Consider AWS when
Your application and operations already align with AWS.
Before you commit
Confirm that the target region, account structure and service choices meet your access and recovery requirements.
A practical decision guide
AWS vs Azure
Choose AWS or Azure around the workload and the organisation that will operate it. Identity, existing dependencies, regional requirements, recovery design and total operating cost matter more than a generic platform ranking.
Compare the decision criteria ↓Consider Azure when
Your application and operations already align with Azure.
Before you commit
Confirm tenant boundaries, subscriptions and service availability for the intended deployment.
Compare a deployable architecture
Write down the same application requirements for each cloud before selecting services. Include identity, data movement, monitoring and recovery alongside compute. Existing skills and contracts are inputs to the decision, but validate whether they still fit the workload you are about to deliver.
Side by side
Compare the decisions that matter
Architecture review
- AWS
- Use the AWS Well-Architected Framework to review the proposed workload.
- Azure
- Use the Azure Well-Architected Framework to review the proposed workload.
Existing dependencies
- AWS
- Inventory AWS services, account policies and deployment tooling already in use.
- Azure
- Inventory Azure services, tenant policies and deployment tooling already in use.
Identity boundary
- AWS
- Prototype human and workload access across the required accounts.
- Azure
- Prototype human and workload access across the required tenants and subscriptions.
Regional fit
- AWS
- Verify every required service and recovery dependency in the chosen AWS regions.
- Azure
- Verify every required service and recovery dependency in the chosen Azure regions.
Cost comparison
- AWS
- Estimate the complete AWS design, including data transfer, support and operations.
- Azure
- Estimate the equivalent Azure design, including data transfer, support and operations.
Turn the comparison into evidence
What to validate before you choose
- 01
Deploy the critical integration
Connect the application to its hardest identity or data dependency in each candidate environment. Record permissions, network setup and deployment effort.
- 02
Exercise recovery
Restore a representative service and its data. Compare the observed recovery time with the business requirement and document manual steps.
- 03
Price the same operating envelope
Use equivalent traffic, retention and availability assumptions. Separate cloud charges from migration, licensing and the people needed to operate the design.
Frequently asked questions
AWS vs Azure: common questions
01Is AWS or Azure cheaper?
Is AWS or Azure cheaper?
There is no useful universal cost winner. Compare equivalent workload designs with your usage, discounts, transfer patterns, licensing and support requirements.
02Should a Microsoft application always use Azure?
Should a Microsoft application always use Azure?
An existing Microsoft environment is relevant, but does not settle the choice. Validate the application dependencies, access model and commercial terms for the proposed architecture.
03Does using both clouds improve resilience?
Does using both clouds improve resilience?
Only when the application, data and operating procedures support the intended failover. A second cloud also introduces coordination and testing work.
04When should we stay with our current cloud?
When should we stay with our current cloud?
Consider staying when the existing platform meets the required controls and service needs. A migration should have a specific benefit that justifies its delivery risk and ongoing operating impact.
Sources & scope
The official documentation below supports the platform descriptions. The fit guidance and evaluation steps are Programmatic’s assessment approach. Confirm current capabilities, regional availability and commercial terms for your intended configuration.
Related
Explore the implementation options
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Bring your requirements and existing environment. We can help define the assessment, prototype or delivery scope needed to resolve the decision.
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