Google Cloud vs. AWS: What’s Best for You?

Anuradha Nandan | Friday, August 7, 2020

Google Cloud vs. AWS: What’s Best for You?

There are 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created every day, and that pace is only accelerating with the growth of the internet of things (IoT). Files, photos, videos and tools no longer reside in a drawer or cabinet — they’re now stored on the “cloud.”

Cloud computing has skyrocketed in adoption since its debut in August 2006. Its capabilities have accelerated at an astonishing rate thanks to developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, which is why more businesses are taking advantage of cloud infrastructure. 

Cloud service providers are being used more frequently in 2020 to manage a wide range of applications and store vast amounts of data. Google and Amazon have led the charge in propelling the mass adoption of cloud technology by making task completion more efficient and cost-effective. Cloud computing is here to stay for a long time, and companies that don’t adopt it may be left behind. But how do you know what's best for your organization: Google Cloud or Amazon Web Services (AWS)?

If you are looking to adopt either of these platforms for business or personal use, it is essential to do some in-depth research on which platform best suits your needs. To better assist you in finding the best cloud provider for your business, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of both platforms. 

Google Cloud vs. AWS

Both cloud computing platforms have their advantages depending on the capabilities your organization requires, but there are several key differences between Google Cloud and AWS. To start, Google Cloud is a "public cloud" of computing resources and services, meaning anyone who has set permissions can access it. AWS, however, is a secure cloud service that is developed and managed by Amazon. 

The next big difference is that Google Cloud provides backup services while AWS provides disaster recovery services directly within the cloud. Google Cloud provides up to 64 GB of volume storage, whereas AWS provides an astonishing 16 TB — 250 times more storage. Therefore, if you or your business handle large volumes of data, AWS may be best for your organization.

Another notable difference between the two is that Google Cloud allows for encrypted data transfers while AWS data transmission is in a general format.

Advantages of AWS

AWS is almost twice as old as Google Cloud. However, AWS has become a juggernaut in cloud services since Amazon launched it in 2006. 

AWS's benefits include hybrid capabilities and enable users to deploy applications in multiple regions around the world thanks to the AWS storage gateway, which allows for a managed cloud infrastructure geared toward elevating a hybrid environment. Moreover, it offers centralized billing, allowing the total cost of ownership to be low compared to a private server. Additionally, AWS offers exceptional support and is readily available worldwide.

Disadvantages of AWS

AWS charges on a per-hour basis, making it slightly more expensive in terms of computing and storage. According to CloudHealth, "Over one year, Google Cloud is 28% cheaper than AWS and 35% cheaper than AWS over 3 years." For small passion projects, however, both of these cloud services offer free, generous 12-month trials. For example, Google Cloud's free trial provides up to $300 USD in credit.

Another potential downside of AWS is that commands can be complicated since the user interface is more robust. In turn, this can delay the time it takes to launch applications and meet your organization’s needs.

The IT training and skills required to use the full capabilities of the AWS platform make it an unlikely platform for those who are not familiar with cloud architecture. That's because launching multiple applications in AWS can be a somewhat tricky process, requiring users to command applications using recipes, Capistrano or input manually.

Advantages of Google Cloud

Google Cloud was launched in 2011 and has since become one of Alphabet’s star assets. A key benefit of Google Cloud is that it allows users to take advantage of its infrastructure while also providing them secure and highly flexible services. Google Cloud also allows users to work from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. Moreover, it is cost-efficient due to "loyalty" or long-term discounts.

Google Cloud is ideal for companies working with big data daily, or large and rapidly changing data sets. It is also great for running AI applications. Google Cloud architecture offers several other benefits, including more language options, an easier-to-understand user interface, resource pooling and more. Unlike AWS, Google Cloud charges on a per-minute basis.

Disadvantages of Google Cloud

There is no free tier with Google Cloud, which means everything has a price. However, this allows organizations to be more flexible with their Google Cloud applications because they only pay for what they use.

Additionally, Google Cloud has fewer features than AWS because it is relatively new to the infrastructure-as-a-service industry.

Conclusion

Both Google Cloud and AWS are exceptional cloud service providers that will undoubtedly spark a digital transformation in any organization. Just keep in mind, each cloud platform caters to different users and organization needs. 

By choosing the right cloud service provider for your business, you can enhance your business's functionality, reduce costs, streamline tedious administrative tasks and optimize operational capacity through predictive analytics. Although AWS is the market leader for cloud computing services because of its seemingly endless customization capabilities, Google Cloud offers similar features at a lower cost and has an easy-to-adopt user interface. In some cases, it may be worth looking into a multi-cloud strategy to take advantage of the benefits both cloud service providers offer.

Understanding the differences between these services is the first step toward optimizing cloud computing for your business or personal needs. Learn more about how your organization can take advantage of the leading technologies through ExitCertified’s wide range of virtual IT training courses.

Since 2001, ExitCertified has been a leading provider of 100% vendor-approved IT training programs. Learn the top IT skills companies are looking for in order to address and overcome technical challenges along their digital transformation journey.