Understanding the Difference Between Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS from Pluralsight

Choosing a public cloud provider is a big decision. This course will teach you how the Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) clouds are similar and different.

Which public cloud service provider is best for your business?

and

are the market leaders, but what differentiates one vendor from another?

In this comprehensive course,

, you'll walk away being able to:

You will learn the differences and similarities of AWS and Azure, how to determine which cloud is best for your company, and make an intelligent purchase decision.

Anyone who wants to learn the differences between Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure! Especially useful for decision makers who are trying to decide what cloud service to purchase.

There is no strict prerequisite, but this course is an intermediate level and assumes some previous exposure to or knowledge of cloud services.

For decision makers, you should be familiar with your company's business and technical requirements and understand the business' pain points.

You need an internet connection and a free trial subscription to Azure and AWS (the course will walk you through those procedures).

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

The Fundamentals: Putting Clouds in Context

The PaaS Scenario

The IaaS Scenario

The Hybrid Cloud/Identity Scenario

The SaaS Integration Scenario

The Cloud Storage Scenario

The Database Scenario

The Security Scenario

The Availability/Disaster Recovery Scenario

The Decision Point

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores public cloud fundamentals, which is standard industry knowledge

Provides foundational knowledge in the similarities between providers

Provides foundational knowledge in the differences between providers

Covers a range of common scenarios, which increases applicability for various audiences

Requires free trials to both AWS and Azure, which may limit accessibility for some students

Assumes previous exposure or knowledge of cloud services, which may not be suitable for complete beginners

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Understanding the Difference Between Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS with these activities:

Review cloud basics

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Ensures a strong foundation in cloud computing concepts before starting the course.

Browse courses on Cloud Computing

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Review articles and tutorials on cloud basics
Watch videos on cloud computing concepts
Participate in online discussions about cloud computing

Read 'Cloud Computing: A Practical Approach' by Anthony T. Velte

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Provides a comprehensive overview of cloud computing concepts and best practices.

View Cisco A Beginner's Guide, Fifth Edition on Amazon

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Read Chapter 2: Cloud Computing Concepts
Read Chapter 3: Cloud Service Models
Read Chapter 4: Cloud Deployment Models

Follow tutorials on AWS and Azure

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Provides practical experience with AWS and Azure, giving you a deeper understanding of their capabilities.

Browse courses on AWS

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Find and enroll in tutorials on AWS and Azure
Complete the tutorials step-by-step
Practice using the services introduced in the tutorials

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Write a blog post comparing AWS and Azure

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Helps you solidify your understanding of AWS and Azure by explaining the differences to others.

Browse courses on AWS

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Research and gather information about AWS and Azure
Organize your thoughts and outline your blog post
Write and edit your blog post

Compare AWS and Azure services

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Strengthens your understanding of how AWS and Azure services compare and can be used together.

Browse courses on AWS Services

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Create a table comparing AWS services to Azure services
Practice using the services in both clouds
Document your findings and observations

Build a simple application on AWS or Azure

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Demonstrates your ability to apply your knowledge of AWS or Azure to build a real-world application.

Browse courses on AWS

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Plan and design your application
Develop your application using the AWS or Azure platform
Test and deploy your application

Career center

Learners who complete Understanding the Difference Between Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cloud Operations Manager

Cloud Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of cloud-based systems. A comprehensive understanding of AWS and Azure, the dominant platforms in the market, is crucial for success in this role. This course provides a detailed comparison of the two services, helping you make informed decisions and manage your cloud operations more effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Operations Manager

Site Reliability Engineer

Site Reliability Engineers ensure cloud-based systems meet performance, reliability, and security requirements. For professionals in this role, a deep understanding of cloud hosting providers is absolutely necessary. This course dives into granular details about AWS and Azure and lets you compare and contrast their offerings, which will be valuable for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Site Reliability Engineer

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design, build, and maintain data systems. Since AWS and Azure are leaders in cloud-based data technologies, it makes sense for professionals in this field to understand these platforms' fundamentals. This course focuses on providing a comprehensive comparison of AWS and Azure, which would be essential knowledge for a Data Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Solutions Architect

Solutions Architects create and execute cloud-based solutions for clients. A deep understanding of the capabilities and differences between the two industry leaders would be extremely valuable for professionals in this field. This course provides you with the essential knowledge you need to make the most appropriate cloud recommendations to your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Solutions Architect

Cloud Consultant

Cloud Consultants advise clients on cloud-based solutions. As such, they should have a well-rounded understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing, including the key players. This course provides a comprehensive comparison of AWS and Microsoft Azure, which will be valuable for your career as a Cloud Consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Consultant

IT Director

IT Directors are responsible for the overall IT strategy and vision of their organization. Providing a deep comparison of the two primary cloud providers in the industry, this course will help you make informed decisions about cloud adoption that align with your organization's long-term goals. This course can help you become a more strategic IT leader.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Director

Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud Security Engineers are responsible for securing cloud-based systems. Because AWS and Azure are the two dominant forces in cloud computing, any professional in this industry would be expected to be familiar with their competitive dynamics. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of both platforms, which will help you make informed security decisions for your organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Security Engineer

Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage cloud-based databases. As a DBA, it would be incredibly valuable to understand the features and limitations of the leading cloud-based database providers. This course provides a thorough comparison of the database offerings of AWS and Azure, making it relevant and useful for professionals in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers work to integrate software development and operations. Understanding the nuances of the two primary cloud providers would be critical to building a reliable and efficient cloud infrastructure. This course directly addresses choosing the most appropriate cloud service provider and can thus be a stepping stone for career growth in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers design, build, and maintain cloud-based systems. As such, they should be well-versed in the offerings of the leading cloud service providers. This course provides an in-depth comparison of the services offered by AWS and Azure in a range of scenarios, which may help you as a Cloud Engineer understand how to position these services to your clients or management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

IT Manager

IT Managers oversee the IT infrastructure of their organization. In today's market, this includes making critical decisions about cloud computing. By understanding the differences and similarities between AWS and Azure, you can implement the cloud solutions that best meet your organization's needs. This course can help you become a more effective IT Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts work to improve business processes. A deep dive into the market dynamics and offerings of the leading cloud providers in the industry can help you understand how to leverage cloud-based solutions. The knowledge you gain in this course may assist you in making recommendations that add value to your business and advance your career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Architect

Software Architects design and oversee the construction of software systems. This course would be useful for someone in this role because it provides a comprehensive overview of the PaaS offerings of AWS and Azure. This knowledge can help you build a software system that is scalable, reliable, and secure.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help organizations make better decisions. This course may be helpful for someone in this role because it provides a comprehensive overview of the cloud storage offerings of AWS and Azure. This knowledge can help you select the right storage solution for your data analysis needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Cloud Architect

Cloud Architects lead and manage a company's cloud computing initiatives. Understanding the differences and similarities between the two major players, AWS and Azure, would help you with comparative analysis when choosing which cloud service to purchase. Given that this course discusses how to determine which cloud is the best fit for a given company, the information in this course can help you excel as a Cloud Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect