Exploring the Top Google Cloud Competitors in the Cloud Computing Market


Cloud computing is a game-changer that has transformed the way we do business. Google Cloud is a heavyweight contender in this arena, equipped with a range of features, products, and services that seamlessly integrate into any business system. 

Despite fierce competition, Google Cloud continues to evolve and innovate, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. 

So, we’ll be discussing how Google Cloud competes with other platforms and how it manages to stand out in the competition to fit perfectly for your business. 

Overview of top Google Cloud competitors

Here is a brief overview of the major Google cloud competitors;

  1. 1

    Microsoft Azure 

    It provides many services such as storage and computing. However, its integration with other Microsoft services such as Windows and Office 365 is a major reason for its success. 

  2. 2

    AWS

    Itis the market leader in cloud service providers with a 32 percent market share. AWS provides scalability and flexible pricing alongside other services like database and storage making it a popular choice for businesses.

  3. 3

    IBM Cloud 

    It is a trusted service provider for the healthcare and finance industries due to its strong security features. It can also be a popular choice for organizations as it provides services such as networking and computing.

  4. 4

    Oracle Cloud

    It provides cloud solutions like computing and networking. Its solutions are aimed at businesses and industries like finance and healthcare. It also provides autonomous databases that can help you manage your business infrastructure.

  5. 5

    Alibaba Cloud 

    It is a cloud service provider in China and is gaining global recognition with services like computing and networking. It also provides solutions for the e-commerce and gaming industries.

The overview is there to help you make a decision at the surface-level. The following table discusses the individual features of each platform to help make an informed decision. 

Main Features of each Cloud platform

1. Microsoft Azure

cloud platform

microsoft azure

compute

Includes Virtual Machines, Kubernetes Service, And App Service That Can Be Used To Manage Workloads.

database

Includes MySQL, SQL database, and Cosmos DB which can be used to store and manage data.

analytics

Includes Stream Analytics and Data Lake Analytics that can be used to analyze data.

networking

These features are used to connect your business’s infrastructures and include Load Balancer, Application gateway, and Virtual Network. 

storage

File, Blob, Disk, and Queue storage features of Azure allow you to store and manage data.

devops

DevOps services provided by Azure include Azure pipelines and Azure DevOps which can be used to test and deploy apps in the Azure platform.

al and ml

Includes Azure machine learning and Cognitive Services which can be used to develop intelligent applications.

2. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

cloud platform

amazon web services (aws)

compute

To run applications and workloads, AWS provides computing services such as EC2, ECS, and Lambda.

database

Includes DynamoDB, Aurora, and Relational database service to help store and manage data.

analytics

It comes with EMR, Amazon Redshift, and Athena that can be used to analyze data.

networking

AWS includes networking services like route 53, VPC, and elastic load balancing.

storage

The storage features include Simple Storage Service, Glacier, and Elastic Block Storage which help you manage and store data

devops

AWS provides many options to build, test, and deploy applications with its DevOps features. These include CodeCommit, CodeDeploy, and AWS CodePipeline.

al and ml

Includes AWS certificate manager, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Key Management Service.

3. IBM Cloud

cloud platform

imb cloud

compute

IBM Cloud provides a variety of servers to fit your computing needs. These include Bare metal servers and Virtual servers.

database

Database services provided include data warehousing, relational databases, and NoSQL databases. These are scalable and can fit your organization's needs.

analytics

Includes IAM, threat detection, and data encryption that protect your data from unauthorized access.

networking

Includes VPCs, DNS management, and Load balancers that provide scalable networking solutions.

storage

To help manage and store data IBM Cloud includes Block, File, and Object storage.

devops

Management features include Application Performance Management, as well as tools for logging and monitoring.

al and ml

Watson discovery, Watson studio, and Watson assistant let you develop AI applications in IBM Cloud.

4. Oracle Cloud

cloud platform

oracle cloud

compute

Compute resources include bare metal servers, container instances, and virtual machines which are customizable and scalable.

database

Oracle provides migration services so you can shift databases to oracle cloud. Other services include MySQL, NoSQL, and Oracle autonomous database.

analytics

Provides data visualization to help you gain insights from valuable data

networking

Includes multiple networking features such as DNS management, Load Balancing, Virtual Cloud Networks, and Virtual Private Networks.

storage

Storage options include block, object, and file storage. Oracle cloud also provides backup storage to protect against the loss of important data.

devops

Oracle Cloud focuses on security by providing you with features like IAM, threat detection, data encryption, and network security.

al and ml

It offers pre-built AI tools for some businesses. Other AI and ML features offered are predictive analytics, image recognition, and natural language processing.

5. Alibaba Cloud

cloud platform

alibaba cloud

compute

Includes Elastic Compute Services which provide bare metal servers and container instances.

database

Database services include ApsaraDB for RDS, ApsaraDB for PolarDB, ApsaraDB for MongoDB, and ApsaraDB for Redis.

analytics

Analytics services include MaxCompute, DataWorks, and Quick BI which assist you in data analysis.

networking

Alibaba Cloud is integrated with networking features such as Express connect, Elastic IP, and Load Balancers.

storage

Storage features the cloud offers include object and block storage, network-attached storage, and hybrid backup storage to help manage and protect data.

devops

Includes IAM, data protection, and firewalls to help protect your data from unauthorized access.

al and ml

AI and ML tools include image recognition, natural language processing, and computer vision.

Pros and cons of each platform 

The following table summarizes the pros and cons associated with each platform discussed above. 

pros

cons

microsoft azure

  • Seamless integration with Microsoft services like Windows and Office 365.
  • Offers storage and computing services.
  • Offers many pre-built templates and tools.
  • May not be as customizable as other providers.
  • Can incur higher costs for certain services.
  • Some users may find the interface to be more complex than other platforms.

amazon web services (aws)

  • Scalability and flexible pricing.
  • Wide range of services including database and storage.
  • Has a large and active community for support and resources
  • Has a steeper learning curve for beginners or non-tech professionals.
  • May require more technical expertise for advanced usage.
  • Billing and pricing can be complex and difficult to navigate.

IBM CLOUD

  • Strong security features, trusted by industries such as healthcare and finance.
  • Provides networking and computing services.
  • Offers many pre-built templates and tools to help with development.
  • May have less diversity in services compared to other providers.
  • May have higher costs for certain services.
  • Some users may find the interface to be more complex than other providers.

oracle CLOUD

  • Provides solutions for businesses and industries like finance and healthcare.
  • Autonomous databases for managing infrastructure.
  • Offers many pre-built templates and tools.
  • Depicts less diversity in services compared to other providers.
  • Can incur higher costs for certain services.
  • Some users may find the interface to be more complex than other providers.

ALIBABA CLOUD

  • Growing global recognition.
  • Solutions for e-commerce and gaming industries.
  • Offers Computing and networking services.
  • Less diversity in services.
  • Limited availability in regions outside China.
  • Some users find the interface to be complex.

Which cloud platform is best to use for your business 

The IT industry is witnessing one of the biggest changes in its life. The number of businesses shifting their facility to cloud computing is at an all-time high. 

Hence, it is also important for you to consider migrating our facilities to an online Cloud platform and choose a suitable provider as per your requirements. 

  • For instance, if you’re looking for a platform that offers a wide range of services that cater to storage, databases, computing, and more, then AWS is a great option.

  • In case if you want a platform that is a bit top-notch and technical and handles complex queries, you can go with Azure as it uses virtual machines, big data, IoT, and machine learning in its implementation.

The ultimate decision will depend on you, so it’s best to carry out your own research and dig deeper into what the platforms offer so you can make an informed decision. 

Advantages of Google Cloud Platform

Google Cloud is one of the world’s leading cloud service providers. We’ve seen how GCP’s competitors put up competition for the platform, so it’s time to discuss the advantages Google Cloud itself offers.  

  • Scalability 

    The platform is highly scalable and allows you to add or remove computing resources according to the needs of your organization.

  • Global availability 

    Google Cloud has data centers throughout the world and can provide you with cloud solutions no matter where you are.

  • Security

    If your organization has a large focus on safety and security, then Google Cloud is a great option. It is integrated with multiple security features such as threat detection and data encryption.

  • Cost-effective 

    The platform uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model and provides discounts to give you a sustainable cloud solution.

  • Flexible 

    Google Cloud also gives you the freedom to work on your own terms providing you with a range of tools and programming languages.

Conclusion

Cloud computing plays an increasingly significant role in modern businesses, and you too need to seek a cloud service provider as soon as possible.

Now that we have compared all the major cloud platforms the choice is yours!

Many provide you with great features, however, with globally renowned infrastructures and cost-effectiveness Google cloud might just be the answer to your cloud computing needs.

FAQ

What is Google Cloud used for?

Google Cloud is a cloud-based service offered by the tech-giant company Google. You can use the service for different purposes like building machine learning models, managing virtual environments, and so much more.

What is the difference between Google Cloud and Google Storage?

Google Cloud boasts a comprehensive array of services based on cloud computing, while Google Storage is one service offered under the umbrella of Google Cloud.

Google Storage allows you to access data using a simple API, while cloud has many other general purposes like networking, running databases, and more. 

Is Google Cloud free?

Google Cloud platform features various pricing models. However, it does come with a free trial period that you can use to experiment their services and see if they align with your requirements. 

However, there are some services that come with a free tier under a limited use, but the free limit use may not be adequate for most businesses. 

About the author

Youssef

Youssef is a Senior Cloud Consultant & Founder of ITCertificate.org

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