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Cloud
AWS vs Azure for a Microsoft-heavy enterprise starting cloud migration
Ecosystem ↔ Cost
Context
Primary cloud for migrating 60 on-prem applications.
We run Active Directory, SQL Server, .NET Framework apps and have an Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft. Leadership assumes Azure. Some of our engineers prefer AWS for its maturity and documentation.
Beyond the licensing discounts (Azure Hybrid Benefit), what actually matters when the estate is this Microsoft-centric?
Constraints
- Identity
- Active Directory
- Licensing
- Existing EA
AWSvsAzure
Community verdict
AWS 43%Azure 57%
7 engineers · 2 opinions
With these constraints, what would you choose?
One choice per engineer. You can change it any time.
AWS
Azure
Licensing cost →
Trade-offs
Dimensions
AWSAzureout of 5
- Service breadth
- 5AWS scores 5 of 54Azure scores 4 of 5
- MS integration
- 3AWS scores 3 of 55Azure scores 5 of 5
- Licensing cost
- 3AWS scores 3 of 5
Community discussion
2 comments
Have you made this decision in production? Share your reasoning.
Sign in to commentAWS runs SQL Server and AD fine (and has License Mobility). If you plan to modernise toward containers and Postgres anyway, optimise for the destination, not the starting point.
Hybrid Benefit on Windows Server and SQL Server licences was a 30–40% cost difference for us. Entra ID integration also removed a whole identity federation project.