AWS vs Azure vs GCP: Which Cloud is Right for Your Business?

Choosing the right cloud provider is one of the most important infrastructure decisions you'll make. This guide provides an unbiased comparison to help you make the right choice for your business.

Overview

Each cloud provider has its strengths:

• AWS - The market leader with the broadest service offering
• Azure - Best for Microsoft-centric environments
• GCP - Strong in data analytics and machine learning

Security Comparison

AWS Security Features

• IAM with fine-grained policies
• VPC with security groups and NACLs
• AWS Security Hub for centralized security
• GuardDuty for threat detection

Azure Security Features

• Azure Active Directory integration
• Network Security Groups
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud
• Sentinel SIEM

GCP Security Features

• Cloud IAM with organizational policies
• VPC Service Controls
• Security Command Center
• BeyondCorp Enterprise

Compliance Support

All three providers offer compliance certifications, but support varies:

Framework	AWS	Azure	GCP
HIPAA	Yes	Yes	Yes
SOC 2	Yes	Yes	Yes
PCI-DSS	Yes	Yes	Yes
FedRAMP	High	High	High

Cost Considerations

Total cost of ownership includes more than just compute costs:

• Data transfer fees (AWS and Azure are more expensive)
• Storage costs
• Support costs
• Training and expertise

Our Recommendation

There's no universally "best" cloud provider. The right choice depends on:

• Your existing technology stack
• Compliance requirements
• Team expertise
• Specific workload needs

Need help choosing? Book a strategy call to discuss your specific needs.