Microsoft Azure vs Oracle Cloud

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Microsoft Azure are two major players in the cloud arena. Each one of these providers has areas in which they excel, so it may be challenging to decide which one is right for you. In this article, we’ll go through the differences between Oracle Cloud and MS Azure. Primarily, we’ll look at the cost of each, ease of deployment, and the number of services provided.

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What is Microsoft Azure? 

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service that provides several different SaaS, PaaS, and data storage solutions. It was created back in 2010 and has continued to expand ever since.

What is Oracle Cloud?

Oracle Cloud was created more recently in 2016 but immediately made a big splash in the cloud world. It allows users to leverage their existing Oracle ecosystem to facilitate their cloud migration. Like Azure, Oracle Cloud hosts a suite of tools and services to ensure your data is stored securely and easily retrievable.

OCI Cost vs. Azure Cost

OCI and Azure have different ways of appraising their various services. So, for the sake of simplicity, we’ll focus on how OCI prices VMs and data storage vs. how Azure prices them.

Data Storage Pricing

Azure Database for MySQL is a robust solution for your data storage needs. Azure DB is a fully managed DBaaS with built-in capabilities such as high availability. As a caveat, all of the numbers below are rough estimates based on data provided on their website. This gives you an idea of what to expect regarding the cost of small workloads.

For the server itself, Azure charges $24.82 monthly for a server with one vCore and 2 GB of memory. Then, the monthly cost is $49.64 for two vCore and 4 GB of memory. The storage is $0.10 per gigabyte for a month (For example, 10 GB of storage would cost 1 dollar a month.). So, for two vCores, 4 GB of memory, and 50 GB of storage, it will run about $55 a month. Remember, though, that this is just a rough estimate of a barebones server.

In comparison, OCI charges a minimum of $84.73 a month for 50 GB of MySQL storage, 2 virtual CPUs, and 16GB of RAM. However, you'll notice that you are getting quite a bit more memory here. This OCI model provides 16GB of memory, while the Azure comparison provides 4GiB of memory. 

It’s safe to say these two cloud service providers are similarly matched in the data storage department. Now let’s take a look at how they price Virtual Machines.

VM Pricing

Virtual Machines are the backbone of any cloud computing service. Let’s start with Azure and how they price VMs. VMs are virtual “computers” generated to perform work in the cloud. Their pay model is usually categorized as pay-as-you-go, reserve instance, spot instance, and contractual. 

For the sake of simplicity, this article will cover pay-as-you-go for both OCI and Azure. However, remember that a lot of money can be saved by reserving instances.

In general, OCI will have the lowest price in nearly every category. However, adding a Windows OS to your VMs will cost extra.

Microsoft Azure will cost more, but it may be the optimal solution for your organization. For instance, if you already use a suite of software solutions that require a Windows OS, it may be advantageous to enter the Microsoft ecosystem. 

Azure Services vs. OCI Services

Microsoft Azure has around two hundred services, while OCI has around one hundred. The main reason is that Azure has been in the industry longer than Oracle, so its services have had time to mature.

However, one of the places where OCI shines is in its database services. Many organizations already use Oracle data solutions such as Exadata, so migrating to the Oracle Cloud would be a cinch.

One of the great things about Azure is how it seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Dynamics, the company's flagship CRM software. Many organizations leverage Microsoft Dynamic to keep track of existing and prospective clients, making the switch to Azure easier than ever.

On the flip side, OCI services will benefit an organization with existing Oracle licenses. 

Final Thoughts

When choosing a cloud solution, several factors should be considered. Make sure to engage the cloud provider's sales department actively. They will provide information, optimal uses, and even discounts. At the end of the day, OCI and Azure are both excellent cloud solutions but be prepared to research which is optimal for your particular situation.