Comparison Guide

Microsoft Azure vs Amazon Web Services

Azure and AWS are the two largest cloud platforms. For businesses already using Microsoft 365, Azure offers native integration advantages. AWS provides broader service selection for specialized workloads.

Last updated

Quick Answer

Amazon Web Services wins for most buyers.

Native integration with Microsoft 365 and familiar management tools.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Microsoft Azure Amazon Web Services
M365 Integration Native (Azure AD, Intune) Third-party integration
Active Directory Azure AD (native) AWS Directory Service
Learning Curve Familiar for M365 admins Steeper learning curve
SMB Pricing Competitive for M365 workloads Complex pricing model
Hybrid Identity Seamless AD Connect Requires additional configuration
Best For M365 environments, Windows workloads Cloud-native apps, Linux workloads

Our Verdict

For most SMBs using Microsoft 365, Azure is the natural choice due to native integration with Active Directory, M365, and familiar Microsoft management tools. AWS is better for organizations with specialized cloud-native development needs.

Unio Digital recommends: Native integration with Microsoft 365 and familiar management tools

Quick Picks

Which one should you pick?

Three buyer profiles, three answers. Pick the row that fits.

M365-centric SMB (Entra ID, Intune, Office)

Pick: Azure

Native Entra ID, no third-party AD bridge, single billing relationship, and Microsoft licensing alignment usually wins on total cost. Best fit for the majority of SMBs we work with.

Talk to an Azure strategist

Web / SaaS / dev-team-led workload

Pick: AWS

If your stack is container-heavy, Linux-first, or built on AWS-native data services (S3, Lambda, RDS) and your team already lives in AWS, stay with AWS. Azure migration adds friction without proportional benefit.

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Greenfield SMB choosing first cloud

Pick: Free assessment

Don't pick a cloud based on a comparison post. We'll evaluate your workloads, M365 footprint, and team skills, then recommend the platform that minimizes 24-month total cost.

Book the free assessment

For enterprises & in-house security teams

Just need Azure subscriptions and a clean tenant build? We do that.

Some SMBs and IT teams already know they want Azure and just need a Microsoft partner to handle subscriptions, tenant build, and initial workload migration — without a full managed-service contract. We license through the Microsoft Partner program, build the tenant, migrate the first workloads, then hand the keys to your team to self-operate.

  • Microsoft partner pricing on Azure subscriptions and reservation-based discounts
  • Tenant build: subscriptions, management groups, RBAC, policy baselines, conditional access
  • Hybrid AD setup with Entra Connect, conditional access, and break-glass account hygiene
  • Initial workload migration (file servers, line-of-business apps, SQL) with rollback plan
  • Knowledge transfer session + runbook handoff so your team can self-operate from day one
Request a procurement quote

Why Work With Unio Digital?

We Listen

Personalized, customer-centric culture that puts your needs first.

Customer Focused

You are not just another number. We build lasting partnerships.

Technology That Works

We obsess over vetting solutions and going the extra mile.

Need Help Choosing?

Our team can help you evaluate the right solution for your business. Schedule a free consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We design and deploy Azure environments for SMBs running Microsoft 365, including Entra ID hardening, Azure AD Connect for hybrid AD, virtual network design, conditional access, and Azure Backup. Most SMB Azure projects we ship are workload migrations off legacy on-prem servers into Azure VMs or PaaS services.

For greenfield SMBs we usually recommend Azure first because the M365 alignment dominates the total cost picture. We will deploy AWS for clients with existing AWS workloads or specific dev-team requirements (containers, Linux-heavy stacks, AWS-native data services), and we partner with AWS-certified specialists for deeper migrations when needed.

Learn More About Cloud Services

Visit our comprehensive Cloud Services page for detailed information about our capabilities and approach.

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Sources & Methodology  

Specifications, pricing, and product capabilities cited on this page are sourced from public vendor documentation as of the dates shown below. Vendor product lines change quickly; verify current specs and pricing directly with each vendor before purchasing.

  1. Azure offers native Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) integration with Microsoft 365. AWS requires AWS IAM Identity Center (formerly AWS SSO) with a third-party SAML/SCIM bridge to integrate with M365 identity. [source] · verified 2026-05-08
  2. AWS holds approximately 30% of global cloud infrastructure market share; Azure holds approximately 24%. Combined, the two account for roughly 54% of the total IaaS/PaaS market. [source] · verified 2026-05-08
  3. Azure offers a 12-month free tier covering 25+ services plus 55 always-free services. AWS offers a 12-month free tier covering 60+ services plus 100+ always-free services. [source] · verified 2026-05-08
  4. Both platforms publish per-service hourly pricing. Azure's pricing is generally simpler for Microsoft-centric workloads (Windows VMs, SQL Server) due to bundled licensing; AWS's pricing is generally simpler for Linux-first and container-native workloads. [source] · verified 2026-05-08
  5. Both Azure and AWS provide HIPAA-eligible services and BAA contracts at appropriate tiers. Azure additionally offers a Government Cloud aligned to ITAR/FedRAMP High; AWS offers GovCloud (US) for the same compliance perimeter. [source] · verified 2026-05-08