AWS vs Azure Cloud Computing: Complete Certification Guide 2025

Cloud computing is the backbone of modern IT infrastructure, with AWS and Azure dominating the market. This guide helps you choose between AWS and Azure certifications for maximum career growth in 2025.

Cloud Computing Market Share (2025)

• AWS (Amazon Web Services): 32% market share - Leader in cloud
• Microsoft Azure: 23% market share - Fastest growing
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP): 10% market share

AWS vs Azure: Which One to Learn?

Choose AWS If:

• You want to work in startups or tech companies
• You're interested in DevOps or cloud-native development
• You want the largest job market (more AWS jobs globally)
• You prefer open-source and Linux environments

Choose Azure If:

• You want to work in enterprises with Microsoft ecosystems
• You have .NET or Windows background
• Your target companies use Microsoft 365, Active Directory
• You want hybrid cloud expertise

Best Strategy: Learn Both!

Most companies use multi-cloud strategies. Learning both AWS and Azure makes you more valuable. Our course covers both platforms!

Top AWS Certifications (2025)

1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate

• Best for: Aspiring cloud architects
• Salary Impact: ₹8-15 LPA
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Prerequisites: 6 months AWS experience recommended
• Cost: $150 USD

2. AWS Certified Developer - Associate

• Best for: Application developers
• Salary Impact: ₹7-14 LPA
• Focus: Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, CodePipeline

3. AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate

• Best for: System administrators, DevOps engineers
• Salary Impact: ₹8-16 LPA
• Focus: Deployment, management, operations on AWS

4. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

• Best for: Senior DevOps roles
• Salary Impact: ₹15-30 LPA
• Difficulty: Advanced
• Prerequisites: Developer or SysOps Associate certification

Top Azure Certifications (2025)

1. Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

• Best for: Complete beginners
• Cost: $99 USD
• Difficulty: Easy
• Optional: Good starting point but not required for job

2. Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)

• Best for: System administrators, IT professionals
• Salary Impact: ₹7-14 LPA
• Focus: Managing Azure subscriptions, VMs, storage, networking
• Most popular: Entry to mid-level Azure certification

3. Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)

• Best for: Developers building cloud applications
• Salary Impact: ₹8-15 LPA
• Focus: Azure Functions, App Service, Cosmos DB

4. Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400)

• Best for: DevOps professionals
• Salary Impact: ₹12-25 LPA
• Prerequisites: AZ-104 or AZ-204

Essential Cloud Computing Skills

1. Core Services

AWS:

• EC2 (Virtual Machines), S3 (Storage), RDS (Databases)
• Lambda (Serverless), API Gateway, CloudFront (CDN)
• VPC (Networking), IAM (Security), CloudWatch (Monitoring)

Azure:

• Virtual Machines, Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database
• Azure Functions, App Service, Azure CDN
• Virtual Networks, Azure AD, Azure Monitor

2. DevOps Integration

• CI/CD pipelines (AWS CodePipeline, Azure DevOps)
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM Templates)
• Container services (ECS, EKS, AKS)

3. Security & Compliance

• IAM roles and policies (AWS IAM, Azure RBAC)
• Security groups and network ACLs
• Encryption, key management
• Compliance standards (HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR)

Cloud Engineer Learning Path (6 Months)

Month 1-2: Foundations

• Networking basics (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS)
• Linux fundamentals and command line
• AWS or Azure account setup and exploration
• Basic compute, storage, networking services

Month 3-4: Core Services Deep Dive

• Hands-on labs with EC2/VMs, S3/Blob Storage
• Database services (RDS, Azure SQL)
• Networking (VPC/VNet, subnets, load balancers)
• Security (IAM, security groups, firewalls)

Month 5: Certification Preparation

• Complete certification course (Solutions Architect or Azure Administrator)
• Practice exams (Whizlabs, Tutorials Dojo)
• Hands-on lab practice

Month 6: Advanced Topics & Job Preparation

• Serverless computing, containers
• DevOps tools integration
• Build portfolio projects
• Prepare resume and interview skills

Cloud Engineer Salary in India (2025)

• Junior Cloud Engineer (0-2 years): ₹4-8 LPA
• Cloud Engineer (2-4 years): ₹8-15 LPA
• Senior Cloud Engineer (4-7 years): ₹15-25 LPA
• Cloud Architect (7+ years): ₹25-45 LPA

Salary by Certification:

• AWS Solutions Architect: Average ₹12 LPA
• AWS DevOps Professional: Average ₹18 LPA
• Azure Administrator: Average ₹10 LPA
• Azure DevOps Engineer: Average ₹16 LPA

Companies Hiring Cloud Engineers (India)

• Product Companies: Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Atlassian, Adobe
• Service Companies: TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tech Mahindra
• Consulting: Deloitte, Accenture, Capgemini, PWC
• Startups: Razorpay, Zerodha, CRED, Freshworks
• E-commerce: Flipkart, Amazon India, Myntra

Free Learning Resources

AWS:

• AWS Free Tier: 12 months free hands-on practice
• AWS Skill Builder: Official free training platform
• FreeCodeCamp: AWS certification courses on YouTube
• AWS Documentation: Most comprehensive resource

Azure:

• Microsoft Learn: Free official courses with sandbox
• Azure Free Account: $200 credit for 30 days
• Azure Documentation: Step-by-step guides
• Adam Marczak YouTube: Azure tutorials

AWS vs Azure: Comparison Table

Project Ideas for Portfolio

1. Deploy 3-tier web application: Frontend, backend, database on cloud
2. CI/CD pipeline: Automated deployment with testing
3. Serverless REST API: Using Lambda/Azure Functions
4. Infrastructure as Code: Terraform project for multi-tier architecture
5. Monitoring dashboard: CloudWatch or Azure Monitor setup

Interview Preparation Tips

• Know your certified services inside-out
• Understand cost optimization strategies
• Prepare for scenario-based questions
• Practice designing architectures on whiteboard
• Be ready to explain your hands-on projects

Conclusion

Both AWS and Azure offer excellent career opportunities in 2025. If you're just starting, pick one based on your target industry, but aim to learn both for maximum opportunities. Get certified, build projects, and you'll be job-ready within 6 months.

Want to master both AWS and Azure? Our AWS and Azure Cloud Computing & DevOps course covers both platforms with hands-on projects and guaranteed interview opportunities!