The Best Cloud Computing Services in 2020
ComputersReviewsSmart DevicesTop TenxPick October 16, 2020 Kristian Wilson
The cloud computing architecture has evolved significantly in the past few years. The past year alone has seen exponential growth in how enterprises and small businesses use cloud computing services worldwide. The Software as a Service industry saw several companies opt for cloud migration in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the multi-cloud service was already the new rage as more vendors developed cloud services for an even better cloud experience. So, whether it’s infrastructure, applications, software, products, services, and even operating systems, it’s evident that everything is getting into the cloud. And that’s why several companies are investing millions of dollars in cloud migration.
This detailed article aims to review the best cloud service providers to use, their cloud offerings, and which provider you should consider using for your cloud services in 2020, from a developer perspective.
Some Key Benefits of Using Cloud Computing:
• It allows businesses to cut their fixed and monthly operational costs of hardware, servers, databases, and software licenses. Cloud computing also significantly reduces the need for hiring IT resources.
• It offers 24/7 uptime, about 99.99% uptime. Therefore, there’s no need for employee management.
• Provide automatic updates and maintainability of new software, databases, OS, and third-party software.
• It is scalable and highly reliable. There’s no limit to the number of resources or users. Also, the cloud increases resources and processing as needed. And you can also always scale down if you don’t need resources.
• Providers have data centers in specific locations, which makes them a lot faster and more reliable. The larger cloud service providers have data centers worldwide for an even better and faster experience using their services.
But enough of that, let’s get to the main section of this excerpt. Here’ a detailed overview of the top 5 cloud computing services to consider using in 2020:
1. Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure has been intentional about its services since it was founded nearly a decade ago, 2010. Azure services are built on the Windows Server, Visual Studio, and the .Net framework, making the lift and shift of the on-premise apps relatively painless. This cloud computing service now owns nearly 17% of the global market and continues to grow and expand into even wider markets.
Microsoft Azure users can also run any service on the cloud or combine them with their existing applications, infrastructure, or data center. This cloud service provides users with a wide array of suitable solutions for all industries and businesses. You can rest assured that all your business needs will be met by using this service.
With Microsoft Azure, you don’t need any physical servers onsite, which reduces the usual costs like hiring onsite server support teams. The solution is compatible with Linux as well, allowing it to reach an even wider market base.
Benefits of Using Microsoft Azure:
• 12-month free trial
• Comprehensive services
• Effective business-related solutions
• Flexible and cost-effective technology
• Windows and Linux compatible
• Access to tools and resources for consistent performance
Key Values/Differentiators:
• Azure storage – to manage keys for your Azure Account, which it regenerates periodically.
• Use cases – it can handle most cloud computing and IT storage needs, which is critical to be a direct competitor.
• Enterprise security – enables users and several Microsoft Azure applications to store and use different types of key data.
• DB service – this is a globally distributed database service used for building highly available, large-scale operations. By default, Azure’s DB service automatically indexes all data it ingests efficiently, ensuring a faster, more consistent SQL queries.
Who uses Azure: SMBs to large enterprises
2. Amazon Web Services
AWS is the first and still one of the most effective and active cloud computing service providers in the world today. Founded in 2006, AWS offers infrastructure as a service to enterprises across the globe and has never looked back. It launches new services annually and is currently creating its own compute stack, which should make it even more efficient and desirable among cloud businesses.
Since it was founded, AWS provides what most companies consider to be the best on-demand cloud computing services. It also offers extensive administrative controls that are available through their secure Web client. Its users can access several features from here, including auditing and encryption key creation.
This is a cloud service that lets its users customize its infrastructure requirements according to their preferences and needs. This costs far less compared to setting everything up in your own premises.
AWS has three pricing models; ‘Save when you reserve,’ ‘Pay less using more,’ and ‘Pay as you Go.’ This allows you to use the service that best fits your budget. For more information, you can visit their website or contact their sales team directly.
Benefits of Using AWS
• A 12-month free trial period
• Highly customizable
• Hassle-free sign-up process
• Swift deployment
• Huge choice of services
• Unlimited access to storage
• Billing on per-hour basis
• Centralized management
The Key Values/Differentiators
• Scope – the largest hybrid cloud services provider globally.
• Use cases – AWS can handle most cloud computing and IT storage needs. The mainstays include servers, general enterprise storage, archiving, data backup etc.
• Security – AWS has its own highly secure in-house security solutions to protect all types of use cases. You will have several options to choose from.
• Computing stack/databases – this is also a plus, especially for customers who name their configurations and let the service provider do all the grunt work.
Who uses AWS: SMBs to large enterprises
3. Google Cloud
This is perhaps one of the most popular cloud service providers in the world, thanks largely to the name “Google.” Google Cloud Platform enables its users to create customized business solutions using its Google-provided, modular Web services. The service also offers several other services, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Services (PaaS) solutions.
Google Cloud’s multi-layered secure infrastructure makes it one of the best, most secure cloud service providers that users can rely on. Anything you build, create, store, or code on this cloud service will be protected. The company’s commitment to transparency and highly trained engineers always ensures the safety and security of the service.
Google Cloud also has several tools for ensuring consistent management and performance. These include App Engine, Cloud Storage, Big Query, Container Engine, and Compute Engine. Additionally, Google offers one of the best, smoothest migrations to virtual machines at very flexible pricing.
Benefits of Using Google Cloud
• 12-month free trial
• User friendly
• Access to AI and data analytics
• Good range of services
• No need for expensive server installments
• Flexible technology
• Full access to cloud-based services
Key Values/Differentiators
• Cloud expertise – you won’t find a better, more detailed cloud computing service that has the development expertise you need than Google.
• Innovation galore – Google is where TensorFlow, Kubernetes, and several other cloud and storage technologies were invented. As a result, you should expect it to have a lot of residual intellectual property inherent in it.
• Aimed at developers – if you are an enterprise cloud developer who is continuously creating and maintaining high-end cloud-based applications and services, Google Cloud will probably provide you with more surrounding support than other cloud service providers.
• Use cases – Google Cloud is specially equipped to handle intense active IT and development applications. This is the cloud computing provider to create, update, and maintain applications in real-time (or near real-time.)
Who uses Google Cloud: cloud developers and middle range to large enterprises are a target
4. IBM Cloud
Another renowned name in the online field is IBM. IBM Cloud is one of the best cloud computing service providers in the world. It is offered by the tech giant IBM, of course. It offers PaaS solutions, SaaS solutions, and IaaS.
IBM Cloud also offers several services, but not all of them are cloud-based. This provider offers both virtual and hardware-based servers that are composed of private, public, and management networks.
It combines its virtual and hardware-based servers into one on-demand cloud platform. With IBM Cloud, you will have full infrastructure control. The company claims that its hardware servers function more as “bare metal” that provides its clients with sole access to their servers. This greatly improves performance.
The company also provides its customers with full server customization features. Therefore, you are always in control of everything that’s included in the server. This way, you never have to pay for any features or services that you may never use.
Benefits of Using IBM Cloud
• Management tools
• Fully customizable
• Pre-configured tools
• Increases the value of your business
• Excellent cloud performance
Key Values/Differentiators
• Full-service options – IBM Cloud has the widest range of products and services in the world, bar none.
• IBM has a long-standing history of servicing and maintaining systems for mid-range to large enterprise customers.
• Use cases – IBM Cloud handles the most requested cloud computing and IT storage. It operates several high-end data centers throughout the globe.
• IBM’s reputation – IBM has a long-standing reputation for being one of the world’s best original IT companies. It started in 1916 during the First World War. Here is a company that you know delivers on the services and promises it pledges to its customers.
• You get what you pay for – using IBM Cloud’s cloud computing services will cost you a lot more than almost all the other names on this list. So, you shouldn’t expect anything cut-rate.
Who uses IBM Cloud: SMBs, midrange, and large enterprises
5. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
Finally, we have Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, another renowned cloud service provider from a computing behemoth. As you would expect, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is a powerful, feature-packed platform that’s used by millions of enterprises across the globe. Its services are especially strong for supporting different workloads, especially for Microservices, OLTP, IoT, along with other applications dependent on machine learning and AI. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure has two main service provisions, which include storage data and cloud architecture.
Its cloud architecture includes databases, data management, and applications. On the other hand, its Data Cloud is mainly for driving big data analytics for intelligence insights. The company also provides a range of SaaS solutions such as EPM, SCM, HCM, and social media tools.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure has a vast range of services with the potential to serve several users. But you find that most of its cloud services are designed more to accommodate enterprise needs and not individuals or small businesses.
Benefits of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
• Free tier
• Enterprise-ready
• Architecture and storage
• Modern technologies like AI, chatbots, and machine learning
• Access to unsanctioned applications
• Next-generation data management tools
• Protection against cyber attacks
Key Values/Differentiators
• One throat to choke – users who buy into Oracle Cloud Infrastructure are always in for a long haul. But the company will basically run everything for you. This entails software and some long-term hardware costs. But that is the business Oracle is in, and the main reason why it receives so much military and government business.
• Speed is of the essence – whether in a cloud or a data center, Oracle database servers are perhaps some of the fastest in the world. You get exactly what you pay for using this cloud service, especially with regard to speed and performance.
• Use cases – Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is also designed for cloud app developers and IT administrators. And the chief services sold include enterprise storage, enterprise applications, server, and database services.
Who uses Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: SMBs to large enterprises, highly regulated companies, and government agencies
The Verdict
From the above excerpt, it’s evident that Microsoft Azure and AWS rank top of the list in the race for cloud supremacy. However, it’s also worth noting that other cloud service providers like Google, IBM, Oracle, Rack, etc. are getting better every day.
So, if I were to choose a cloud service to work with, it would probably be Microsoft Azure or AWS. And the reason being that both cloud computing services are way ahead of the race. You can’t go wrong with either of these options. However, other cloud providers have tools and services that neither Azure nor AWS provides. These are some of the main reasons that may make an enterprise or SMB choose other cloud service options.
Remember, with cloud service, there’s no one-size-fits-all. You must what your needs are and other cloud services that best fit your needs.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the best cloud service that meets your business’ needs depends on several factors. By this stage, you should have enough information to analyze the requirements needed for the best cloud service experience for your business. Try the options mentioned above and see how they work out for you.
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