Cloud Providers

The Infrastructure as a Service component of Amazon Web Services offers dynamically scalable computing, storage, and data access on demand with pay-as-you-go pricing for the hardware and software delivered. Very mature offering with many existing examples to draw upon for solutions.

The Infrastructure as a Service component of Google Cloud Platform built on the global infrastructure that runs Google’s search engine, Gmail, YouTube, and other services. Particularly suited for running Kubernetes clusters and HPC.

The Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Infrastructure as a Service component of Microsoft supporting many programming languages, tools, and frameworks, including both Microsoft-specific and third-party software and systems.

An on-demand service running VMware vSphere-based applications on next-generation AWS infrastructure, optimized to run on dedicated, elastic, bare-metal AWS infrastructure.

Uses groups. Has 1 manual and 3 types of dynamic groups. Payments are no longer hourly, so scaling is now billed flexibly. (More info)

Similar to AWS, scaled based on groups according to fields set. Costs are by the minute, allowing for flexibility. (More info)

Scales groups by predetermined metrics; also charges by the minute. (More info)

Adding virtual hosts to the existing bare-metal AWS hardware is supported for additional hardware resources; VCenter should move workloads accordingly.

Mature network infrastructure allows for load-balancing, scripted infrastructure builds, and pre-built firewall appliances. Direct-connect available to purchase.

Networking Basics available include load balancer, firewall, and DNS.

Advanced Networking features available include accelerators, application gateways, and multiple networks per VM. Direct-connect available for purchase.

Separate VPN for traffic management required.

AWS can use Microsoft Active Directory for IAM roles, as well as for running AD servers in the infrastructure.

Google creates Windows Server instances and runs an install wizard. (More info)

Native support. Easy to make full connectivity.  (More info)

Same support and uses as with on-prem VMware.

Most features are relatively easy, but feature sprawl makes it hard to master all offerings.

Command-line heavy, but streamlined.

Great user interface. Uses PowerShell instead of Bash.

Connects to your VCenter, so VMware users are familiar with most common operations.

Networking costs can be highly variable. Enterprise agreement includes egress discount and pooled storage for high volume storage rates.

Highly variable; archival storage has no performance penalty during retrieval.

Fixed-term contract encouraged for discounts.

Billed through VMware.

Large amount of documentation, but thorough instruction sets.

Directly lists commands for command-line and requires more background knowledge.

Documentation is easy to use and includes visuals and succinct passages.

Under rapid development.

Serverless computing; containers readily supported.

Containers and Big Data apps readily supported; serverless in beta.

Container support recently added; Microsoft-native infrastructure well supported.

Best chance for right-click and migrate to cloud functionality.

Very popular and notable for having a large number of features (e.g., Glacier storage, lambda serverless compute).

Relatively new; barebones but growing. Kubernetes/container support mature. Storage tiers competitively priced.

Long running. Windows based. Strong support core.

Attractive for enterprises with a large installed VMware base and in-house knowledge.