Azure vs AWS vs GCP - Which Certification Is Best For You and Your Career?

  • Cloud
  • Career
  • Certifications
  • Published by: André Hammer on Jan 06, 2023

One of the main reasons why companies use cloud technologies is because it gives them on-demand access to computing resources. This means that organizations can scale their use of computing resources up or down as needed, paying only for what they use. This can be a cost-effective solution for organizations that have variable or unpredictable computing needs. Additionally, cloud computing allows organizations to access a wide range of specialized services, such as machine learning and data analysis, without the need to invest in expensive infrastructure and expertise. As a result, many organizations are turning to the cloud to power their operations and support their business goals.

If you're considering a career in cloud computing, you may be wondering which platform, you should pick, between Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). All three platforms offer a range of services and capabilities, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we will compare Azure, AWS, and GCP to help you determine which platform is the best fit for your career goals.


Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services, including computing, storage, networking, and analytics. Azure is a popular choice for organizations that use Microsoft technologies and have a large existing investment in the Microsoft ecosystem. Azure supports many different programming languages, frameworks, and tools, and offers a range of tools and services for developing, deploying, and managing applications.

Azure was launched in 2010 and has since grown to become a major player in the cloud computing market. Azure offers a range of services, including virtual machines, containers, and serverless computing, allowing organizations to build and deploy a wide range of applications and solutions. Azure also offers a range of tools and services for data analytics, machine learning, and the internet of things (IoT), enabling organizations to leverage the power of data and artificial intelligence in the cloud.

Key Advantage of Microsoft Azure

One of the key advantages of Azure is its integration with other Microsoft technologies and services. For example, Azure Active Directory (AD) allows organizations to integrate their on-premises AD with Azure, enabling them to manage user identities and access cloud-based resources. Azure also integrates with other Microsoft products, such as Office 365 and Power BI, allowing organizations to easily access and use these services in the cloud.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, Azure uses a pay-as-you-go model, where customers only pay for the services and resources they use. This allows organizations to easily control and manage their costs, and only pay for the resources they need. Azure also offers a free tier, which provides a limited amount of free services and resources for new customers to try out.

Career Opportunities in Microsoft Azure

In terms of career opportunities, Azure offers a range of job roles and career paths, including solutions architects, devops engineers, and cloud security specialists. These roles typically require a strong understanding of Azure services and technologies, as well as experience with Microsoft products and technologies.

Overall, Azure is a powerful and versatile cloud platform that offers a wide range of services and capabilities.


Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the largest and most popular cloud platform, offering a wide range of services, including computing, storage, networking, and analytics. AWS is the largest and most popular cloud platform and is used by organizations of all sizes and industries. AWS supports many different programming languages, frameworks, and tools, and offers a range of tools and services for developing, deploying, and managing applications.

AWS was launched in 2006 and has since grown to become the dominant player in the cloud computing market. AWS offers over 175 different services, ranging from computing and storage to database and analytics, allowing organizations to build and deploy a wide range of applications and solutions. AWS has a large and active community of users and developers, providing access to a wealth of knowledge and resources.

AWS is known for its scalability, reliability, and flexibility. AWS allows organizations to easily and quickly scale their resources up or down as needed, providing the flexibility to meet changing business needs. AWS also offers a range of security features and tools, including identity and access management, encryption, and firewalls, to help organizations protect their data and applications in the cloud.

Key Advantage of Amazon Web Services

One of the key advantages of AWS is its vast ecosystem of services and tools. AWS offers over 175 different services, ranging from computing and storage to database and analytics, allowing organizations to build and deploy a wide range of applications and solutions. AWS also has a large and active community of users and developers, providing access to a wealth of knowledge and resources.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, AWS also uses a pay-as-you-go model, where customers only pay for the services and resources they use. This allows organizations to easily control and manage their costs, and only pay for the resources they need. AWS also offers a free tier, which provides a limited amount of free services and resources for new customers to try out.

Career Opportunities in AWS

In terms of career opportunities, AWS offers a range of job roles and career paths, including solutions architects, devops engineers, and cloud security specialists. These roles typically require a strong understanding of AWS services and technologies, as well as experience with cloud-based application development and deployment.

Overall, AWS is a popular choice for organizations of all sizes and industries and offers many career opportunities for individuals with the right skills and expertise.


Google Cloud Platform

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a suite of cloud computing services that are provided by Google. It includes a range of services for computing, storage, networking, and big data that can be used individually or together to build and deploy applications on the web, on-premises, or in hybrid environments.

GCP offers a variety of compute options, including Google Compute Engine (IaaS), Google Kubernetes Engine (Kubernetes as a service), and Google App Engine (PaaS), to help users run and scale their applications. It also provides a range of storage options, including Google Cloud Storage, Google Cloud Filestore, and Google BigQuery, to help users store and manage their data.

Additionally, GCP offers a range of networking services, including Google Cloud Load Balancing, Google Cloud Interconnect, and Google Cloud VPN, to help users connect their applications and services.

GCP also includes a range of management, security, and developer tools, such as Google Cloud Console, Stackdriver, and Cloud Identity, to help users manage and secure their applications and infrastructure.

Key Advantage of Google Cloud Platform

One of the key advantages of GCP is its focus on data analytics and machine learning. GCP offers a range of services and tools for data analysis and machine learning, including BigQuery, Cloud Machine Learning Engine, and Cloud Vision API. These services enable organizations to quickly and easily build and deploy data-intensive applications and solutions.

Pricing

Like the other two platforms, GCP also uses a pay-as-you-go pricing structure. This makes it simple for businesses to track their spending and allocate funds accordingly. The free tier of GCP gives first-time users access to a subset of the paid platform's features without spending a dime.

GCP provides a number of pricing models in addition to the pay-as-you-go approach, such as sustained usage discounts, committed use savings, and bespoke pricing for big companies. Customers that make long-term commitments to utilizing GCP services pay less each month, and those who agree to use a predetermined amount of resources for a predetermined time period also pay less per month. Large businesses can get personalized quotes based on their unique wants and needs.

The price model for GCP is created to be adaptable and adjustable so that businesses may utilize them quickly and affordably to fulfill their unique requirements.

Career Opportunities in GCP

In terms of career opportunities, GCP offers a range of job roles and career paths, including solutions architects, devops engineers, and cloud security specialists. These roles typically require a strong understanding of GCP services and technologies, as well as experience with data analysis and machine learning.

Overall, Azure, AWS, and GCP are all strong choices for a career in cloud computing. Each platform offers a range of services and capabilities and has its own strengths and weaknesses.


Comparing the Three Platforms

As mentioned, Azure, AWS, and GCP are all cloud computing platforms that offer a range of services, including storage, computing, and networking. All three platforms are widely used and offer a range of options to help businesses and organizations move their workloads to the cloud. Below are some key differences between the platforms:

  • One key difference between the three platforms is the services they offer. Azure and AWS offer a wide range of services, including virtual machines, storage, and databases. GCP offers similar services, but also has some unique offerings, such as BigQuery for data analysis and Cloud ML for machine learning.
  • Azure and AWS both offer a pay-as-you-go model, where you only pay for the resources you use. This can be a flexible and cost-effective option for many businesses. GCP also has a pay-as-you-go pricing model but also offers the option of flat-rate pricing for some services. This can be a good option for businesses that need a predictable monthly cost.
  • Another key difference is the target customer base for each platform. Azure is a popular choice for organizations that use Microsoft technologies and have a large existing investment in the Microsoft ecosystem. AWS is the largest and most popular cloud platform and is used by organizations of all sizes and industries. GCP is a popular choice for organizations that want to use the latest technologies, such as machine learning and containers, in the cloud.
  • In terms of global presence, Azure has more regions (54) than AWS (24) and GCP (20), which means Azure has more options for where to host your resources. This can be important for reasons of performance, compliance, or data sovereignty.
  • Finally, all three platforms offer support plans, but the level of support and the cost can vary. AWS and GCP offer a free tier of support for certain services, while Azure does not. This can be an important consideration when choosing a platform, especially for businesses that need a high level of support.

Overall, the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. It's worth taking the time to evaluate each platform and see which one best meets your career goals.


Cloud Platforms and Certifications

There are several professional certifications available for individuals who want to demonstrate their expertise in using Azure, AWS, or GCP. These certifications can help individuals advance their careers and show potential employers their knowledge and skills in cloud computing.

Microsoft offers a range of certifications for Azure, including the Azure Administrator certification and the Azure Solutions Architect certification. The Azure Administrator certification is designed for individuals who have experience in administering Azure services and covers topics such as implementing and managing virtual networks, deploying and managing Azure VMs, and managing Azure storage.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers various certifications for AWS, including the AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification and the AWS Certified Developer certification. The AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification is designed for individuals who have experience in designing and deploying scalable and secure solutions on AWS and covers topics such as designing and implementing AWS architecture, and managing and securing AWS resources.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offers several certifications for GCP, including the Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect certification and the Google Certified Professional Cloud Developer certification. The Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect certification is designed for individuals who have experience in designing and implementing solutions on GCP and covers topics such as designing and implementing GCP architecture and managing and securing GCP resources. The Google Certified Professional Cloud Developer certification is designed for individuals who have experience in developing and maintaining applications on GCP and covers topics such as developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications using GCP services.

Overall, depending on your platform of choice, obtaining a certification in Azure, AWS, or GCP can be a valuable way to demonstrate your expertise in cloud computing and can help you advance your career in this field. Readynez offers an array of courses that will help you ace your certifications with ease. Through years of experience working with more than 1000 top companies in the world, we ́ve architected the Readynez Best Practice Model for learning and customized training. Readynez is recognized by over 500 customers as the gold standard to solve even the most complex technical skills crisis. Enroll in our courses to climb the ladder to success!

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