Cloud services have revolutionized the business world, providing organizations with the means to become more efficient and flexible. Cloud databases are no exception to this phenomenon. However, it is crucial to recognize that selecting the right cloud solution provider for your business’s databases can significantly impact the success of your operations.
While there are various database-centric tools out there for companies to use (Oracle database, Google Cloud Platform, etc.), Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are two of the largest players that should not be overlooked. By having an idea of what they offer your company (in terms of database management systems or DBMS), you are sure to choose the right cloud provider for the betterment of your products and services.
What is Microsoft Azure?
With over “200 products and cloud services”, Microsoft Azure is a comprehensive cloud computing service that offers a broad spectrum of tools and services for application development and management. Azure supports both SQL and NoSQL databases, making it an adaptable choice for organizations across industries.
What is Azure SQL Database?
A significant component of Microsoft cloud database solutions is the Azure SQL Database—a database engine offered via a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) model. Through hands-free services such as monitoring and patching, Azure SQL Database allows businesses to establish robust and efficient data storage infrastructure within their Azure environment. With resources tucked away within Azure SQL Database-created space, you and your team can focus on maximizing operational productivity.
Azure SQL Database offers seamless accessibility for authorized users, scalability, and performance. It can quickly scale up or down based on the needs of your company. Furthermore, SQL Database utilizes advanced security features, including threat detection and access management, ensuring all data in your database remains secure and private.
It is available in two acquisition models:
- vCore-based purchasing model
- DTU-based purchasing model
What is Amazon Web Services (AWS)?
A leading cloud solution provider, AWS encompasses a wide range of cloud computing offerings, covering resources that touch upon networking solutions, storage capabilities, and more.
The AWS portfolio can be categorized into the following:
- Storage: S3, Glacier
- Compute: Ec2
- Database: RDS, DynamoDB, Aurora
- Security: Cloud Trail
Adhering to more than “300 security, compliance, and governance services and features”, AWS is renowned for its flexibility and broad set of uses, from data management to website hosting. Additionally, AWS’s robust global infrastructure, comprising 99 Availability Zones spread across 31 geographic regions (as of 2023), provides you with the freedom to determine the location and manner in which you execute your company’s workloads.
What is AWS Cloud Databases?
AWS Cloud Databases is a catch-all term for Amazon’s plethora of cloud database solutions. These include (but are not limited to) Amazon Aurora, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Quantum Ledger Database, and many more. With AWS Cloud Databases, companies can feel confident knowing that they can leverage a number of different types of databases for any use case.
Amazon Quantum Ledger Database, for instance, makes it easy to manage financial data and records to help organizations track the integrity of their information regarding financial exchanges. DynamoDB, on the other hand, provides users with a NoSQL database that has the power to run highly efficient applications.
How to choose between Azure and AWS for business databases
Choosing between Azure and AWS for your organization’s cloud database solutions depends on various factors, including your business needs, budget, and technical capabilities.
With that being said, if your business heavily relies on Microsoft software, Azure may be the more convenient choice due to its seamless integration with other Microsoft products.
Azure is also known for its usage of artificial intelligence (Intelligent Insights) that monitors database performance, flags issues, and can suggest remedial actions—the perfect tool for organizations seeking proactive database management capabilities. Also, if an app utilizes MS SQL, then Azure is a great choice for ease of migration and compatibility.
Meanwhile, AWS offers a broader range of database types, making it a versatile choice for companies that want all bases covered. Moreover, with AWS’s impressive region presence, organizations can feel confident knowing that their resources are readily available no matter their location.
Let an experienced database administrator migrate your company to cloud database solutions
Both Azure and AWS are formidable cloud solution providers that can support your business’s processes and database management needs. Choosing cloud database solutions is not necessarily a matter of which is universally better—it is about which will push your organization toward its goals.
The database management services at Everconnect can support your company in all aspects of its databases, from safeguarding your reputation with disaster recovery solutions to conducting routine maintenance. Everconnect’s team can help you determine your data needs and fulfill them with cloud database solutions from Microsoft and Amazon.
Traditional databases are no longer enough for today’s businesses. Reach out to Everconnect today to choose between Azure SQL Database or AWS Cloud Databases for your company’s future.
