Azure Security vs AWS Security: Who Wins the Security Battle?

Shared responsibility models for Azure and AWS 

There is often confusion about cloud security, as many organisations are unaware of their responsibilities when it comes to securing the cloud.  

In a nutshell: shared responsibility is a framework that tells when users are accountable vs. when the cloud provider is accountable for security and for which parts. 

The responsibilities depend on whether you consume: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). 

Let’s dive into how this relates to both cloud providers, starting with Azure. 

 

What is Azure Security? 

Azure security refers to the set of tools and features available in Azure to secure environments in Microsoft’s cloud platform. Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform for building, testing, deploying and managing applications and services. Their security covers various security aspects, such as physical infrastructure, network security, etc.

Many tools and configurable security features fall under the scope of Azure, such as Microsoft Defender for Cloud (formerly Azure Security Center) and Azure Key Vault. But that’s just a glimpse of the platform's diverse range of services and products – we'll get back to the services in a moment. 

Shared Responsibility Azure 

Both cloud providers follow the same principles for shared responsibility; they just have slightly different approaches. 

Azure security is based on the shared responsibility model between the customer (you) and the cloud provider (Microsoft). While Microsoft always takes care of your underlying infrastructure (physical, network, etc.), customers are accountable for securing the deployed resources and their use (as well as the use of data).  

Let’s zoom in on it further. 

The shared responsibility model of Azure consists of 3 parts:  

1) The first part is the responsibility that always lies with the customer (information & data, use of devices such as PCs and mobiles, accounts, etc.).

2) The second category is the cloud provider’s responsibility, where the provider takes on full accountability regardless of the consumed model. For instance, the provider is always responsible for the physical infrastructure (such as the data centres). 

3) The third category is a grey area rather than black or white. The responsibilities depend on the consumed cloud model. 

In the image below you can see how the responsibilities vary per consumed model in Azure. 

 

What is AWS Security? 

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is Amazon’s cloud computing platform, which offers computing power, storage, networking, and many more functions for on-demand pricing. It has 20 operating data centres across 100 locations worldwide. AWS security is the practice of protecting resources and data in the AWS cloud.  

Shared Responsibility AWS 

Similar to Azure, AWS follows the shared responsibility model for security. But AWS has taken a more simplistic approach to the model, splitting it into two sections. 

1) Firstly, customers manage security “in” the cloud. This implies that your responsibilities include managing your data, user accounts and devices, apps, and such.  

2) Secondly, AWS manages the security “of” the cloud, including the underlying hardware within the data centres (physical networking, hosts, and so forth). 

As you can see in the image above, AWS covers up for the physical layers (think data centres and network architecture) and the infrastructure layer (like host operating systems). 

At the same time, customers take responsibility for those assets running (customer instances, apps, data, etc.). 

AWS offers multiple security features and services, such as Amazon IAM for controlling access to AWS resources, Amazon CloudWatch for monitoring, and many more, which we’ll cover later. 

 

Azure Security vs AWS Security: A Detailed Comparison 

Both offer robust and unique security services, where Azure outshines AWS in hybrid integrations and broader service features. The table below shows the security services for both platforms.

​​Security Services Feature	​AWS	Microsoft Azure
​Identity and Access Management (IAM)	AWS IAM	Microsoft Entra ID ​(formerly Azure Active Directory)
DDoS Protection	AWS Shield	Azure DDoS Protection
​Secrets Management	AWS Secrets Manager	Azure Key Vault
​Virtual Private Networking (VPN)	AWS VPN & Direct Connect	Azure VPN Gateway & Expressroute
​Data encryption	AWS S3 - Simple Storage Service	Azure Blob Storage
​Monitoring	Amazon CloudWatch, AWS Security Hub	Azure Monitor, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Application Insights
​Threat Detection	Amazon GuardDuty	Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Sentinel

Now, let’s dive deeper into each of them and see how they stand shoulder to shoulder.

 

1. Identity and Access Management (IAM) 

For customers, Identity and Access Management, or IAM, is one of the most important aspects of cloud security. IAM manages user accounts and defines user access as having a privileged role in accessing cloud resources, also known as role-based access control (RBAC).  

In IAM, organisations are always responsible for user accounts. Whether you’re PaaS, IaaS or SaaS, in AWS or Azure, this duty always falls in the customer’s hands.

Let’s have a look at what AWS and Azure have to offer concerning IAM. 

AWS

Azure Web Service IAM is used to define and control access to resources. You can set up users, roles, groups, and permissions for them. It is completely free for Amazon customers and comes with features like Single Sign-On (SSO), fine-grained permission, and MFA, to name a few. What’s more, it also provides shared access to your AWS account and integrates tons of AWS services. 

Alongside that, it is equipped with default security measures. For example, only administrators can manually assign permission to each user, creating default security. However, AWS IAM is purely for the cloud. 

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Entra ID, previously known as Azure Active Directory (AD), is a cloud-based IAM solution that allows you to control access to Azure resources. With tools like SSO, MFA, identity protection, and privileged identity management (PAM), it simplifies managing applications, users, and groups. Conditional access also protects you against 99.9% of cybersecurity attacks. 

Both cloud platforms provide robust secrets management tools, which makes up for a tight contest. AWS Secrets Manager excels in automating secrets rotation and integration with AWS services.

That said, it feels more narrowly focused. Azure Key Vault presents a broader range of capabilities, particularly in certificate management and hybrid integration. 

Winner = Azure Key Vault
 

4. Virtual Private Networking (VPN) 

Transferring data over the web is a serious security concern. We must prevent sensitive information from being intercepted or tampered with by hackers or curious onlookers. Fortunately, both Microsoft and Amazon have robust VPN solutions for this. They encrypt moving data from clouds to data centres in secure tunnels. 

AWS 

AWS VPN and Direct Connect are two VPN solutions from the Amazon cloud.  

• AWS VPN supports point-to-site and site-to-site options, with a site-to-site connection limit of 10 connections for a VPN gateway. It offers options such as a virtual private gateway. 
• Direct Connect creates a dedicated, private network connection from your on-premise to AWS while enhancing bandwidth throughput and consistent network experiences. 

Microsoft Azure 

• Azure VPN gateway is a type of virtual network gateway which encrypts all data transfer inside a private tunnel as it crosses the internet. It allows network-to-network connections, supports point-to-site connections (for individual devices) and includes site-to-site VPNs (to connect on-premises data centres to virtual networks) with a limitation of a maximum of 30 site-to-site connections per VPN gateway.  
• Azure Express Route enables you to extend your on-premises networks to the Microsoft Cloud through a private connection (and with a connectivity provider). These connections bypass the internet, which creates a more secure and reliable network performance. In addition, Express Route includes connectivity to Microsoft cloud services across all regions.  

While AWS VPNs are functional, they are limited to 10 site-to-site connections per gateway. That's why we opt for Azure.  

Winner = Azure 

Let’s get to one of hackers' most targeted parts: data. 

 

5. Encryption of data 

Securing data with encryption is critical to organisations, as cloud providers host important organisational and customer information. Both cloud platforms support security controls such as: 

• IAM policies 
• Encryption in transit (TLS): Specifies if the database supports secure connections. 
• Encryption at rest (TDE): Specifies if the database supports encryption at rest using hard drive-level encryption. 
• Firewall rules (which include IP whitelisting): IP whitelisting is where organisations can expose databases through the internet but only allow the organisation's public IP address to connect to it.

 

AWS

Simple Storage Service, better known as Amazon S3, is AWS's widely used object storage solution. It supports server-side encryption and client-side encryption so data is encrypted at the source before its stored. 

AWS utilises AES with Galois Counter Mode (GCM) for and client-side as server-side encryption. In its essence, it secures data and ensures it isn’t tampered with.  

For server-side encryption, AWS offers multiple options: 

• SSE-S3: AWS takes over all the key management functions without any intervention on the user’s side. 
• SSE-KMS: You can manage encryption keys yourself using AWS Key Management Service (KMS), providing greater control. 
• SSE-C: You supply your own keys, and AWS encrypts data on your behalf without storing the keys. 

For client-side encryption, you encrypt the data on your system before uploading it to S3, giving you complete control over the encryption process.  

All data is encrypted in transit using Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer (SSL/TSL), so it is protected from interception during upload or download. Also, it ensures secure storage for various use cases, including backups and application data. 

 

Microsoft Azure 

Azure Blob is Microsoft’s cloud storage solution for encrypting data and provides server-side and client-side encryption with AES-256 symmetric keys. Just like AWS, Azure offers managed key storage and management. Besides, it has backup solutions like archival storage and site recovery, which ensure secure and reliable data retrieval during outages. Azure temporarily stores encrypted data using file systems, data blocks and disk drives. 

The battle for data encryption between AWS and Azure is neck and neck. Both support key data encryption and have comparable data security features. Pricing is very much alike as well.

In Azure, there’s no need for external hardware like you need with Amazon S3 and Cloud HSM. Yet, AWS edges ahead with GCM and a broader range of key management options and encryption services. 

Winner = AWS

 

6. Monitoring 

AWS  

Amazon has strong cloud monitor tools such as Amazon CloudWatch and AWS Security: 

• Amazon CloudWatch is a monitoring solution for AWS apps and resources and hybrid and on-prem apps. It collects and tracks metrics, logs and events and provides real-time insights into system health and performance. CloudWatch Alarm is an alert system that informs others about threats or shuts down idle resources automatically. 
• AWS Security Hub is Amazon’s security management service that centralises and automates security checks across your AWS environment. 

Microsoft Azure 

In Microsoft Cloud, you can use tools such as Azure Monitor and Azure Security Centre to monitor your cloud environment.  

• Azure Monitor is a tool that collects and analyses telemetry from cloud and on-premises platforms by using metrics and logs. It improves your apps' performance and availability. As it uses diagnostic data, you can monitor and find issues quickly and respond quickly. Azure Monitor Alerts let you know when certain events are detected in your monitoring data, providing alerts you can react upon before customers discover them. 
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud (Azure Security Center) provides unified security management with threat monitoring to safeguard your Azure resources. 

 

 

While Azure Monitor’s interface is comprehensive, one may find Amazon CloudWatch’s neater. But Azure simplifies data with metrics (for quick issue detection) and logs (for detailed analysis). Another difference worth mentioning is that Azure Monitor relies more on users to set metrics, while CloudWatch integrates Machine Learning (ML) for automation. 

In this case, we leave it to a draw as both excel in their unique ways and depending on your needs, you may opt for one or another.

For example, Azure Monitor will do better if your infrastructure spans multiple environments or relies on Azure services. However, Amazon’s CloudWatch is more focused on reducing time-to-solution, which is, for many, the first thing to think of regarding monitoring. 

Winner = Inconclusive

 

7. Threat detection and response capabilities: AWS GuardDuty vs Azure Security Centre 

AWS  

Amazon GuardDuty serves as AWS’s threat detection service that operates around the clock. It continuously keeps an eye out for malicious events and unauthorised behaviour to secure your cloud environment. It employs ML, anomaly detection, and threat intelligence to find and prioritise possible risks. 

Microsoft Azure 

On the other hand, threat detection within Azure is managed with the Microsoft Defender for Cloud(previously Azure Security Centre). It uses advanced analytics and worldwide threat intelligence to detect threats and post-breach activities across hybrid cloud workloads, with the ability to encounter vulnerabilities that may go unnoticed. 

 

 

Besides, it also integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Sentinel (Azure Sentinel) – Microsoft’s cloud-native SIEM (security information and event management) service. 

Though both offer commendable threat detection capabilities, Microsoft Defender for Cloud emerges as the frontrunner, especially when combined with Microsoft Sentinel and other Microsoft solutions. It has stronger threat detection features, covering a broader detection range such as firewalls, Azure VMs, SQL databases, etc. And that’s not all; it also connects with Microsoft’s analytics tool: Power BI. This means you can easily visualise reports straight from Azure. 

Winner = Azure 

 

8. Data Centre Security 

When it comes to data centre security, both Azure and AWS follow rigorous standards. 

AWS 

AWS data centres are secured with a multi-layered approach to protect physical infrastructure, customer data, and personnel. It includes the perimeter layer, such as security guards, fencing, metal detectors, alarms, intrusion detection technology, and much more. Access to the perimeter is strictly controlled. Inside, data layers are safeguarded with privilege separation and threat detection systems. Around-the-clock monitoring by global Security Operations Centres ensures swift responses to any incidents and keeps AWS's operations secure and reliable. 

Microsoft Azure 

Like AWS, Azure data centres also employ a layered approach to physical security to protect customer data effectively. For instance, access approval is required before arriving at a data centre. The following security layer is the building’s perimeter, with tall fences. Inside are also additional security layers such as access control, video surveillance, security guards and intrusion detection systems. Access is regulated very strictly and includes MFA. Microsoft also invests heavily in security. 

It’s hard to define a clear winner for having the most secure data centre security. More importantly, both do a great job securing the cloud and upholding the best standards to protect customer data, personnel, and physical infrastructure. So rest assured, whatever you choose, you get robust security. 

Winner = Inconclusive 

 

Which one offers better pricing? 

When it comes to pricing, it’s not exactly a cut-and-dry comparison between them as both offer different services in storage, database services, threat detection, IAM and so forth. What we can do, though, is check how prices compare when bundling similar packages: 

• On-Demand: Pay-as-you-go is often a flexible choice for modern businesses with dynamic workloads who want to stay far away from upfront costs or commitments. You can get billed per hour, minute, or even second in Azure and AWS. But most importantly, Azure is a cheaper option for on-demand services compared to AWS. 
• Reserved Instances: When you opt for Reserved Instances, you commit to an agreed usage for a particular time. While for many businesses, it is too hard to predict their exact spending, it can be beneficial for businesses with stable or predictable workloads. AWS offers up to 75% of savings with pre-commits of 1 or 3 years. Azure provides up to 72% with similar commitments. While AWS reserved instances offer you slightly more discounts, Azure adds extra value for those through a combination of RI’s and Azure Hybrid Benefit. 

Also, both offer pricing calculators that help you get an idea of how much a service can cost on the cloud computing platform. In Azure, you can use the Azure Pricing Calculator.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that each cloud platform offers a marketplace where customers can use third-party vendor applications to meet specific security requirements. AWS and Azure are leading the way in this. 

 

Azure Security vs AWS Security: who wins? 

Answering this question is far from straightforward as both offer excellent security features and services, and it often depends on how these are implemented and how customers manage them – within the “shared responsibility model.” 

Both offer compliance tools and support the most common compliance standards, such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and many more. But no other cloud provider offers as many compliance certifications as Azure, which are more than 100 (from which 50 over specific regions and countries).  

Besides, Azure has the biggest global infrastructure while serving over 60 regions globally. And to toss in more, it has the industry’s widest and most experienced partner network (more than 68000 partners). Be that as it may, both AWS and Azure invest heavily in security and privacy and do everything to secure their infrastructure from physical and cyber threats.  

Both Azure and AWS deliver robust security features, but your choice should align with your business needs: 

• Azure is the smarter pick for hybrid setups, Microsoft integration, or global compliance. 
• AWS can be chosen when you need diverse service options, and customisation for your global web apps.

If most of your workloads, applications, and infrastructure are hosted on Azure, their security tools offer better integration. Azure Security also makes more sense for enterprises tied to the Microsoft ecosystem. The same if this is the case with AWS.

Evaluate your organisation’s workload, budget, and infrastructure to decide which platform best aligns with your strategic goals.
 
 

Why and when should you choose Azure? 

Even though AWS has a more considerable cloud market share, Azure is a more prominent player in Fortune 1000 enterprises. Especially when it comes to hybrid infrastructures, Azure is the best platform to go for. Security is foundational for Azure, as its multi-layered approach is provided across dozens of geographically strategic physical datacentres. They invest 4 billion (US Dollar) plus each year in cybersecurity along with at least 10000 security experts. Also, they analyse 78 trillion threat signals daily. If that were not enough, Azure’s SLAs around services don’t fall short either. 

All in all, with Azure, you've got a secure and dependable platform to build your applications and store your data. Especially for those with hybrid cloud needs or those deeply integrated with Microsoft products, Azure is the way to go. On a similar note, it’s the perfect options for those businesses with the goals of global reach and advanced threat detection. 

Read more about how Azure deals with privacy, security and compliance.

 

Closing thoughts 

The choice between one or the other for security should always come down to your organisation’s specific needs and requirements, your current infrastructure and the services that align with your policies and compliance needs.  

Think twice about how easy it is for you to integrate either Azure or AWS security tools, their availability, and their granularity level, as these might affect your final choice. 

At the end of the day, when you choose a cloud provider, it comes down to more than security; you must also consider aspects such as pricing, hybrid identities, and skills to support your solutions.