AWS vs Azure vs GCP: Which Cloud is Right for Your Business?
An unbiased comparison of the major cloud providers, focusing on security features, compliance support, and total cost of ownership for SMBs.
AWS vs Azure vs GCP: Which Cloud is Right for Your Business?
Choosing the right cloud provider is one of the most important infrastructure decisions you'll make. This guide provides an unbiased comparison to help you make the right choice for your business.
Overview
Each cloud provider has its strengths:
- AWS - The market leader with the broadest service offering
- Azure - Best for Microsoft-centric environments
- GCP - Strong in data analytics and machine learning
Security Comparison
AWS Security Features
- IAM with fine-grained policies
- VPC with security groups and NACLs
- AWS Security Hub for centralized security
- GuardDuty for threat detection
Azure Security Features
- Azure Active Directory integration
- Network Security Groups
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud
- Sentinel SIEM
GCP Security Features
- Cloud IAM with organizational policies
- VPC Service Controls
- Security Command Center
- BeyondCorp Enterprise
Compliance Support
All three providers offer compliance certifications, but support varies:
| Framework | AWS | Azure | GCP |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIPAA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SOC 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PCI-DSS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FedRAMP | High | High | High |
Cost Considerations
Total cost of ownership includes more than just compute costs:
- Data transfer fees (AWS and Azure are more expensive)
- Storage costs
- Support costs
- Training and expertise
Our Recommendation
There's no universally "best" cloud provider. The right choice depends on:
- Your existing technology stack
- Compliance requirements
- Team expertise
- Specific workload needs
Need help choosing? Book a strategy call to discuss your specific needs.
Put this into practice
Get a free assessment of your current security and infrastructure posture, or check your email security in 30 seconds.
Related Services
Related Articles
AWS vs GCP vs Azure: Which is Best for HIPAA?
Comparing AWS, GCP, and Azure for HIPAA compliance: BAA availability, eligible services, real costs, and which cloud platform fits your company size.
15 AWS Cost Savings We Find in Every Audit
The exact cost leaks PlatOps finds in every AWS environment—idle resources, oversized instances, NAT gateway waste, S3 lifecycle gaps, and more—with typical savings per item.
Kubernetes Cost Optimization: How to Cut Your K8s Bill by 40%
A practitioner's guide to cutting Kubernetes costs by 40%—resource requests, right-sizing pods, spot nodes, cluster autoscaler, namespace quotas, idle workload detection, and cost monitoring tools.
Get articles like this in your inbox
Practical security, infrastructure, and DevOps insights for teams in regulated industries. Published weekly.