Web hosting services: Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines vs. AWS EC2
Quick Verdict
Both Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines and AWS EC2 are robust and comprehensive virtual machine services, each offering a wide array of instance types, global availability, and diverse pricing models. The choice between them often depends on existing cloud infrastructure, specific workload requirements, and familiarity with the respective ecosystems. AWS EC2 provides more granular examples of instance specifications, while Azure highlights maximum resource capabilities. Both platforms offer strong security features and extensive integration with other managed services.
- Both Azure Virtual Machines and AWS EC2 offer a wide range of instance types, operating system support, and global availability.
- Both platforms provide various pricing models, including pay-as-you-go, reserved instances, and spot instances.
- Both offer robust security features and integration with other managed services within their respective ecosystems.
- AWS EC2 provides detailed examples of vCPU counts and network bandwidth for specific instance types, while Azure specifies maximum vCPU and RAM capabilities.
- AWS EC2 Auto Scaling offers dynamic and predictive scaling options, while Azure uses Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS) for automated horizontal scaling.
Key features – Side-by-Side
| Attribute | Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines | AWS EC2 |
|---|
| Virtual Machine Instance Types | — | — |
| Operating System Support | — | — |
| Compute Power (vCPUs) | — | — |
| Memory (RAM) | — | — |
| Storage Options (SSD, HDD) | — | — |
| Network Bandwidth | — | — |
| Scalability Options | — | — |
| Pricing Model (Pay-as-you-go, Reserved Instances) | — | — |
| Global Region Availability | — | — |
| Managed Services Integration | — | — |
| Security Features | — | — |
| Support and Documentation | — | — |
Overall Comparison
Azure: Up to 416 vCPUs, 12 TB RAM. AWS: Up to 128 vCPUs, 512 GiB RAM. AWS Reserved Instances offer up to 72% discount, Spot Instances up to 90% discount.
Pros and Cons
Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines
Pros:
- Automatic scaling using Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS)
- High availability with VMs distributed across availability zones and fault domains
- Integration with a wide range of Azure services
- Support for various operating systems and development languages
- Multi-layered security approach including NSGs, Azure Firewall, and DDoS protection
- Compliance with industry regulations and standards (FISMA, FedRAMP, HIPAA, PCI DSS Level 1)
- Global network with multiple regions and availability zones for high availability and low latency
Cons:
- No major disadvantages reported.
AWS EC2
Pros:
- Wide selection of instance types
- Supports various operating systems
- Offers both SSD and HDD storage options
- Auto Scaling adjusts the number of EC2 instances based on traffic
- Multiple pricing models available
- Global region availability
- Integrates with other AWS managed services
- Security features include security groups, IAM, and NACLs
- Extensive support and documentation
Cons:
- No major disadvantages reported.
User Experiences and Feedback
Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines
Common Complaints- No major complaints reported.
Value Perception- No value feedback reported.
AWS EC2
What Users Love- Handles traffic spikes and ensures consistent uptime
- Easy to scale resources up or down based on demand
- Offers significant discounts with Reserved and Spot Instances
- Protects data and prevents unauthorized access
- Integrates with other tools and platforms
- Provides extensive support and documentation
- Complies with relevant industry regulations and standards
Common Complaints- Limitations of the free tier or trial period
Value Perception- Pay-as-you-go
- Reserved Instances
- Spot Instances