The cloud computing industry has experienced exponential growth over the last decade, with the sector expected to reach a massive $150 billion by the end of 2020. Approximately 67 percent of all business infrastructure is expected to be cloud-based by the end of this year.
If you’ve been looking for cloud computing services, chances are you’ve come across the Microsoft Azure vs Google Cloud discussion. These two are among the top players in the cloud computing market at the moment. Before you decide which provider to choose, it helps to understand both platforms well.
In this comprehensive guide, we discuss the similarities and differences between Microsoft Azure and the Google Cloud Platform. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Azure?
Azure refers to the public cloud service from Microsoft. The service is available across multiple geographic regions and availability zones.
Microsoft Azure provides a reliable Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) portfolio, and a wide variety of Platform as a Service (PaaS) features. The cloud computing platform also offers specialized services for mobile app development, games, big data, data warehousing, and more.
What Is Google Cloud Platform (GCP)?
GCP is Google’s public cloud service that entered the market relatively recently. The service is available in considerably fewer locations compared to Microsoft Azure. However, what GCP lacks in reach it makes up for with the benefits of Google’s massive scale.
Users can expect lightning-fast connectivity as a result of Google’s private fiber-optic network. Additionally, Google Cloud offers reliable customer support. You can, of course, take advantage of online Google Cloud Platform consulting to learn more.
Microsoft Azure vs Google Cloud: Comparing the Features
The Microsoft vs Google Hosting debate is not an easy one, given that both providers offer more than 100 different products. In this section, we compare some of the features of both Azure and GCP, so you don’t get lost in the details.
Compute
Both Microsoft Azure and GCP adopt a similar approach when it comes to virtual machines (VMs). VMs are a central part of the cloud environment. These machines can run just about any workload you can imagine.
Each cloud service provider has unique naming conventions for virtual machines. On Microsoft Azure, virtual machines are called Azure virtual machines. On the google cloud platform, VMs are known as Computer Engine.
Many of the features offered in the VMs on both platforms are similar. For instance, you can deploy or terminate virtual machine instances on-demand in both Azure and Computer Engine. Moreover, you can install different operating systems on both.
Networking
Both Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud continually work with partners to expand and utilize their network infrastructures. The objective is to keep their deployed centers around the world interconnected.
In recent years, each cloud computing platform has developed ambitious plans to provide cutting-edge networking services. Each provider aims to provide blazing fast connectivity across VMs, no-premise servers, and other cloud services.
Storage
Each cloud computing services provider uses different types of storage and disks. Understanding them is essential, given that these devices will have a direct impact on the expected throughput among other things.
Generally, there are two main storage options offered by both Azure and Google Cloud:
- Block storage
- Object storage
Block storage refers to a virtual disk that runs on a cloud-based VM. With GCP, you get block storage utilizing persistent disks that provide HDD and SSD storage. These disks usually attach to Compute Engine instances.
If you opt for Microsoft Azure, then expect block storage in page blobs. These page blobs are stored on Azure’s VHDs that run on Azure VMs.
In object storage, data is stored as objects. Every object contains the main data itself, metadata, and a unique identifier. You can implement object storage at different levels, such as the device level, the interface level, and the system level.
Both Microsoft Azure and GCF support extra features when it comes to data storage. You can expect such features as object replication, encryptions, versioning, and lifecycle management.
Locations
Both Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud provide a worldwide network of data centers present in multiple regions, locations, and countries. The two providers have distinct availability zones, which is great for fault tolerance, redundancy, and low latency.
As we pointed out earlier, Microsoft Azure has a wider range of regions. The provider is present in more than 50 geographical regions with 162 availability zones as of 2020.
Google Cloud is available in just over 20 regions. The service, however, is available in more locations. Currently, you can get Google Cloud in more than 200 countries.
Security
Cloud computing security focuses on the controls, technologies, policies, and processes that collectively safeguard cloud-based data, systems, and infrastructure. Whether you choose Microsoft or Google hosting, you can be sure of robust cloud security. Through the years, both platforms have continued to evolve reliable security models to give their users the peace of mind they need.
Azure and GCF provide security in different levels. At the first level, security features are present in the platform’s infrastructure. Here, your data is protected by default.
At the second level, security is provided within the specific platform you use to keep your data and applications safe. The third way cloud computing services offer security is by expanding safety features beyond the platform to safeguard your data regardless of your location.
Which Cloud Computing Platform Should You Choose?
The answer to which cloud computing platform to choose depends on your personal preferences. Both platforms offer a wide range of top-quality products and services. Regardless of the final decision you make, you can expect a long list of benefits that far outweigh any drawbacks.
Benefit from Top Quality Cloud Services Today
Regardless of which cloud computing services, you are interested in, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform are a good option. Both providers have market-leading products that make the Microsoft Azure vs Google Cloud a tough decision to make.
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