Currently Cloud market is filled with;

• Amazon Web Services
  Microsoft Azure
  Google Cloud
  IBM Cloud
  Alibaba Cloud
  Salesforce
  Oracle cloud
  Tencent Cloud

 

AWS has 33% of the market,
followed by Azure at 18%,
Google at 9%,
Alibaba Cloud 5%
IBM cloud 5%
Salesforce 3%
Tencent 2%
Oracle 2%
 
But predominantly three major players control the market and the cloud 3 platforms is being analyzed.
 
Amazon AWS is the market leader in cloud market, that does not mean it is for everyone. All the 3 top cloud platforms namely AWS, AZURE, GCS specializes in certain areas. unless those aspects are taken into account final choice cannot be made.
 
AWS
It is a cloud service for enterprises. its resources are useful to processing multiple treads, scaling high volumes of transactions.
 
One thing which is again and again proved is the Amazon shopping festival, where the services never fail due to the high volume of transactions on a single day.
 
Advantages
- Dominates the market
- Has a large Platter to offer
- Supports Large Corporates
- Reach across Geography
 
Dis-advantages
- Tough to handle
- Cost management is a tough challenge
- Too many options to get confused
 
 
Microsoft Azure
It is more into Software services in cloud. supporting retail businesses and IOT. IT has gained deep inroads into IOT which will be a most wanted cloud services in the 5G era.
It has various tool to create, manage, setting up sensors. Its offer on RTDA - Real time data analytics, machine learning and insight processing is something phenomenal
 
Advantages
- Second largest cloud provider
- Integration with Microsoft tools give a feather in its cap
- Broad features
- Hybrid cloud
- Support for open source
 
Disadvantages
- Availability of services to prove always-ON
- insufficient management tools
 
Google Cloud
It's very attractive especially to start-up companies. It offers one of the best AI tools available
 
Advantages
- Designed for SME and Start-up business
- deep discounts in pricing
- flexible approach
 
disadvantages
- few services in the plate
- not enterprise focused.
  

 
 
Challenges in different cloud platforms
 
Amazon Web Services
It creates unnecessary complexity in its services, though being versatile.
 
For startups and those migrating new to cloud are like to get confused.
 
The AWS operation cost calculation and prediction is bit confusing, in spite of many free tools offered.
especially in the customization for hybrid clouds it doesn't do much.
 
Microsoft Azure
The cloud platform has some issues caused from Azure side. It's not yet viewed as a All purpose matured cloud platform.
 
The communication gap between clients and Azure team is a point of concern. The guidance given to end users on Azure usage and a berocratic structure even for a bug reporting exists.
 
Google cloud
Late comer. It focus is primarily on Start-ups and Small business. Still a immature cloud operation when it comes to support teams working methodologies
 
Evaluating  the Computing
 
AWS
the EC2 is responsible for handling multiple instances multiple operating systems, GPU instances, scaling the and managing high work load
 
- It used 275+ types of instances, highest in this category. Its robust.
- Geographically well positioned across the globe
- Reliable and Robust
- Companies that adopt containers gets better support
 
Microsoft Azure
It supports multiple operating systems, Virtual machines, SQL servers, Oracle and other platforms.
 
- Security and access management is an important feature. The data storage as local and in cloud definitely helps
- It supports high number of instances. and the AI data processing is well optimized instance.
- The free tier allows Azure instances for 750 hours on B1S virtual machine
 
It offers custom containers based on kubernetes and docker hub
 
Most versatile provider of customization and documentation
 
Google Cloud
Its focus is not on versatility rather a computer engine that can handle instances, VM , manage data storage and tasks
 
Corporates will not find all requirements fulfilled here
 
It has a Free tier to offer. Business has access to a yearly plan
 
Storage
 
AWS
It offered simple storage, Elastic storage

Storage gateway and snowball are tools used to manage cloud storage and offline storage
 
Data in Amazon is managed with custom database Aurora  and Glacier is another tool used for creating and storing compressed files
 
Additional tools for data management include ElastiCache that stores cache information. Redshift for warehouse data storage, Neptune for graphic files, and other tools.
 
Azure
Azure stores all information using REST APIs. Big data applications works with Data Lake Store
 
The platform has SQL tools, MySQL, Postgresql  for Warehouse Azure uses Table storage and Cosmos DB
 
It offers many options for hybrid data storage. like Server stretch database.
 
Its backup services and site recovery tools is very robust.
 
Google cloud
Its offers rather a transfer appliance
 
the choice of database is not versatile.
 
PRICES
 
AWS
The Cost of the platform is considered  high
The AWS free tools aren't one considered best to calculate prices. 
General purpose M5.Xlarge       - $0.123
Compute Optimized C5.xlarge - $0.107
Memory optimized r5.xlarge     - $0.159
GPU instances g3x.xlarge          - $0.551
 
AZURE
Its pricing derives from multiple criteria. the tools offered to calculate pricing is not enough
General purpose B4MS         - $0.097
Compute optimized F4s v2  - $0.099
Memory optimized E4 v3      - $0.156
GPU instances NC6                - $0.572
 
Google
Its a cost efficient solutions. with multiple discounts for startups. Its costs are sonsiderably lower.
General purpose n1-standard-4      - $0.128
Compute optimised n1-highcpu-4  - $0.095
Memory optimised n1-highmem-4  - $0.159
GPU instances NVIDIA@Tesla@P4    - $0.864
 
* all price given above are estimates to get an idea, take professional help to arrive at accurate price estimates
 
Availability of IaaS
 
AWS is considered more stable followed by Google and at a distance with Azure
 
AWS - the infrastructure experience 338 outage hours per year
Azure - experienced 1900 outage hours per year
Google cloud - experienced 361 total outage hours per year
 
Latency
 
For clients in North America, Europe, Oceania - Azure shows better latency
For clients in Asia, South America - AWS shows better latency
 
Who uses Who and for What?
 
AWS
Companies that use AWS Cloud: Facebook, Netflix, Baidu, Netflix, Airbnb, Spotify
Industry verticals : Social networks, retail, Transportation, Technology
 
Companies use the Backup and storage services to store main data and backups
Large corporates use for software that handles multiple process with high availability and robust support team
 
If you'd rather dive into Amazon's deep services framework, opt for AWS
 
AZURE
Companies that use cloud: ASOS, HP, MBV, Boeing, Samsung, Ebay
Industries: Technology, manufacture, transportation, healthcare
 
If you're looking to leverage common knowledge and work within familiar function ecosystems, Azure is a great fit.
 
Azure is used widely by researchers in scientific fields, healthcare
its IOT toolkit is commonly used in manufacturing companies
 
Corporates looking for Hybrid cloud developments gets with the leader Azure
 
In several end use case Azure stands out
 
 
Google cloud
Companies that use Google cloud: Paypal, Coca-Cola, Snapchat, Ubisoft, Colgate-palmolive
Industries that use: Retail, communication, finance, food
 
Companies looking for cost effective cloud solutions opt in for Google cloud.
 
It has branded itself as a specialized IaaS for Start-ups and SMB's
 
It has come out with new AI tools
 
Conclusion:
 
There are many aspect to consider from price to database to transactions volume  to customised solutions.
 
* If you are a Small and Medium sized companies or a start-up, then definitely google cloud can give you a helping hand.

* If you are an enterprise / large corporate  with manufacturing  with hybrid systems then Azure is the best option.

* If you are a web technology company, have large data storage needs and process large sets of data with robust service then the AWS is the best bet for you

None of the above is final, these views holds good today. Tomorrow if your company thinks of cost cutting in cloud services, then the scenario changes. Tomorrow if the IaaS provider improves its infrastructure and support team, then the scenario changes.
 
If you need suggestions, do reach the author at {[email protected]} by dropping a line for a meaningful consultation. The author has hands on experience in designing and handling large server  infrastructure.