Generally speaking, cloud-based data centers are more secure than those on-premises. Still, business owners are (understandably) concerned about how well public cloud security services will protect data. Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are two of the most popular cloud platforms today. So, let’s compare Azure security vs. AWS security to help you decide.
| “Choosing a secure public cloud provider is as crucial as picking the right foundation for a skyscraper. The wrong foundation can lead to the eventual collapse of a skyscraper and an insecure cloud provider can harm a business through data leaks and lost trust.” – Jacob Saunders, EVP, Atmosera |
What Does AWS Security Look Like?
AWS uses a shared responsibility model. This means that they secure the physical hardware and software of the cloud infrastructure. Your role is to secure the data, applications, and configurations you deploy within that infrastructure.
Use Cases
1. Rapid Growth
For startups aiming for rapid growth, AWS provides flexible scaling options without compromising on security. AWS and Azure can both grow with you, but AWS offers slightly more flexibility due to its more agnostic nature. A rapidly growing business may still favor Azure in cases where they are certain that they will remain Microsoft-forward.
2. eCommerce Platforms
AWS is typically the ideal choice if you run an eCommerce platform. While both AWS and Azure offer excellent high-performance solutions for data security and network uptime, AWS is less dependent on the Microsoft suite. Therefore, it’s better for managing non-Microsoft eCommerce products like Shopify or Magento.
3. Hybrid Architectures
Businesses transitioning from on-premises to cloud might opt for AWS because of its extensive support for hybrid architectures.
| Learn More About What Microsoft Azure Has to Offer |
What Does Azure Security Look Like?
Microsoft Azure also uses the shared responsibility model. However, it offers some different tools and features due to its connection with other Microsoft services. As a result, it’s a better option for Microsoft users. It generally feels more cohesive and tailored to those familiar with Microsoft’s suite of products.
Use Cases
1. Enterprise Integration
Azure provides a familiar and interconnected environment if you’re deeply integrated with Microsoft products. In this case, opting for Azure has less of a learning curve surrounding its security features. It also makes integration and configuration easier and faster.
2. Hybrid Solutions
If you’re looking for a consistent platform across on-premises and cloud, you might lean towards Azure. Azure has several built-in tools that are specifically designed to improve hybrid cloud environments. This includes:
- Azure Site Recovery to keep your data accessible during outages and ensure your local data can be restored from the cloud if issues arise.
- Azure Virtual Network to create a secure private connection from your on-site servers to the Azure cloud, using either virtual private networks (VPNs) or a dedicated WAN link.
- Azure ExpressRoute to establish private connections between Azure datacenters and their on-premises infrastructure, offering faster and more reliable connectivity than standard internet connections.
- Azure AD Connect to synchronize your on-premises directories and identities with Azure AD and ensure users have consistent credentials in both environments.
- Azure File Sync lets you centralize your organization’s file shares in Azure Files while retaining the familiarity and performance of an on-site file server.
3. Data-Intensive Applications
If your organization heavily relies on Microsoft’s database services (like SQL Server), Azure is a more cohesive choice due to its built-in optimizations. It’s not just about storing data; Azure optimizes how you access and use that data. Its Mircosoft-native architecture ensures swift data retrieval within any Microsoft ecosystem.
AWS vs. Azure Security: Comparisons
Because they are similar platforms, AWS and Azure security features have some cross-over. This can be a bit confusing when you’re comparing the two. So, here are a few quick tables that briefly compare similar features in Azure and AWS.
AWS CloudWatch vs. Azure Monitor
| AWS CloudWatch | Azure Monitor | |
| Monitoring | Monitors AWS resources | Monitors Azure resources |
| Alerts | Customizable CloudWatch Alarms | Customizable Azure Alerts |
| Metrics | Predefined and custom metrics | Predefined and custom metrics |
| Logs | CloudWatch Logs | Azure Log Analytics |
| Integration | Integrates with other AWS services | Integrates with other Azure services |
AWS KMS vs. Azure Key Vault
| AWS Key Management Service (KMS) | Azure Key Vault | |
| Key Management | Centralized management of cryptographic keys | Manages and safeguards cryptographic keys |
| Encryption | Supports symmetric and asymmetric keys | Supports symmetric and asymmetric keys |
| Access Control | Fine-grained access control | Fine-grained access control |
| Auditing | AWS CloudTrail | Azure Monitor |
| Integration | Integrates with AWS services | Integrates with Azure services |
Azure Active Directory (AD) vs. AWS Identity & Access Management (IAM)
| Azure AD | AWS IAM | |
| Identity Management | User and group management | User and role management |
| Authentication | Multi-factor authentication | Multi-factor authentication |
| Authorization | Role-based access control | Role-based access control |
| Integration | Integrates with Microsoft services | Integrates with AWS services |
| Directory Services | Yes | Only AWS Directory Services |
Azure Advanced Threat Protection vs. AWS GuardDuty
| Advanced Threat Protection | AWS GuardDuty | |
| Threat Detection | Detects advanced threats in real-time | Continuous monitors for malicious activity |
| Integration | Integrates with Microsoft services | Integrates with AWS services |
| Alerts | Security alerts | Security findings |
| Machine Learning (ML) | Uses ML for detection | Uses ML for detection |
Azure Blob Storage Encryption vs. AWS S3 Encryption
| Azure Blob Storage | AWS S3 | |
| Encryption Type | Server-side and client-side | Server-side and client-side |
| Key Management | Azure Key Vault | AWS KMS |
| Integration | Integrates with Azure services | Integrates with AWS services |
| Access Control | Fine-grained access control | Fine-grained access control |
Azure Virtual Network vs. AWS Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)
| Azure Virtual Network | AWS VPC | |
| Isolation | Isolated cloud resources | Isolated section of the AWS Cloud |
| Subnetting | Supports subnets | Supports subnets |
| Security | Network Security Groups | Security Groups and Network ACLs |
| Connectivity | VPN Gateway | AWS VPN |
Network Security Groups (NSGs) vs. Security Groups and Network ACLs
| NSGs | Security Groups & Network ACLs | |
| Type | Stateful |
|
| Rules | Inbound and outbound | Inbound and outbound |
| Priority | Rule priority | Rule number |
| Associations | Multiple per NIC or subnet |
|
Think The Security in Azure is Right For You?
If you’ve looked at these two major cloud providers and decided that Azure is your best bet, Atmosera is here to help. As distinguished as an Expert MSP you know you can rely on us to deliver top-tier managed Azure services in any industry.
Reach out today to get started and see how you can optimize your data security with Azure.