Cloud Providers in Australia: AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud
Cloud computing has become an integral part of modern business, offering scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. In Australia, three major players dominate the cloud landscape: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Selecting the right provider can be a complex decision, as each offers a wide range of services and unique strengths. This article provides a detailed comparison of these platforms to help Australian businesses choose the best option for their specific needs.
Before diving in, consider what 35 offers in terms of cloud consulting and management. Understanding your own requirements is key to making the right choice.
Compute Services
Compute services are the foundation of any cloud platform, providing the virtual servers and processing power needed to run applications.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS offers a comprehensive suite of compute services, including:
Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud): Provides virtual servers with a wide range of instance types optimised for different workloads, from general-purpose computing to memory-intensive applications and accelerated computing.
AWS Lambda: A serverless compute service that allows you to run code without provisioning or managing servers. Ideal for event-driven applications and microservices.
Amazon ECS (Elastic Container Service): A container orchestration service that supports Docker containers. Simplifies the deployment, management, and scaling of containerised applications.
Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service): A managed Kubernetes service that makes it easy to run, scale, and manage Kubernetes clusters in the cloud.
Microsoft Azure
Azure's compute services include:
Azure Virtual Machines: Similar to EC2, Azure Virtual Machines provides virtual servers with various sizes and configurations. Supports both Windows and Linux operating systems.
Azure Functions: Azure's serverless compute service, comparable to AWS Lambda. Supports multiple programming languages and integrates with other Azure services.
Azure Container Instances: A serverless container execution service that allows you to run containers without managing virtual machines or orchestration tools.
Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): A managed Kubernetes service that simplifies the deployment and management of Kubernetes clusters.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
GCP's compute offerings include:
Compute Engine: GCP's virtual machine service, offering a range of instance types and custom machine types. Known for its sustained use discounts.
Cloud Functions: GCP's serverless compute service, similar to AWS Lambda and Azure Functions. Supports multiple programming languages and integrates with other GCP services.
Cloud Run: A serverless container execution service that allows you to run stateless containers on a fully managed platform.
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE): A managed Kubernetes service that leverages Google's expertise in container orchestration. GKE was one of the first Kubernetes offerings and is considered a leader in the field.
Storage Solutions
Cloud providers offer various storage solutions to meet different needs, from object storage for unstructured data to block storage for virtual machines.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service): Object storage for storing and retrieving any amount of data. Highly scalable, durable, and secure.
Amazon EBS (Elastic Block Storage): Block storage volumes for use with EC2 instances. Provides persistent storage for operating systems, applications, and data.
Amazon EFS (Elastic File System): A fully managed network file system for use with EC2 instances. Supports shared file storage for applications.
Microsoft Azure
Azure Blob Storage: Object storage for storing large amounts of unstructured data, such as text, binary data, and media files.
Azure Disk Storage: Block storage volumes for use with Azure Virtual Machines. Provides persistent storage for operating systems, applications, and data.
Azure Files: A fully managed file share service that provides access to file shares over the SMB protocol.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Cloud Storage: Object storage for storing and retrieving any amount of data. Offers different storage classes optimised for various access patterns.
Persistent Disk: Block storage volumes for use with Compute Engine instances. Provides persistent storage for operating systems, applications, and data.
Filestore: A fully managed network file system for use with Compute Engine instances. Supports shared file storage for applications.
Database Options
All three providers offer a wide range of database services, including relational databases, NoSQL databases, and data warehousing solutions.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service): Supports various database engines, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server.
Amazon DynamoDB: A fully managed NoSQL database service that provides fast and predictable performance at any scale.
Amazon Redshift: A fast, fully managed data warehouse service for large-scale data analytics.
Microsoft Azure
Azure SQL Database: A fully managed relational database service based on the SQL Server engine.
Azure Cosmos DB: A globally distributed, multi-model database service that supports various NoSQL APIs.
Azure Synapse Analytics: A limitless analytics service that brings together data warehousing and big data analytics.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Cloud SQL: A fully managed relational database service that supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server.
Cloud Spanner: A globally distributed, scalable, and strongly consistent database service.
BigQuery: A fully managed, serverless data warehouse service for large-scale data analytics.
Pricing Models
Understanding the pricing models of each provider is crucial for cost optimisation. AWS, Azure, and GCP offer various pricing options, including pay-as-you-go, reserved instances, and spot instances.
Pay-as-you-go: You pay only for the resources you consume. This is a flexible option for short-term projects or unpredictable workloads.
Reserved Instances/Committed Use Discounts: You commit to using a certain amount of resources for a specific period (e.g., one year or three years) in exchange for a significant discount.
Spot Instances/Preemptible VMs: You bid for unused compute capacity at a lower price. However, these instances can be terminated with short notice.
Each provider has its own nuances in pricing. AWS is generally considered to have the most mature and complex pricing model. Azure offers the Azure Hybrid Benefit, which allows you to use your existing Windows Server licences in the cloud. GCP is known for its sustained use discounts, which automatically apply discounts for workloads that run for a significant portion of the month. It's essential to carefully evaluate your workload requirements and compare the pricing options of each provider to determine the most cost-effective solution. Learn more about 35 and how we can help optimise your cloud spending.
Security Features
Security is a top priority for all cloud providers. AWS, Azure, and GCP offer a wide range of security features and services to protect your data and applications.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): Controls access to cloud resources based on roles and permissions.
Encryption: Protects data at rest and in transit using encryption keys.
Network Security: Provides firewalls, virtual private clouds (VPCs), and other network security controls.
- Compliance: Meets various industry compliance standards, such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and HIPAA.
AWS offers services like AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), AWS Shield for DDoS protection, and AWS Key Management Service (KMS) for managing encryption keys. Azure provides Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for identity management, Azure Security Center for threat detection, and Azure Key Vault for managing secrets and encryption keys. GCP offers Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM), Cloud Armor for web application firewall protection, and Cloud KMS for managing encryption keys. When choosing a provider, consider frequently asked questions about their security certifications and compliance programs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right cloud provider in Australia depends on your specific business needs, technical requirements, and budget. AWS offers a mature and comprehensive platform with a wide range of services. Azure is a strong choice for organisations heavily invested in Microsoft technologies. GCP is known for its innovation in data analytics and machine learning. By carefully evaluating the compute, storage, database, pricing, and security features of each provider, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals. Remember to factor in the expertise and support offered by partners like 35 to ensure a successful cloud journey.