Understanding Cloud Computing: AWS, Azure, and GCP

The Cloud Revolution

Cloud computing has transformed how we build and deploy applications. Understanding the major providers is essential for modern developers.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

The market leader with the most comprehensive service offering. Great documentation and large community, but can be complex and expensive.

Microsoft Azure

Strong integration with Microsoft technologies. Excellent for enterprises already in the Microsoft ecosystem. Good hybrid cloud support.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Strengths in data analytics, machine learning, and Kubernetes. Generally simpler pricing, but smaller market share means fewer third-party integrations.

Common Services

All three offer compute (VMs, containers), storage (object, block, file), databases (SQL and NoSQL), and networking capabilities.

Pricing Models

Pay-as-you-go is standard, but each has different pricing structures. Use cost calculators and monitor spending carefully.

Choosing a Provider

Consider existing tools, team expertise, specific service requirements, pricing, and geographic coverage. Many companies use multiple providers.

Getting Started

All providers offer free tiers. Start small, experiment, and gradually adopt more services as you understand the platform.

Certification Value

Cloud certifications demonstrate expertise and are valued by employers. Start with associate-level certifications.

Multi-Cloud Strategy

Some organizations use multiple clouds for redundancy or best-of-breed services, but this adds complexity.