront of innovation in cloud computing solutions .
Introduced in 2010, Microsoft Azure entered the market focused on offering services compatible with many of the solutions already used by businesses. It has evolved into a robust hybrid cloud platform , with deep integration of Windows Server and other Microsoft enterprise tools.
Launched in 2011, Google Cloud entered the market leveraging Google's expertise in large-scale data processing and analytics . It distinguished itself through its data analytics capabilities and machine learning services, as well as offering a highly optimized infrastructure.
In the following sections, discover what each platform offers and what its main features are.
AWS (Amazon Web Services)
As we have seen, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one of the largest cloud service providers in the world, offering scalability, performance, and a wide range of security tools, making it a reliable choice for businesses of all sizes.
Services offered
AWS offers an extensive list of services, such as Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) for cloud computing, storage services like Amazon S3 machine learning and database options
Integration ecosystem
System integration is simplified through AWS's vast ecosystem of integrations (SDKs, CLI, etc.), which allows the connection of different services and applications, from development tools machine learning and analytics solutions .
Performance and scalability
With a robust infrastructure, AWS guarantees high-level performance and scalability . Servers and resources can be quickly adjusted to meet changing demand, making it easy to expand or contract resources as needed.
Safety and compliance
Security is a priority at AWS, which holds a large number of compliance certifications . It offers advanced security tools to protect data, applications, and infrastructure against potential threats.
Support and community
AWS customers have access to technical support and an active community. There are numerous learning resources and forums where you can exchange knowledge and resolve questions about AWS services.
Use cases
Companies use AWS for website hosting , enterprise applications , backups , and disaster recovery . The ability to manage large volumes of data and perform complex analyses with machine learning are just a few examples of the many use cases supported by AWS.
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure is a robust cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services capable of meeting different cloud migration needs, ensuring security, performance, and compliance with various regulations.
Therefore, planning and good migration strategies are essential to fully leverage the potential of Azure.
Services offered
Azure offers a variety of services, such as virtual computing, data storage, and big data , that enable businesses to build, manage, and deploy applications on a global network managed by Microsoft. These services support various programming languages, tools, and frameworks , both from Microsoft and third parties.
Integration ecosystem
It provides an integrated ecosystem that allows companies to connect their applications to cloud and on-premises , thereby increasing functionality and flexibility . This includes integrations with identity management systems, databases, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
Performance and scalability
Azure also excels in performance and scalability, allowing applications to adapt to increasing demands without the need for upfront investments in physical infrastructure. The ability to scale services vertically and horizontally facilitates the dynamic management of workloads.
Safety and compliance
The platform ensures a high level of security through multiple layers of defense and advanced compliance features that help protect customer data. It also implements rigorous global compliance standards, including ISO, HIPAA, FedRAMP, and GDPR, reinforcing its commitment to data security.
Support and community
Azure customers have access to comprehensive technical support and a vast community of users and developers . It also provides detailed documentation, tutorials, and discussion forums, which help resolve questions and promote continuous learning.
Use cases
Azure's use cases are diverse , ranging from small applications to complex enterprise solutions. Companies of all sizes can benefit from using Azure to host their website, develop innovative mobile applications, perform big data , and much more. The flexibility to accommodate a range of migration strategies is one of its greatest advantages.
Google Cloud
Google Cloud is one of the leading cloud computing on the market, offering a variety of public cloud services. They stand out for their integrated tools, performance, and security features during cloud migration.
Services offered
Google Cloud provides a variety of services, including computing, data storage, IoT, and Big Data. It also has robust machine learning , allowing companies to optimize their operations with advanced artificial intelligence models.
Integration ecosystem
The platform integrates with various environments and tools, creating a versatile ecosystem. Through Google Cloud, legacy systems, cloud applications, and IoT devices can be easily connected, providing a unified experience .
Performance and scalability
Scalability is one of Google Cloud's strengths, allowing resources to be adjusted according to demand . With consistently high performance, the platform is suitable for applications that require a large amount of processing power or have usage spikes.
Safety and compliance
When it comes to security, Google Cloud offers a protected infrastructure and compliance with global standards . It has multiple layers of security, ensuring data protection and user privacy.
Support and community
It offers a vast portfolio of documentation, tutorials, and discussion forums. The Google Cloud developer community and technical support are valuable resources for troubleshooting and sharing best practices.
Use cases
Google Cloud is ideal for companies seeking solutions in machine learning, big data analytics, and IoT applications . Whether hosting complex applications or performing advanced data analysis, the platform offers the necessary tools for a variety of use cases.
Cloud migration: which provider to choose?
So, when it comes time to migrate to the cloud, should I choose AWS , Azure, or Google Cloud? The answer is less simple than it seems. When evaluating which cloud computing provider to choose, it's crucial to consider the size and type of workload, the need for cost savings flexibility offered.
AWS is known for its vast range of services and large global presence , which makes it highly scalable. It is one of the oldest and most established providers, with a robust infrastructure offering storage, networking, and server services.
Thus, AWS has the largest catalog of services, which can be beneficial for companies seeking a wide variety of tools and services to meet their complex needs.
On the other hand, Microsoft's Azure stands out for its integration with other Microsoft products , such as Windows Server, Active Directory, and SQL Server, which can be a major advantage for companies that already rely on other Microsoft technologies.
Furthermore, Azure offers an impressive suite of AI, ML, and analytics services, and is considered the second largest in terms of service offerings after AWS.
Finally, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is notable for its strong offerings in data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence services . Furthermore, it is recognized for its high computing and the infrastructure that underpins popular Google products such as Google Search and YouTube.
Given this scenario, companies seeking innovation in AI and ML can find in Google Cloud a platform aligned with their needs.
Below is a comparison table that can help you visualize some of the differences when migrating to the cloud:
| AWS | Azure | Google Cloud | |
| Year of release | 2006 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Market share | Greater market share | Second largest share | Third largest share |
| Main services | EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda | Virtual Machines, Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database, Azure Functions | Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Cloud SQL, Cloud Functions |
| Global presence | 25 regions, 81 availability zones | 60+ regions, 160+ availability zones | 24 regions, 73 availability zones |
| Prices | Detailed pricing model with various optimization options | Competitive pricing and discounts for businesses and Windows users | Competitive pricing with a pay-as-you-go model |
| Storage | S3 for object storage, EBS for block storage | Blob Storage for objects, Azure Files for file storage, Managed Disks for VMs | Cloud Storage for objects, Persistent Disks for block storage |
| Database | RDS for relational databases, DynamoDB for NoSQL | Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB for NoSQL | Cloud SQL for SQL, Firestore and Bigtable for NoSQL |
| Security | IAM, KMS, GuardDuty, Shield | Active Directory, Key Vault, Security Center | IAM, KMS, Security Command Center |
| Collaboration tools | AWS Chime, WorkDocs | Microsoft Teams, Office 365 | Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) |
Count on Skyone to migrate your assets to the cloud
When we talk about migrating to the cloud, in addition to choosing the right cloud , having a partner with expertise is crucial. We at Skyone are a specialized company that offers customized and efficient cloud solutions, aligned with the needs of each client.
Whether you choose AWS , Azure, or Google, our single platform allows you to migrate your company's assets to the cloud quickly and securely, enabling your IT team to focus on what matters most: your business !
Come and discover how we can propel your journey to cloud success!
Conclusion
As we have seen throughout this article, migrating to the cloud represents a significant transformation in business processes, encouraging innovation and ensuring greater scalability.
Therefore, choosing the cloud computing service that best suits your company's needs is an important part of the process.
Furthermore, it is crucial to understand that this transition may involve a variety of environments, including private cloud, hybrid cloud, and other configurations, each addressing specific business needs.
Continue your learning journey by checking out our complete guide to cloud migration!
