It is challenging to decide which certification holds more value AWS or Azure.
AWS Certification
AWS Certified Solutions Architect is one of the most desired-after cloud certifications, and employers are on a look-out for cloud professionals who can design and deploy applications on AWS infrastructure. To get the certification, one should have a minimum of two-year experience in designing applications with AWS technologies. The AWS certification examines the candidate’s ability to make structural support for deployment and provisioning applications on AWS.
The AWS certification can open a career pathway as an AWS Solutions Architect Associate. After making the AWS Solutions Architect exam, candidates go for the Developer Associate exam.
The first reason to open for AWS is that it is the final cloud leader with the most significant enterprise base. Most IT professionals can knock out the Solutions Architect certification easily and have an in-depth knowledge of EC2, S3, and VPC. While the most popular AWS certification is for Solutions Architect, the other in certifications are DevOps, Developer, and SysOps. According to a report, the average salary of AWS certified professional is around $100,000 with an annual 5 percent raise.
Azure Certification
Microsoft offers three certifications for Azure. There is one proposed at architects, one for Linux and the other one for Visual Studio web developers. Experts secure that Azure cloud job postings are on the rise since enterprises across the globe are taking Azure over other cloud vendors.
When it comes to charting the cloud computing career path, Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert has risen as the most popular certification. The popular Microsoft certification will lead to a cloud administrator, cloud architect, an information security analyst roles in enterprises.
However, before you start on this advanced certification, you will have to complete the Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect certification designed for IT professionals looking for entry-level jobs in organizations. The Azure certification is a requirement for more advanced certifications.
Choosing between these two powerful platforms is not an easy task. The user needs to be aware of the various features and functionalities of these two options before they make an informed choice.
Differences Between AWS and Azure Certification
#1. Computational Abilities
Cloud-based platforms usually offer a significant number of features that take care of all your business needs. The two platforms above are equally competent when it comes to cloud computation. Developers can configure their VMs or go for readymade machine images, or customize using the most advanced AWS EC2 version.
With AWS, one can also customize the size, power, and capacity of the VMs and choose various locations and zones to store and launch them of.
Azure, on the other hand, enables users to select Virtual Hard Disk (VHD), which is very comparable to a Machine Instance, to generate a VM. VHD can be customized by Microsoft, a third party, or the user. But for that, you have to define the memory, amount, and location of the VMs.
#2. Storage Space
Contrary to popular belief, cloud storage is not always unlimited. AWS, for instance, has a short storage system that is created and allocated only after the example starts. The memory is automatically deleted after the case is destroyed.
AWS also allows block storage options, which are the same as hard disks. Users can separate or attach separate storage locations to an instance. The S3 version allows object storage options, while data archiving services are provided with Glacier. AWS also helps relational and NoSQL databases and Big Data.
Azure, on the other hand, has small storage that is offered through the D drive, and the block storage features are executed through Page Blobs for VMs.
#3. Networking Capabilities
Cloud services are great for improving the networking capabilities of the business enterprise. It encourages enterprises to establish a reliable and transparent communication channel that allows greater flexibility and design to developers. AWS gives a service called Amazon offers Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) that will enable users to create separated networks within the cloud.
With Microsoft’s Azure, users receive a Virtual Network (VNET) that will allow people to produce remote systems as well as subnets, route tables, private IP address ranges, and network gateways. Both these platforms allow virtual networking capabilities to extend the on-premises data center and convert it into the cloud and firewall option.
#4. Pricing Models
Both AWS and Azure are available for all business models and offers affordable pricing schemes. People can choose from a wide variety of options, customize their plans, and get optimized services. Amazon has a pay-as-you-go model where the AWS customer is sold on an hourly basis. The Cases can be purchased either on-demand where the user pays only for what they use and no upfront charges. The next option is the private option, where the user can have an instance for 1-3 years after paying an upfront cost. The Spot option is where the customers bid for more capacity available.
In Azure, the pricing options are much much the same. Microsoft’s pricing is also pay-as-you-go, but the distinction is that while at AWS, the cost is charged hourly, here, they charge per minute. This accounts for a more accurate pricing model. Azure also bids short term contracts that can be paid in monthly charges. Also, while AWS pricing is calculated on usage, the Azure pricing happens at a fixed monthly rate. AWS can hence be a slightly costly option if you use cloud services a lot.
#5. Integrations and Open Source networks
Amazon has had a stronger association with the open-source community in the past few years. This gives AWS a combined advantage, users will find better open-source integrations on the platform, including some big shot. AWS is also compatible with Linux servers making things a lot easier for developers.
Azure is a comparatively new platform and, therefore, not as extensive as AWS when it comes to open-source networks. The platform allows local development tools like VBS, SQL database, and Active directory to people who are familiar with the Windows development framework. Azure is an ideal option for .net developers. It sure is taking up with AWS and can now support Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Apache Hadoop groups in Azure.
#6. Containers and Orchestration Support
Amazon frequently participates in completing and delivering demands by driving innovative services in the industry. Armed with the experience and expertise of working as a cloud-based platform for many years, AWS is a far more mature space that allows analytics supports like Hadoop, which is provided by AWS Elastic Map Reduce. AWS has even combined machine learning tools and structures centered on IoT systems. This enables customers to build mobile apps or produce high-performance computing environments as per their requirements. AWS even offers support for Docker.
With Microsoft’s Azure, the platform has a good track record for meeting high demands and giving unique services. Azure comes with Hadoop support and a particular piece called Azure HDInsight. The Windows Server 2016 can be combined with Docker and is fit with both Windows containers and Hyper-V containers. Azure works excellent on both Windows and Linux containers.
#7. Legal Compliance and Certifications
Amazon has always adhered to the restrictions and terms laid down by government agencies. AWS was created in a way to comply with all the certifications set down in ITAR, DISA, HIPAA, CJIS, FIPS, and more. AWS is, therefore, a more credible platform of the two as it gives proper protection against online threats. Also, AWS has a more effective screening process that only allows authorized users to obtain sensitive and protected filed in the cloud.
When it arrives at legal certifications, though, even Azure is not far behind. Microsoft deems to have over 50 compliant offerings, including ITAR, DISA, HIPAA, CJIS, FIPS under its name. The platform is on par with Amazon when it arrives in offering web security to its users. AWS, even Azure users, can defend their information with passwords and encryptions. Thus, these files are only selected on government-level cloud systems and available to authorized users.
#8. User-friendliness and Convenience
Both AWS and Azure are user-friendly, and yet both also have their complications. AWS, in particular, has a steeper learning curve, but it is easier once you are accustomed to it. The first-time user can get very involved with the sheer range of features and configurations. Developers and IT experts will love working with the platform as it offers a great deal of flexibility and choice to the user when it comes to customization and a combination of third-party extensions.
Azure, in comparison, is more straightforward, even easy for people who are used to working with the Windows platform. The interface is intuitive but not innovative enough, though. Also, integrating new servers, cloud instances, and creating hybrid environments are not as challenging. Users who are comfortable with tools such as the SQL database and Active Directory would love working with Azure.
#9. Licensing
On Amazon, users can avail of licenses from multiple options. The first is where customers can get new licenses, which will be bundled with EC2 or Relational Database Services instances. Another way is to renew or regain their former licenses (BYOL) and include them in their new collaboration with Microsoft. For this, users can use Dedicated Hosts or Software Assurance to sell their certificates to the cloud.
However, before you run a license from one location to another, guarantee that all the Microsoft Server application products are also transferred to a cloud Service providers with the License Mobility through Software Assurance program. This feature is usually included with active Software Assurance (SA). The server applications must also be on the list of qualified products, like SharePoint Server, SQL Server Enterprise Edition, and Exchange Server.
In Azure, Microsoft offers license flexibility for securing servers, although it is the user who has to decide the credibility and convenience of the servers. Users can check if the servers are suitable for moving to a separate location and if it can happen without paying an extra charge.
#10. Outlook
Even though AWS is the most popular cloud certification preferred by IT professionals and candidates looking to add cloud skills to their resume, Azure is soon gaining ground on AWS, the market leader. Azure is also more enterprise-focused, while AWS is more customer-focused. However, if you are looking to increase your fundamental knowledge of cloud concepts, the entry-level certifications from Azure are widely popular
Conclusion
AWS and Azure are very similar in many ways and many in many others. And in all honesty, it would be an unreasonable comparison to put these two platforms on one another. After all, your choice of a cloud platform depends on your business requirements. Both these platforms have their part of the pros and cons, benefits, and disadvantages that users have to deal with. And taking either of these two will work wonders for the business and your online reputation.
