AWS Vs. Azure Vs Google Cloud Comparison: Which Cloud Platform is Right for Your Enterprise?

What is Cloud?

The term “cloud” describes the global network and chain of servers, each with a unique function. The cloud is not a physical entity but rather a huge network of remote servers across the globe that are hooked together and operate as a singular ecosystem.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing refers to computing services such as processing power and app storage. Businesses opt for cloud-based services from the 3rd party supplier and get charged for the services they use and scale as needed.

The cloud offers many options for serving, storing, and processing data. Cloud networks allow everything from Netflix and Major League Baseball to IoT sensors and machine learning apps.

Related Blog: Cloud Enablement: Basics and Strategy

Importance of Choosing the Right Cloud Platform

Cloud infrastructures can support environmental proactivity, power up virtual services instead of physical products, reduce paper waste, enhance efficiency, and employees can gain access from anywhere if they have an internet connection. Companies can significantly benefit from cloud computing, such as:

1. Easier to scale.
2. Reduced Infrastructure Maintenance.
3. Competitive edge.
4. Sustainability.
5. Automatic software updates.
6. Data back-ups.

Difference Between AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud vs. IBM

Cloud computing has completely transformed how companies and enterprises work, allowing us to use advanced technologies. Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and IBM are some of the top and dominant cloud service providers in the global cloud market. Before committing to a cloud computing provider, you must do your due diligence and compare every platform to understand its differences and capabilities.

Let’s compare AWS, Azure, Google, and IBM Cloud based on several factors.

01. AWS Vs. Azure Vs. Google Vs. IBM Cloud: Overview of The Major Cloud Platforms

The leading competition in cloud computing is fierce between AWS, Azure, Google, and IBM. Without a doubt, these four are the top companies holding a commanding lead in the cloud market. Following is a brief overview of each cloud computing provider.

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS) 
   Amazon Web Services is a part of the leading eCommerce store called Amazon.com.inc. and is one of the leading companies in cloud computing platforms. AWS is the most mature cloud management provider, with a wide range of services for everyone, such as small businesses, individuals, and governments.
   One cannot go wrong with AWS due to its wide collection of tools and services and its gigantic scale. Its size makes it challenging for Amazon to bond closely with its customers. However, there are also managed service providers who offer their customers an attentive focus.
2. Microsoft Azure 
   MS Azure is one of the close rivals of AWS with remarkable cloud infrastructure. Azure platforms work hard to interoperate with the data centres, and hybrid cloud computing is Azure’s competitive edge. The deep focus on the hybrid cloud allows users to bridge the legacy data centre environment with the scalable and feature-full Microsoft cloud.
   The major factor contributing to the success of Azure Cloud is that many companies and enterprises deploy Windows and other Microsoft tools. Since Azure is integrated with other applications, enterprises that use different Microsoft tools find that it is also better to use Azure cloud computing.
3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
   Google’s technical knowledge and skills are profound, and their industry-leading tools in artificial intelligence and deep learning, machine learning, and data analytics are major benefits. Google Cloud is completely committed and plowed billions into its cloud efforts. Google has built its cloud infrastructure on its strength, which is machine learning and scale.
   Google created the Kubernetes standard that Azure and AWS now offer. Google Cloud platform excels in high compute offerings such as machine learning and big data analytics. They also provide load balancing and scaling.
4. IBM Cloud
   IBM Cloud computing allows companies to choose the best-fit hosting atmosphere. They provide scalable virtual servers that you can purchase with memory and core allocations dedicated to your organization. IBM Kubernetes combines the intuitive user interface, docker containers, and Kubernetes technology, offering a security-rich atmosphere. You can also get functions-as-a-service programming that is based on Apache OpenWhisk. 

02. AWS Vs. Azure Vs. Google Vs. IBM Cloud: Establishment

Learning the history of every platform is the initial step in evaluating different cloud service companies. Every service began in a different place, affecting how providers focus their offerings. Read the following to learn more.

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
   AWS was publicly released in 2006 with Simple Storage Services and Elastic Compute Cloud services. Elastic Block System was released in 2008, and services like content delivery network and CloudFront were also introduced. AWS has an extensive user base and high reliability and trust as one of the oldest cloud providers. 
2. Microsoft Azure
   Microsoft Azure was initially known as Azure and was established in 2010 to provide companies with robust cloud computing platforms. In 2014, it was changed to Microsoft Azure. Microsoft Azure has made more remarkable progress than their competitors since its launch. 
3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
   GCP was launched in 2008 and established a robust cloud business foothold in less than a decade. Google Cloud enhanced the Google products such as its video-sharing platform, YouTube, and search engine. However, they have also launched enterprise services, giving anyone access to the Google Cloud Platform, sharing a similar infrastructure to YouTube and Google Search. 
4. IBM Cloud
   IBM Cloud was launched in June 2013 after acquiring SoftLayer, a public cloud platform. The role of this platform was to serve as the foundation for its IaaS services. IBM Cloud provides a secure and open public cloud for business with the next-gen hybrid cloud platform, enhanced AI and data capabilities, and deep expertise across 20 industries. 

03. AWS Vs. Azure Vs. Google Vs. IBM Cloud: Feature 

Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and IBM dominate the public cloud market by offering their customers flexible, safest, and reliable cloud services. Each cloud computing platform offers a wide range of computing, storage, and networking options. Let us understand the different features each of these providers have.

Cloud Platform	AWS	Azure	Google Cloud	IBM Cloud
Compute	AWS Serverless Application Repository.	Platform-as-a-service	Docker Container Registry	Platform-as-a-service
Storage	Elastic Block Storage.	Blob Storage	Cloud Storage	Cloud Object Storage
Database	Aurora	SQL Database	Cloud SQL	ETCD database
Networking	Amazon Virtual Private Cloud	Azure Virtual Network	Cloud Virtual Network	IBM App Connect
Analytics	Elastic Compute Cloud	Virtual Machine Scale Sets	Google Compute Engine	Red Hat OpenShift
AI/ML	Sage Maker	Azure Bot Service	Cloud Machine Learning Engine	IBM Watson Studio
IoT	AWS IoT Device Defender	Azure Sphere	N/A	IBM Watson IoT Platform
Security	AWS Security Hub	Azure Security Centre	Cloud Security Command Centre	IBM Cloud security
Management	EFS	Azure Files	Avere and ZFS	Cloud Management Console
DevOps	AWS CodeBuild	Azure Pipeline	Cloud Console	Puppet
Pricing	1-year free trial with a discount of up to 75% for a 1-3-year commitment.	Up to 75% discount for commitment ranging from 1-3 years.	GCP Credit for $300 for 12 months apart from the sustained use discount of up to 30%.	N/A

Note: The provided feature table highlights some of the key services and features offered by the major cloud platforms – AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud. It is important to note that this table provides a general overview, and each platform offers a wide range of additional services and features beyond those mentioned. Additionally, pricing models and specific services may vary, so it is recommended to refer to the respective cloud providers’ documentation for the most up-to-date and detailed information.

04. AWS Vs. Azure Vs. Google Vs. IBM Cloud: Availability Zones

When looking for a cloud computing platform, the supported locations, and availability are among the first things to remember. Issues like compliance and latency regulations, especially when working with data, can directly impact cloud performance. The following table shows the availability zones of the top 4 cloud computing platforms.

Cloud Platform	Availability Zones	Regions	Service Level Agreements (SLAs)	Global Data Center Presence
AWS	Multiple	25+	Yes	Global presence with multiple regions
Azure	Multiple	60+	Yes	Extensive global coverage with multiple regions
Google Cloud	Multiple	24+	Yes	Wide range of global data centers
IBM Cloud	Multiple	60+	Yes	Global presence with multiple regions

 05. AWS Vs Azure Vs Google Vs IBM Cloud: Security and Compliance

For cloud service providers who deal with massive amounts of enterprises’ business data, cloud infrastructure, customer data, and more, generally, security, as well as cloud app security, plays a highly vital role.

Due to this, these leading platforms regularly release statements for the security and compliance protocols they follow for cloud network security and data centers. Following are the brief security and compliance of different cloud platforms:

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Security Features

• Identity Access Management
• S3 Security
• Security Groups
• Cloud Trails

Compliance Certifications

• C5
• CMMC
• DoD SRG.
• FINMA.
• FIPS.
• ENS High.

2. Microsoft Azure

Security Features

• Microsoft Defender For Cloud.
• Application Gateway.
• Azure Activity Directory.
• Azure DDoS Protection.
• Key Vault.
• Azure Information Protection.

Compliance Certifications

• SOC 1
• SOC 2
• SOC 3
• CIS Benchmark.
• CSA STAR Attestation.
• CSA STAR self-assessment.

3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Security Features

• Access Transparency.
• Assured Workloads
• Cloud Asset Inventory.
• Cloud Data Loss Prevention.
• Cloud IDS.
• Cloud Key Management.
• Confidential Computing.
• Cloud Firewall.
• Secret Manager.
• VPS Service Controls.
• Security Command Centre.
• Shielded VMs.

Compliance Certifications

• ISO/IEC 27017
• ISO/IEC 27110
• SOC 2
• 2G3M (Japan)
• ISO 9001:2015
• ISO/IEC 27001

4. IBM Cloud

Security Features

• Identity and access management
• Security information and event management
• Data loss prevention (DLP)
• Business Continuity and disaster recovery

Compliance Certifications

• CIS.
• CSA STAR.
• ISO 20243.
• ISO 22301.
• ISO 27001.
• ISO 27017.
• ISO 27018.
• ISO 27701

06. AWS Vs Azure Vs Google Vs IBM Cloud: Integration and interoperability

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• API Gateway
• AWS Lambda
• AWS Step Functions
• AWS AppSync
• AWS EventBridge
• Amazon Redshift

Interoperability Considerations

• Standards Compliance
• Data Formats
• APIs and Interfaces
• Protocol Support

2. Microsoft Azure

• Azure Logic Apps
• Azure Service Bus
• Azure Functions
• Azure Event Grid
• Azure API Management
• Azure Functions Proxies

Interoperability Considerations

• Documentation and Communication
• Error Handling and Logging
• Integration Tools and Services
• APIs and Interfaces

3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• Cloud Pub/Sub
• Cloud Dataflow
• Cloud Functions
• Cloud SQL
• Cloud Spanner
• Cloud Bigtable

Interoperability Considerations

• Identity and Access Management
• Versioning and Compatibility
• Event-Driven Architectures
• Data Formats

4. IBM Cloud

• IBM API Connect
• IBM Cloud Pak for Integration
• IBM Cloud Integration for Salesforce
• IBM API Connect
• IBM MQ
• IBM DataPower Gateway

Interoperability Considerations

• Documentation and Communication
• Error Handling and Logging
• Event-Driven Architectures

07. AWS Vs. Azure Vs. Google Vs. IBM Cloud: Performance and Scalability

The four leading cloud providers have had huge success since they have manipulated the cloud resources to excel in the essential metrics of availability, scalability, and monitoring. When choosing the best cloud provider, choose the one that will allow your business to scale as needed. The following are different scalability of different cloud platforms:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) 
  AWS is among the pioneers of cloud platforms and is among the biggest providers in the globe. The infrastructure is scalable and offers several options with different scaling features. AWS provides its users with the greatest number of services backed by various alternatives.
• Microsoft Azure
  Microsoft Azure is another great cloud platform in the market. In terms of scalability, this platform offers built-in auto-scaling properties that are exclusively made for typical scenarios. However, users also get the luxury of creating customized scalability implementations according to the scope of their business. The auto-scaling features additional resources that can manage and handle load increases and saves costs by eliminating resources that are not needed.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
  GCP offers users state-of-the-art scalability, such as auto-scaling for removing or adding virtual machine instances via managed instance groups. All it needs is users defining the autoscaling policy, and the scaling will be self-regulated based on the load.
  GCP allows for the scaling of numerous data applications swiftly. However, it lacks services available on Azure and AWS, making it less ideal for enterprises.
• IBM Cloud
  IBM is another leading cloud computing provider with greater scaling efficiency. The Auto-scaling of IBM cloud comes with several features depending on the type of application you are using. Cloud Computing is easy with IBM Cloud, and its digital transformation offers over 100 products, including AI, ML, developer tools, and many more.

08. AWS Vs. Azure Vs. Google Vs. IBM Cloud: Developer Tools and Ecosystem

Developer tools are the key to getting the most out of any cloud platform when integrating into an enterprise. Regarding developer tools, it all boils down to the server businesses use, programming languages, and how businesses want to interact with the cloud platform. The following table will help businesses to make appropriate decisions based on the developer tools:

Cloud Platform	Developer Tools	SDKs and APIs	Programming Language Support	Community Support
AWS	AWS Management Console	AWS SDKs (Java, .NET, Python, etc.)	Java, .NET, Python, Node.js, Ruby, and more	Active developer community and forums
Azure	Azure Portal, Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell	Azure SDKs (.NET, Java, Python, etc.)	.NET, Java, Python, Node.js, Ruby, and more	Large developer community and forums
Google Cloud	Google Cloud Console, Cloud SDK, Cloud Shell	Google Cloud Client Libraries (Java, Python, etc.)	Java, Python, Node.js, Ruby, Go, and more	Growing developer community and forums
IBM Cloud	IBM Cloud Console, IBM Cloud CLI	IBM Cloud SDKs (Java, Node.js, Python, etc.)	Java, Node.js, Python, Ruby, Swift, and more	Active developer community and forums

09. AWS Vs. Azure Vs. Google Vs. IBM Cloud: Market Shares

According to research on quarterly earnings of 2021, it was stated that Microsoft Azure’s cloud earning was more than GCP, IBM, and AWS. According to the fiscal earning reports, Microsoft Azure outperformed their competition with over 50% revenue growth over the previous quarter in the enterprise-cloud revenue. Following section talks about the market shares of different cloud computing providers.

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  Amazon is the prime market leader, owning about half the globe’s public cloud infrastructure market. In 2018, AWS reported a revenue of USD 15.4 Billion and a growth of 26.8% in 2017. At the beginning of 2023, AWS boasted a market share of about 33%, regarded as the biggest cloud service in the world. After Q1 2023, the market share reduced to 32%.
• Microsoft Azure
  Microsoft Azure touched the market share of 23% at the end of 2022, and at the beginning of 2023, they were the second-biggest cloud service provider in the world. In Q1 2023, Azure successfully maintained 23% of its market share.
  Microsoft reported that over 95% of Fortune 500 companies rely on Azure and consider it their trusted cloud service provider, with companies of varying sizes using Azure for digital transformation. With all these statistics, Microsoft Azure has become one of the most popular cloud platforms. 
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
  Google Cloud Platform boasts a market share of 11%, grown by 1% in Q4 of 2022 and to the same point in 2021. GCP is part of the Google Cloud, including the GCP public cloud infrastructure and Google Workspace. Regardless of the low market share value, the popularity of this platform allowed it to become one of the world’s most famous and leading cloud platforms.
• IBM Cloud
  The IBM Cloud combines PaaS with IaaS to provide its users with the best and most integrated experience. The platform can scale and support organizations, small development teams, and large enterprise brands. All these features allowed IBM Cloud to acquire a market share of 4% in the global cloud market.

10. AWS Vs Azure Vs Google Vs IBM Cloud: Pricing and Cost Structure

Before finalizing the cloud computing platform, businesses need to understand the pricing structures of the different providers. It will allow businesses to find the best services according to their needs and scale appropriate to the business growth. The following table compares the principle pricing models of AWS, IBM, Azure, and GCP.

Cloud Platform	Pricing Model	Pay-as-You-Go Option	Reserved Instances	Spot Instances	Resource Pricing Flexibility
AWS	Pay-as-you-go, Reserved Instances, Spot Instances	Available	Available	Available	Flexible pricing options
Azure	Pay-as-you-go, Reserved Instances, Spot Instances	Available	Available	Available	Flexible pricing options
Google Cloud	Pay-as-you-go, Committed Use Discounts (CUD), Preemptible VMs	Available	Available	Available	Flexible pricing options
IBM Cloud	Pay-as-you-go, Reserved Instances, Spot Instances	Available	Available	Available	Flexible pricing options

11. AWS Vs Azure Vs Google Vs IBM Cloud: Who Uses Them & Use Cases

AWS is known for having industry big guns such as Netflix, BMW, Samsung, etc. as their top users. However, it is all because AWS is the oldest player in the cloud computing market which has allowed the company to attract more high-profile customers. The following table shows leading companies using AWS, Azure, GCP, and IBM Cloud for their brands:

Cloud Platform	Major Customers	Industry Domains	Use Cases
AWS	Netflix, Airbnb, NASA, Samsung	E-commerce, Media and Entertainment, Healthcare, Finance	Web and Mobile Applications, Big Data Analytics, IoT
Azure	Adobe, BMW, GE, Toyota	Manufacturing, Automotive, Energy, Retail	Enterprise Applications, AI and Machine Learning, IoT
Google Cloud	Spotify, Twitter, eBay	Technology, Retail, Gaming, Media, and Entertainment	Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Cloud Native Apps
IBM Cloud	Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, Volkswagen	Banking and Finance, Healthcare, Telecommunications	Hybrid Cloud Solutions, AI, and Blockchain Applications

12. AWS Vs Azure Vs Google Vs IBM Cloud: Services

AWS and Azure are known for having the biggest service catalogs with over 200+ services, whereas IBM and GCP offer about 100+ services to their users. The following table gives us a general breakdown of the services of different cloud computing platforms.

Cloud Platform	Compute Services	Storage Services	Networking Services	Database Services	AI/ML Services
AWS	Amazon EC2, AWS Lambda, ECS	Amazon S3, Amazon EBS, Amazon EFS	Amazon VPC, AWS Direct Connect	Amazon RDS, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Aurora	Amazon SageMaker, Amazon Rekognition
Azure	Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Functions, Container Instances	Azure Blob Storage, Azure Disk Storage, Azure Files	Azure Virtual Network, ExpressRoute	Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Database for PostgreSQL	Azure Machine Learning, Azure Cognitive Services
Google Cloud	Google Compute Engine, Cloud Functions, Kubernetes Engine	Google Cloud Storage, Persistent Disk	Virtual Private Cloud, Cloud Interconnect	Google Cloud Spanner, Google Cloud Firestore, BigQuery	AI Platform, Cloud Vision API, Cloud Natural Language API
IBM Cloud	IBM Virtual Servers, IBM Cloud Functions, Kubernetes Service	IBM Cloud Object Storage, Block Storage	IBM Cloud Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)	IBM Db2, IBM Cloudant, IBM Compose for Databases	Watson Machine Learning, Watson Assistant, Watson Visual Recognition

Cloud Platform	Analytics Services	Internet of Things (IoT) Services	Security and Compliance Services	Management and Monitoring Services	DevOps and Deployment Services
AWS	Amazon Redshift, Amazon Kinesis, AWS Glue	AWS IoT Core, AWS IoT Analytics	AWS Identity and Access Management	Amazon CloudWatch, AWS CloudTrail, AWS Config	AWS CodeDeploy, AWS CodePipeline, AWS CloudFormation
Azure	Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Stream Analytics	Azure IoT Hub, Azure IoT Edge, Azure IoT Central	Azure Active Directory, Azure Security Center	Azure Monitor, Azure Log Analytics, Azure Advisor	Azure DevOps, Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure Functions
Google Cloud	BigQuery, Cloud Dataflow, Cloud Pub/Sub	Cloud IoT Core, Cloud IoT Edge	Cloud Identity and Access Management	Google Cloud Monitoring, Cloud Logging, Cloud Security Command Center	Google Cloud Build, Google Kubernetes Engine, Cloud Functions
IBM Cloud	IBM Watson Studio, IBM Cognos Analytics	IBM Watson IoT Platform, IBM Watson IoT Edge	IBM Security Identity and Access Management	IBM Cloud Monitoring, IBM Log Analysis, IBM Cloud Security and Compliance Center	IBM DevOps Insights, IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service, IBM Continuous Delivery

14. AWS Vs Azure Vs Google Vs IBM Cloud: Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Options

AWS, Azure, Google, and IBM Cloud provide excellent hybrid and multi-cloud options for organizations seeking diverse and comprehensive solutions.

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• AWS Local Zones
• VMware Cloud on AWS
• AWS Wavelength
• Amazon ECS Anywhere
• Amazon EKS Anywhere
• AWS Snowball
• AWS Snowcone
• AWS Outposts

2. Microsoft Azure

• Azure Active Directory
• Azure Stack
• Azure Centinel
• Azure Arc
• Azure Backup

3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• Operations
• Cloud Run for Anthos
• Anthos
• Traffic Director
• Looker
• Cloud Build

4. IBM Cloud

• IBM Cloud Pak for Integration
• IBM Cloud Private
• IBM Cloud for VMware Solutions
• IBM Cloud Satellite

15. AWS Vs Azure Vs Google Vs IBM Cloud: Pros and Cons

Undoubtedly, AWS, Azure, GCP, and IBM Cloud are the biggest players in the cloud computing market. All of these platforms are dedicated to helping their users to enhance the scope of their business and take their enterprise to greater heights. 

There are also several disadvantages of these platforms, which one should not overlook when looking for a cloud computing platform. The following table shows the pros and cons of the 4 leading cloud computing platforms: 

Cloud Platform	Pros	Cons
AWS	1. Extensive service offering	1. Complex pricing structure
	2. Mature and highly scalable infrastructure	2. Steeper learning curve for beginners
	3. Strong community and support	3. Limited PaaS capabilities
	4. Robust security features	4. Requires management and configuration expertise
Azure	1. Seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem	1. Limited region coverage
	2. Comprehensive PaaS capabilities	2. Relatively fewer service offerings compared to AWS
	3. Hybrid cloud and on-premises integration	3. Documentation can be overwhelming at times
	4. Enterprise-grade security and compliance	4. Some services still catching up to AWS
Google Cloud	1. Powerful data analytics and machine learning	1. Smaller market share compared to AWS and Azure
	2. Scalable and high-performance infrastructure	2. Relatively fewer database service options
	3. Cost-effective pricing model	3. Less comprehensive enterprise support compared to AWS
	4. Emphasis on open-source technologies	4. Limited experience with legacy enterprise workloads
IBM Cloud	1. Strong focus on hybrid cloud solutions	1. Smaller service catalog compared to AWS and Azure
	2. Robust security and compliance offerings	2. Relatively less developer-friendly platform
	3. AI and cognitive capabilities with Watson	3. Limited availability in certain regions
	4. Enterprise-grade support and consulting services	4. Limited market presence and brand recognition

16. AWS Vs. Azure Vs. Google Vs. IBM Cloud: Factors to Consider in Decision-Making

It can be highly difficult to choose the right platform with all these platforms. To choose the best and most appropriate provider, you must consider the different tools and services provided by different providers. To help you, the following table will make understanding the difference between the different cloud computing tools easier.

When looking for a cloud computing provider, choosing a service provider that sits perfectly with your business will make a huge difference in your business. To do that, there are several things that one must consider, such as:

1. Business requirements
   The first thing to consider is the type of cloud your business needs. There are three types of clouds, SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS. You must determine your business needs. And keep in mind that not all businesses need all these services, and every cloud provider has pros and cons. After determining the type of cloud you need, you should consider the best type of provider and see which is the most suitable for your business.
2. Budget constraints
   You must consider the cost and find whether there are any minimums associated with volume discounts, costs, or reservations on service which can be made. It is also recommended to weigh the cost against several other factors. For instance, AWS has enhanced its engineering of CPUs to provide the best price and performance than other providers. It is necessary to remember that different providers will provide aggressive pricing to new customers; hence, pay attention to the fine print regarding the price increases.
3. User-friendliness
   User-friendliness is an essential aspect to remember when choosing a cloud service platform. You must choose a provider offering high-performing and easy-to-understand solutions, so your in-house team can easily get familiar with the tool. You must also consider other factors, such as storage options, network speeds, and processing power.
4. Support and customer service
   Although you may be well-equipped with the best in-house IT team, they will still need help getting familiar with the cloud platforms. Hence, customer support is essential to get support and solve any issues you may face.
   It can also involve training your team and teaching them how to use several new technologies. Implementing cloud technologies can be challenging, so ensure you get the help needed to set it up appropriately.
5. Scalability and flexibility
   Before choosing the cloud computing service provider, remember that it should be easy to scale up as your enterprise grows. If your selected vendor has issues in the scaling, you may have to switch to another vendor, causing more headaches. By checking the upper limit, you can save a lot of time.
6. Integration with existing systems
   Your service provider must have full-stack technologies that support the current application and can match your business’s future needs. Cloud partnerships are for the long term. Hence it is necessary to check whether the cloud provider you choose can help you integrate with current systems.
7. Compliance and regulatory requirements
   When looking for a cloud provider, it is essential to consider the implications of industry, federal, and state regulations. Cloud providers usually have a statement of the shared compliance responsibility and should answer questions about compliance with specific regulations. Some rules may also prohibit any customer data storage, processing, and transferring to cloud providers whose data storage system falls within the geographic boundary or have any other specific requirements about the protection.

AWS vs. Azure vs. Google vs. IBM Cloud: What is Best for You?

Now that we have fully studied and inspected the different cloud computing platforms, it is time to choose the best one. There is no one-size-fits-all. Hence, the ideal cloud computing platform comes down to the requirement of your business. You can make the right decision by determining the differentiating factors in different aspects, such as cloud computing power, backup, and storage.

FAQs Related AWS vs. Azure vs. Google vs. IBM Cloud

Many people are still confused between the 4 leading cloud computing platforms. Hence we have listed down the common FAQs to sort your queries.

Q1. Which cloud platform is the most popular among AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud?

Amazon Web Services wins by determining the scoring points in the comparison. However, it is difficult to say how long AWS will stay at the top, given that GCP, IBM, and Azure are constantly working their way up and becoming the leading platforms in the market. Although AWS has the additional benefit of being the oldest of its kind, GCP and Azure also have their strengths. Azure is better for companies that use Microsoft tools since it is very easy to integrate MS tools with Azure cloud computing.

Q2. Can I use multiple cloud providers simultaneously, such as AWS and Azure?

Yes, you can use multiple cloud providers simultaneously, such as Azure and AWS. This approach is called the multi-cloud strategy. This approach has many benefits, such as avoiding getting tied to a single provider and reducing the chances of service disruptions.

Another major benefit of this strategy is that different providers have different features and services. Using different providers allows you to opt for the most suitable services from each and easily meet your requirements.

Q3. What support options are provided by AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud? AWS, IBM, GCP, and Azure provide several support options to cater to the needs of their customers. Following is the overview of the support offered by each cloud computing platform:

1. AWS
   • Basic support.
   • Developer support.
   • Business support.
   • Enterprise support.
2. Azure
   • Azure free support.
   • Azure developer support.
   • Azure standard support.
   • Azure professional direct support.
   • Azure premier support.
3. GCP
   • Google Cloud Technical Account Management
   • Google Cloud Free Support
   • Google Cloud Support Packages
4. IBM Cloud
   • IBM Cloud Subscription Support
   • IBM Cloud Lite Support
   • IBM Cloud Pay-as-you-go Support
   • IBM Cloud Enterprise Support

Q4. Can I easily transfer my applications and data between AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud?

Transferring data and applications between the top 4 cloud platforms can be complicated because of the infrastructure differences, APIs, and services. It will need export and import of data and app modifications to make it compatible with the target cloud. Several tools and services these providers offer can help with the migration process. However, one must keep in mind that the process is not simple.

Q5. Which cloud provider offers the best scalability and flexibility?

All the primary and leading providers, including AWS, Azure, IBM, and GCP, provide flexibility and scalability to some degree. Choosing the best one for your specific requirements is based on several factors, such as your budget and the nature of the application.

However, AWS is generally considered the leader in flexibility and scalability due to its wide range of services, robust scaling capabilities, and global infrastructure. AWS offers a wide portfolio of tools that allows you to scale your apps effectively.

Conclusion

Comparing the cloud computing platforms is not easy to execute, and if you are still unsure about the platform to choose, that is completely normal. This article was made to give you an overview of some of the integral aspects and use cases of these tools and how they can help businesses. This article lets you narrow the choices down to 1 or 2 platforms. Your business goals, workflows, and resources determine the final decision. Although we cannot be biased and say the winner, many businesses are comfortable with AWS since it is considered a safe choice. 

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