Following AWS Cloud Practitioner certification, I jumped over to Microsoft Azure to gain some context and comparison. Core services for compute, storage, network and serverless appear comparable, including pricing. AWS has a huge portfolio but Azure also appears well rounded. So what, I was trying to understand, differentiates the 2 providers?

OK so with it’s slicker design (and dark theme!) I preferred the Azure portal user experience over AWS console. More importantly, I can see Microsoft’s strong enterprise heritage is an attraction, and with Azure active directory should help facilitate seemless hybrid cloud with SSO. Perhaps the geographical presence of MS offices with sales and consulting within easy reach wins for some?

Will it come down to the value-added, growth services around A.I. and I.o.T. that will truly differentiate? I also wondered whether startups naturally favour AWS? Heard first-hand from a startup their concerns in adopting Azure due to perceived premiums to hire/retain Azure skillsets.

Another certification as reward for the continuous learning

MS Azure Fundamentals Certification