Google Cloud vs AWS: Picking the Right Cloud Platform

Google’s Cloud Services and AWS are two of the most renowned cloud computing platforms in the world. With Amazon holding a good chunk of the current market share for cloud computing solutions at 31%, you may likely want to go ahead with AWS for your business and call it a day. 

However, as with any service, there are advantages and also drawbacks to be aware of. In this case, both Google and AWS offer a comprehensive suite of services, but understanding their nuances is crucial for making informed decisions.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Google Cloud and AWS in this article by doing a breakdown of each feature they have to offer and how they differ. 

Security

Security is always a critical concern for organizations moving to the cloud. Both AWS and Google Cloud employ the shared responsibility model, which divides security responsibilities between the cloud provider and the customer. 

AWS offers a robust security posture backed by a comprehensive suite of services like IAM, security groups, and encryption. Its long history of operating large-scale infrastructure and a strong community ecosystem further bolsters its security credentials. AWS also meets a whopping 143 stringent regulatory requirements through certifications including the PCI-DSS and HIPAA/HITECH. 

Google Cloud, on the other hand, uses its machine learning expertise to provide advanced threat detection and response capabilities. But it comes with only 50 compliance certifications, leaving AWS as a clear winner in the security category.  

Winner: AWS, with a far greater number of compliance certifications.

Cost Management

Both AWS and Google Cloud offer a variety of pricing models to help customers optimize costs and maximize value. For instance, both AWS and GCP offer on-demand instances, allowing you to pay for compute capacity by the hour. This flexibility is ideal for workloads with unpredictable or short-term needs. There are also some other options to choose from.

Reserved Instances

Reserved instances are suitable for workloads with consistent and predictable usage patterns. By committing to a long-term contract, you can achieve substantial cost savings. Both providers offer reserved instances, which require an upfront payment for a one- or three-year term. In return, you receive a significant discount on the hourly rate. 

Spot Instances

Spot instances are excess capacity instances that are available at a steep discount. You bid on these instances, and if your bid is higher than the current market price, you can use the instance until it is reclaimed. While spot instances offer significant cost savings, they are subject to interruption if the market price exceeds your bid. Therefore, they are best suited for fault-tolerant workloads that can handle unexpected interruptions. Both AWS and Google Cloud offer spot instances through EC2 and Preemptible VMs. 

Winner: Both Amazon and Google have a wide range of cost management options.

Storage Solutions

Efficient and reliable storage is a critical component of any cloud infrastructure. Both AWS and Google Cloud offer a variety of storage solutions to meet diverse needs, from storing large amounts of unstructured data to managing high-performance file systems and relational databases. 

Object Storage

AWS S3 and Google Cloud Storage are both highly scalable and durable object storage services, ideal for storing and retrieving large amounts of unstructured data. AWS S3 offers a wide range of storage classes, from standard storage for frequent access to Glacier for long-term archival. Google Cloud Storage provides similar features, including regional and multi-regional storage options.

Memory

AWS offers slightly more RAM than Google Cloud at similar prices. For instance, the base pricing of any AWS instance offers 8GB of RAM, while Google Cloud offers 7.5GB of RAM. Even in reserved instances, AWS offers as much as 1GB more RAM than Google. For users who need the extra memory and don’t mind paying slightly higher charges, this is a significant advantage.

File Storage

AWS Elastic File System (EFS) and Google Cloud Filestore are fully managed file storage services that provide shared access to file-based data. EFS is a scalable file system that can be easily mounted by EC2 instances, while Google Cloud Filestore offers high-performance file storage for applications like media processing and data analytics.

Database Offerings

Both AWS and Google Cloud offer a comprehensive suite of managed database services to cater to diverse workloads. For relational databases, both platforms support popular options like PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQL Server. For NoSQL databases, AWS offers DynamoDB and Amazon DocumentDB, while Google Cloud provides Cloud Firestore and Cloud Spanner. 

Winner: AWS offers better storage and memory up front for only a marginal increase in cost, giving it a clear advantage. 

DNS Services

A robust domain name system (DNS) is essential for directing internet traffic to your applications. Both AWS and Google Cloud offer reliable and scalable DNS services: 

Amazon Route 53

Amazon Route 53 is a highly scalable DNS web service that provides features like:

• Global DNS. Route 53 operates a global network of DNS servers, ensuring low latency and high availability for your applications.
• Health checks. You can configure health checks to monitor the health of your applications and automatically route traffic to healthy instances.
• Geo-DNS. Route 53 allows you to route traffic based on geographic location, improving performance and user experience.

Google Cloud DNS

Google Cloud DNS is another reliable and cost-effective DNS service that offers features like:

• High availability and performance. Google’s global infrastructure ensures high availability and low latency for your DNS queries.
• Security. Google Cloud DNS provides robust security measures to protect your DNS records and prevent attacks.
• Integration with other Google Cloud services. It can integrate with other Google Cloud services, such as Google Cloud Load Balancing and Google Cloud CDN.

Winner: Comparing the two, Route 53 offers greater control and scalability for volume, while Google Cloud DNS offers a more economical flat-rate pricing model for usage.

Containerization

Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) and AWS EKS are both powerful platforms that offer capabilities for scaling and automation in cloud environments. GKE, developed by the makers of the Kubernetes project, Google, makes use of its pioneering role in the Kubernetes open-source project to provide cutting-edge features. 

AWS runs a similar platform called EKS, which is far more secure and enterprise workload ready. It comes with a lot of customizations on top of Kubernetes Open Source to integrate it better with AWS compliance and governance features.

Winner: AWS EKS is vastly more Secure than Kubernetes.

Other Factors to Consider

The optimal choice between AWS and Google Cloud depends on specific needs and priorities. For businesses seeking a wide range of services, extensive documentation, and a large, active community, AWS often proves to be a reliable choice. However, for organizations prioritizing data analytics, machine learning, and serverless computing, Google Cloud’s strong offerings in these areas make it a compelling option. 

Ultimately, it’s essential to evaluate factors like workload requirements, budget constraints, and long-term strategic goals to make an informed decision. Overall, AWS does offer more advantages at this juncture, when compared to Google Cloud.