The market for cloud computing in China is expanding quickly in the world. According to estimations, by 2024, China’s public cloud service market share will have increased drastically. The figure is supposed to go from 6.5% to over 10.5% globally. Such is the scope of cloud computing in China.

There is a lot of demand in the market right now for cloud developers. As such, if you’re an aspiring cloud dev, you should keep working. But what is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is a crucial component of digital technology. There is far too much potential to tap into, especially for global companies. Many of these are interested in joining the Chinese market. Keeping an eye on the most recent trends in the industry is critical, especially when looking to profit. Keep reading if that interests you.

In this article, we will discuss how cloud computing came to be. Why should you know about it? And why cloud computing in China is so successful? In short, we will discuss how China is ahead of the curve when it comes to cloud computing.

What is Cloud Computing? 

Cloud computing is the process of storing data and running software using the internet. It is also known as the “third wave of information technology.” Besides that, it is the on-demand delivery of computing resources, such as networks, servers, and storage.

These are available to an unlimited number of end users. It starkly contrasts the usual method of storing and processing data. This is because cloud computing uses localized hardware and servers. Moreover, it uses a web based infrastructure to give extra computing potential.

Because they make data available online, cloud systems give you much more flexibility. This has drastically improved how people live and conduct business. In the market, it helps companies to focus on their core missions and values while avoiding initial infrastructure investments.

Google, Apple, AWS, and Microsoft are just a few of the top companies in the technology market’s cloud services sector. Many others, including companies in China, are growing and aspiring to take the top spot. Now, let’s see how cloud computing differs in China. Especially when compared to the global trends.

How is Cloud Computing in China Different? 

IDC estimates that China’s public cloud industry will be worth 19.38 billion dollars in 2020. Yet, this figure is just 10.8% of the US market’s worth in the same year. But China’s public cloud market has grown a lot in the last five years. At a CAGR of $61.1, this is far greater than the 23.8% in the US.

China’s cloud computing market is expanding quickly and at a steady pace. The hardware industry rules the private cloud business. However, the market for public cloud services is also growing very fast. Chinese customers of cloud services welcome IaaS, in particular.

What is IaaS?

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a cloud computing service. It offers storage and networking resources on demand. Moreover, they also offer a pay-as-you-go basis. IaaS is one of the four types of cloud services. The other three types are:

1. Software as a service (SaaS)
2. Platform as a service (PaaS)
3. Serverless

The Chinese market for cloud infrastructure is expected to develop rapidly. A compound annual growth rate of 25% is expected over the next five years. Hence, it will reach US$85 billion by 2026. In addition, the industry has a trend of customer-focused diversification.

Top Chinese Cloud Computing Companies

The Covid pandemic caused a spike in e-learning, live streaming, and other online activities. Thus, there has been a major increase in cloud and related services demand. Chinese companies are entering a fierce battle for market share in the cloud services industry. Tech giants like Huawei, Tencent, and Alibaba have driven the sector.

Alibaba Cloud

Alibaba Cloud’s yearly sales increased by 56% year over year in 2020 to a total of 55.576 billion RMB. This is slightly higher than the average annual revenue growth of 49.7% in the Chinese market. Achieving such a growth rate is no easy task, especially when you see a greater base. Alibaba Cloud kept its top spot in the Chinese cloud computing industry as of 2021. It is a giant with a 37% market share for cloud services. 

The company’s market share climbed by 30%. This is because of the expansion of its activities.

Huawei Cloud

With an 18% market share, Huawei Cloud expanded by 67% in 2021. Huawei Cloud has always held a position of leadership in this sector. This is because of its proficiency in government interactions. Huawei is the only “non-Internet” company among the top three providers. 

Huawei is an effective partner for clients in China’s internet industry. The company is slowly growing its clientele of internet businesses. It plans on doing so by using its “cloud to cloud collaboration” strategy.

Baidu AI Cloud 

Baidu AI Cloud is one of the largest competitors in the cloud industry in China. Baidu’s presence expanded by 55% to have a 9% stake in the market. The company’s business model is focused mainly on online marketing and AI regulations.

Thus, it was announced in 2021 that these were intended to be used in the internet sector. Sadly, AI had less of an impact on the firm than on Tencent and Alibaba. Baidu AI Cloud has chosen the industrial market as its key target potential.

Tencent Cloud 

The third-largest provider is Tencent Cloud. The company grew its market share by 55% to own 16% of the market in 2021. Tencent Cloud’s overall growth was steady and varied across many businesses. The firm has grown even more as a pan entertainment industry-focused Internet enterprise. Their goal is to appeal to more clients, including established businesses. This is to give them more credibility as a company.

The potential for the metaverse has opened up new prospects. It’s an innovative and fun time. Therefore, given Tencent’s experience in gaming, social media, and online shopping, it is one of the best cloud businesses right now.

Interest in Cloud Computing in China 

Cloud computing in China has truly seen it all. With the industry growing at a breakneck speed and so much profit in sight, interests are sure to arise. Whether it be from foreign tech giants or local competitors. So, let’s look at it more below and see the interest level.

Foreign Interest 

Foreign cloud service providers like Amazon and Microsoft are all established businesses. They are all looking for a piece of Chinese Cloud Computing. Most foreign players provide “infrastructure as a service”. In simple words, it is known as the infrastructure for computing.

In early 2013, Microsoft and its domestic partner 21Vianet became the first foreign corporation to provide such services in China. 

Local Competitors 

Local Chinese cloud computing companies may be the largest challenge to global competitors. Plus, foreign investors still face heavy constraints. Especially those who intend to invest in the internet services industry.

Several significant Chinese businesses, including Tencent and Baidu, provide cloud services. Aliyun is the largest cloud computing platform in China. It is owned by the Alibaba Group. So, it serves both the Chinese govt and the business sector.

Govt and several state owned businesses tend to refuse to outsource their cloud computing.

Requirements for Foreign Cloud Computing Services in China

It is vital to have the necessary certificates in China. If you wish to provide cloud services locally, that is. International parties looking to offer cloud computing services must partner with Chinese businesses. This is a law introduced to protect Chinese Cloud companies. This law is to look out for if you’re a foreign company, but it has been loosened in the Shanghai FTZ.

Unfortunately, international investors are still advised to partner with a Chinese company. They should also carefully adapt their products to meet local demands. Thus, you must apply for special approval if you’re looking to offer value added telecom services, such as cloud computing. This is in addition to the standard firm creation requirements. 

Finally, joint ventures that want to provide value added services must also meet requirements. If you wish to provide services, you must have a minimum registered capital of RMB 1 million for services in one province. To operate in more than one province, you must have a minimum of RMB 10 million.

To conclude, it is best to have a Chinese partner if you’re a foreign company.

Chinese CSP (Cloud Service Provider) 

McKinsey conducted a national survey recently. 70% of respondents prefer cloud computing services in China. According to this, the top Chinese CSPs lead the market. The remaining 30% of the market comprises 10% of businesses that want global CSPs. Plus, the 20% open to CSPs from any location may be served by global CSPs.

Chinese businesses prioritize critical account and operational support performance and technical needs. These are in addition to cybersecurity and data compliance regarding CSPs. Domain specific solutions and value for money are further vital factors to consider. In practically every important purchase determinant, the top Chinese CSPs are thought to be at least twice as effective as their rivals.

Most businesses in China do not wish to use global CSPs. Still, about 30% of businesses are willing to do so. According to the poll, the public cloud might represent 45% of the total market. This equates to a total cloud market of $30 to $70 billion by 2025. This is similar to the public cloud market in Germany — the fifth largest in the world at $25 billion.

Conclusion 

The basis for the next generation of digital tech is cloud computing. Cloud computing is also the spine of new economic growth. With cloud computing in its initial stages, I think China will fully capitalize on its potential. Digital innovation drives this potential. China will close the gap with the IT sector in developed countries.

According to recent IDC research, Tencent and Alibaba cloud are already two of the top seven global public cloud IaaS market service providers. And both are Chinese companies. That speaks a lot. Why? Well, because Chinese companies are dominating the landscape

Hit the like button below if you enjoyed this post. I would love to hear from you about your thoughts below. Tell me what you think of the top cloud computing companies in China and others that deserve a mention. Where do you see the cloud industry in 10 years? I think it’s a very exciting place to be in right now. There is plenty of room for growth. Not just in China, but around the globe.

If you’d like to read more posts about China, check out some relevant posts. Free Cloud Storage: Top 9 Cloud Storage Services in 2022 and Made In China: Is It Worth It are two such posts you can read.

Edited by: Syed Umar Bukhari.

In this post, I will look at the top cloud storage services in 2023 and why you should consider each.

What is Cloud Storage?

Cloud storage offers a cost-effective, scalable alternative to saving data on an on-premise HDD or SSD. This is done by letting you store data in an off-site location. SaaS is an offering of cloud computing where the provider gives you access to their cloud-based software.

Cloud storage is a scalable solution. How? You can reduce or expand the storage capacity to fit your needs. This minimizes the cost spent on storage– already much lower than physical drives.

There are four primary types of cloud storage:

• Private cloud storage: Private clouds reside within your network, creating virtual server instances to increase capacity. In addition, you can take full control with on-premise private clouds. Also, you usually store more sensitive data on private cloud storage. For example, Nextcloud is a great private cloud option to look into. Recently, we published an article on how to set Nextcloud with Docker.
• Public cloud storage: Public clouds are maintained by a cloud provider for use by other companies. The providers let you access these public cloud storage from any device. Moreover, you frequently store less sensitive data on public cloud storage. These are the ones explored below.
• Hybrid cloud storage: This type combines parts of private and public clouds, giving companies a choice of which data to store in which cloud.
• Community cloud storage: Community clouds are types of the private cloud storage, allowing many “tenants” to share a private pool of cloud resources easily.

Top Free Cloud Storage Services in 2023

The cloud market is expected to grow from a run rate of $229 billion in 2019 to almost $500 billion by 2023. Moreover, The IDC report identifies SaaS as the largest spending category throughout the forecast period.

Besides the top free cloud SaaS options below, you can also use Nihao Cloud with several benefits, including a low entry level, up to 10 GBs of cloud storage available for free, and the option to pay as you go. This means that, like AWS S3 Glacier below, you only pay for what you need or use, this without he complications and limitations that AWS s3 and Glacier have for end users. Moreover, your data is also secured with end-to-end and zero-knowledge encryption. If you work in various places, including China, it’s a great option. In such cases, you can use Nihao Cloud as your preferred cloud storage provider.

However, note that while we think ours is a great platform, this post is about the top free cloud storage services listed below, not NiHao Cloud. We are some what of a niche provider focused on cross borders team collaboration compared to the bigger players.

Mega: 20 GBs Free Cloud Storage

Mega is one of the oldest cloud storage services, offering many features. With an easy drag-and-drop UI and a free tier that sounds too good to be true– free 20 GBs of cloud storage, Mega is an excellent choice if you want a long-term solution.

Pros:

• An amazing free tier of 20 GBs free cloud storage
• Easy to use UI with the option to drag and drop files and folders
• Highly secure; hence, it has true end-to-end encryption for all files, if you forget your password and lose the recovery keys, you can’t access your data again
• Cross-platform is available; not only can you can get it for Windows and Mac, but also Linux
• Individual plans up to 8 TBs cloud storage; neither Google Drive nor Dropbox offers more than 3 TBs
• Lets you preview media and document files

Cons:

• All your data is removed if you don’t log in for three months or more on the free tier; however, they do warn you a couple of times by email
• If you upgrade to a premium tier, you MIGHT get your data back. But in my experience, it doesn’t happen. I only recovered empty folders for 90% of the data
• Premium tiers are a bit more expensive than some services on this list
• It is slow to load the webapp; this needs to be improved to boost the UX
• Collaboration options suffer due to the high security

iCloud: 5 GBs Free Storage

Apple launched iCloud back in 2011. I use it the most often in my daily life. So far, I have had an amazing experience using it for my data. It’s easy to use and auto-syncs if you want. Moreover, iCloud is the joint second most popular free cloud storage service with 700 million users. (Source: Software Testing Help)

Also, iCloud subscription comes with many more features.

Pros:

• Easy to use after the initial set up has been done
• Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem; i.e., you can access the shared data easily on all your Apple devices instantly
• Strong security, after measures taken not to repeat the leaks in the past; iCloud use TLS 1.2 for encryption
• Prices are tailored per the economic state of each country; hence, it is reasonable for all countries
• Additionally, iCloud includes many free features, like:
  • iCloud Private Relay (Beta)
  • Hide My Email:
  • Custom Email Domain
  • HomeKit Secure Video Support

Cons:

• Past security breaches still leaves a bad taste, most famously the leaks last decade
• Limited android device support; not available on android phones and harder to sync on Windows
• Lower tiers, 50 GBs and 200 GBs, are more expensive than other options on this list
• Sync speed of iCloud can be slow sometimes as it can take a lot of time to sync

Google Drive: 15 GBs Free Storage

Google Drive is the most used cloud storage SaaS with over a billion users today. Also, it has a great free tier of 10GBs on signup and a great to use UI. Obviously, it’s backed by Google with an insane amount of servers and storage. Furthermore, Google Drive is loaded with a suite of Microsoft-like tools. Including Google Docs, Slides, and Pages. Additionally, these tools offer real-time, online solutions for your ease.

Pros:

• Up to 15GBs of free cloud storage is a great free tier
• Easily access and edit your files from any devices on the cloud
• Compatibility with Microsoft Office is a big help for organizations
• Can open up to 30 different file types on the drive
• Intuitive and excellent UI makes it easy to use, even for new users
• Simple and easy file sharing to multiple people, with added restrictions for control and privacy
• SSL encryption on files; it is a secure, two-way encryption to ensure only the two connected parties can exchange data

Cons:

• Premium plans are more expensive than the cheapest upgrades on this list
• A daily size upload limit. Per Google support: “Individual users can only upload 750 GB daily between My Drive and all shared drives. Users who reach the 750-GB limit or upload a file larger than 750 GB cannot upload additional files that day. Uploads that are in progress will complete.”
• A file upload size limit. According to Google support, “The maximum individual file size you can upload or synchronize is 5 TB.”
• According to Google’s policy, its automated system automatically analyzes your content to improve your experience, allegedly:

pCloud: 10 GBs Free Storage

Are you worried about your security? Don’t want a case of… iCloud leaks? pCloud might be the best choice for you. It offers the highest security among the options on this list. pCloud offers free cloud storage of 10 GBs when you sign up, and you can upgrade if you need more security or storage options.

Pros:

• Most secure free cloud storage service with 4096-bit RSA for users’ private keys and 256-bit AES for per-file and per-folder keys, and zero-knowledge, per pCloud’s website.
• Offers 10 GBs of free cloud storage for new users
• Rewind system– so, you can always access a lost file
• Several lifetimes paid storage tiers; hence, with a one-time payment, you can own your cloud storage
• Can easily store files from other online cloud platforms or social media platforms
• Available on all platforms; Windows, Mac, and Linux and mobile phones
• pCloud Crypto is the simplest and most secure way to store confidential files with high security and encryption

Cons:

• The UI is Orkut, or MySpace days outdated; hence, the UI needs to be improved
• Paid cloud storage tiers are priced much higher than other options on this list, due to the higher security with pCloud Crypto
• Many users still face “The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error.” on large uploads
• Extra cost for pCloud Crypto is required to get the higher security options

Dropbox: 5 GBs Free

Well, you have certainly heard of Dropbox before. So, let’s talk about Dropbox. What’s more, is that why is it so famous? Dropbox was the first cloud storage site to be launched in 2007– years before the other options on this list. In addition, Dropbox is the second most popular free cloud storage service, with over 700 million users. (according to its financial statements)

Pros:

• Versioning history and file recovery is robust
• Easily integrates with trendy tools like Zapier, Canva, Slack, etc
• Available on all platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux and mobile phones
• Easy to share files and collaborate with co-workers or friends
• Offline file access for easy use without network requirement

Cons:

• Only 5 GBs of free cloud storage is not enough to attract customers; but, you can gain much more with referrals
• No encryption on the data stored is a big letdown
• In case of inactivity, the data is deleted forever after 3 months
• Limited file search with lack of metadata searching
• Customer support is lacking, as it is not very helpful

Icedrive: 10 GBs Free

Icedrive is a new cloud storage service with a focus on encryption, availability, and affordable plans. On top of that, it is the only cloud storage SaaS with a bulletproof twofish algorithm encryption, which is stronger than AES.

Pros:

• Up to 10 GBs free cloud storage available
• Affordable lifetime plans with one-time payments to own your cloud storage
• Zero-knowledge; also, end-to-end encryption with twofish algorithm; so, only you have access to the data
• Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux and mobile phones
• Unlimited file versioning history and auto file sync
• Lets you preview encrypted files on the cloud

Cons:

• Limited file sharing options currently with no control over access
• Free cloud storage has no zero-knowledge encryption
• A daily limit of 3GBs of data exchange per day on free cloud storage plan
• No business or team plans for workplaces or organizations

Sync.com: 5 GBs Free

Sync.com is a speedy, quick solution to your free cloud storage needs. It is a new SaaS with many exciting features. What’s more, it provides a modern and easy-to-use UI for its users. Moreover, Sync.com also prides itself on its zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption.

Pros:

• Modern and easy-to-use UI with many features
• Your data is kept private, highly secure, with end-to-end and zero knowledge AES-256 bit encryption on the cloud
• File versioning history to recover older versions of your files
• Available on all platforms– Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Many multi-user functionalities; so, you can control the access allowed to team members
• Cheaper premium plans than the other options on this list

Cons:

• Only 5GBs of storage in the free cloud tier
• Customer support is lacking since there is only the option for email support; so, no live chats
• You can only sync a single folder; so, nothing outside that single sync folder is synced
• Per Sync.com’s policy: “The free Sync Starter plan allows up to 20 downloads per day, per link. The limit resets every 24-hour period.”
• The UI can be slower to use, compared to other options on this list, and slower to sync data

Terabox: 1 TB Free Storage

Terabox is a relatively new cloud storage platform that offers up to 1 TB of free storage for its users. This truly sets them apart, as no other platform even has close to 1 TB of free storage on the cloud. However, some privacy issues may make you hesitant to trust them with sensitive data. Still, it doesn’t mean you can’t use it for storing less sensitive files. Right now, Terabox is offering 2 TBs for as low as $3.49!

Pros:

• Insanely high amount of 1 TB for free cloud storage
• Available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and mobile phones
• File type organization makes it easier to sort files in your cloud storage, by type
• You can limit the duration a shared file link stays active
• Well, 1 TB of free storage on the cloud is no joke, right?

Cons:

• A maximum of 500 files can be stored on the cloud
• 4 GB file upload restriction and safe storage space of 200 MB
• Only support for 720p video playback quality in free cloud tier
• Genuine data security issues since Terabox used to be DuBox. Baidu owned cloud storage which also offered 1 TB free cloud storage in China; however, after some time, threatened people to upgrade or lose their data forever
• According to their privacy policy, they may share customer data with customer service and the IT department to assist their clients. In addition, the policy also states that they may share data with authorities in certain situations.
• Can only open a limited number of file types from the cloud storage; cannot open simple file types like PDF or ZIP
• No third party integrations with apps like Microsoft Office or Google Work Apps

Bonus: Amazon S3 Glacier

Amazon’s Simple Storage Service or S3 Glacier provides a redundant data storage infrastructure for storing data on the cloud. In addition, Amazon’s S3 Glacier is a secure, low cost and durable (99.999999999% per their website with nine zeros) cloud storage service.

It is the most economical and elastic cloud storage on this list. Why? For context, if you want 1 TB, it roughly accounts for only $4 per month. Isn’t that great? I think so.

There are three cloud archival storage classes with different retrieval patterns and storage duration:

1. Glacier Instant Retrieval 
2. S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval 
3. S3 Glacier Deep Archive 

Pros:

• Per Amazon’s policy, Amazon S3 Glacier offers 10 GB retrieval each month
• Scalability in your storage options; pay for what you really need and never a dime more with $0.004 per GB; you don’t have to buy pre-packaged tiers
• Advanced search options with a query options for better analytics and archival
• AWS handles admin tasks such as capacity planning; so, no need to maintain archival database
• S3 Glacier is distributed across multiple physical AWS Availability Zones at a time, increasing the durability of stored data

Cons:

• It is complex to set up, even by AWS standards
• There is no graphical interface so it can be hard to see what you are doing since you can only run commands on the CLI
• S3 Glacier can be expensive if you are carefree
• No app available on desktop or mobile phones
• Complicated to use and you could make mistakes on the CLI

Conclusion: What is The Best Free Cloud Storage Service For You?

In conclusion, you should consider these top free cloud storage services. So far, in 2023, there are many great free cloud storage options. Therefore, weigh the pros and cons of each on this list depending on your needs.

For me, a streamlined UI/UX and upload/download speeds matter. In addition, there are other factors like storage amount and security. So, it’s your choice which features you prefer over others. As a result, it is hard to find just one size fits all in these cases. Hence, you must keep an open mind and consider all factors when choosing.

If you like this post, please let me know below. I would love to hear your thoughts on which cloud storage service you use and why. Also, comment below if you found this post to be resourceful in helping you choose the right cloud storage service for you. Furthermore, there are many exciting posts on our blog you can check out if you enjoyed this one. For instance, Fingerprint Matching in Python and Nextcloud with Docker are a couple of examples.

The cloud and DevOps are the new kids on the block. They might not be what you expect, but together they make a good team. Cloud is known for providing scalable resources and DevOps is known for automation of deployment processes. Together these two technologies will help to implement new software faster than ever before!
The relationship between cloud and DevOps is like that of peanut butter and jelly- it just makes sense! 😂 Imagine your company having all of its resources in one place, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS). Now imagine how much time you would save if there was no need to purchase physical servers or spend hours configuring them individually. This dream becomes reality thanks to our favorite tech couple: Cloud and DevOps 😍

Development teams look for new tools, methods, and approaches for developing and delivering the most advanced technologies every day. For many of today’s most creative innovators, the cloud offers a scalable and adaptable route to success. It provides novel security, automation, and development options. Integrating DevOps into the cloud enables businesses to compete more effectively in a complex and ever-changing industry. Rather than reinventing DevOps, effective cloud integration requires implementing and adopting best engineering practices.

In this article, we’ll look at what DevOps is and how it works, as well as the connection between cloud and DevOps, cloud-based DevOps solutions, and the benefits of cloud-based DevOps solutions.

What is DevOps?

DevOps is a technique that companies use to manage the development and release of software. DevOps is a methodology for rapidly providing services and applications. The development approach combines software development and operations into a unified process emphasizing automation and efficiency.

The goal of DevOps is to have frequent incremental improvements rather than periodic significant releases. This method enables businesses to produce higher-quality software products more smoothly and effectively.

The primary benefits of DevOps in today’s environment are as follows:

• Effective application release automation 
• Infrastructure automation choices
• CI/CD
• Rapid Delivery with Agile frameworks
• Rapid issue resolution

How DevOps works?

Development and operations teams do not divide themselves in the DevOps environment, as they would be in traditional development setups. In specific scenarios, these two teams combine to form a single unit where engineers may work throughout the entire development lifecycle, from development to deployment and operations.

Here, you may acquire a variety of talents unrelated to any particular role. Security mechanisms and quality assurance may become increasingly engaged in the application development lifecycle in some instances. When everyone on a DevOps team focuses on security, the team becomes a DevSecOps solution.

In a DevOps environment, teams use a variety of techniques to automate formerly laborious and slow operations. They use the most advanced technology available to accelerate the development of apps. For example, in DevOps, automating tasks like code deployment and infrastructure provisioning that previously needed assistance from other teams to improve the team’s pace.

What is the relationship between DevOps and Cloud?

Both cloud computing and DevOps have plenty of other advantages in the area of the agile enterprise. Cloud technology enables businesses to access an infinite number of features and solutions at their own pace. There is no limit to the amount of capability that a company may access through the cloud. Cloud technology enables rapid feature upgrades and enhancements in any setting.

Similarly, DevOps fosters an agile workplace for all parties involved. Both systems provide distinct advantages in terms of speed and production. However, when cloud and DevOps combine, their capabilities complement one another, resulting in an even more attractive solution.

The cloud enables centralized deployments and may include built-in DevOps assistance. For instance, if DevOps teams are required to build the components of a solution in a particular manner, the cloud’s sophisticated automation capabilities may help simplify and repeat the process.

Cloud-Based DevOps Tools

Nowadays, you can operate your complete DevOps stack in the cloud through cloud-managed DevOps solutions. We have discussed two of the most popular ones: Azure DevOps and AWS DevOps.

Azure Cloud and DevOps

Microsoft’s integrated DevOps platform is Azure DevOps (previously known as Visual Studio Team System or VSTS). It allows you to manage the whole of your DevOps cycle via a single integrated interface. While Azure DevOps Services is a cloud-based DevOps solution that you may use as a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) application, Azure DevOps Server is a self-hosted on-premises version of the same product.

Microsoft’s DevOps solution comprises several products, each of which addresses a unique step of your process. Azure Boards enable planning and project management. The Azure Pipeline is a continuous integration and delivery tool. Azure Repos provides cloud-hosted Git repositories, Azure Test Plans is a testing toolkit, and Azure Artifacts enable the creation, management, and deployment of packages.

However, you don’t need to utilize all of the tools included in Azure DevOps Services; you may alternatively subscribe to them separately. If you need more capabilities, the Visual Studio Marketplace has over 1,000 Azure DevOps extensions, including integrations, statistics, visualizations, and crash reporting.

AWS Cloud and DevOps

AWS DevOps is a service offered by Amazon Web Services that consists of a collection of integrated DevOps tools for managing the entire software development lifecycle. While AWS is mainly utilized in the cloud, you can also run all the tools on-premises using AWS Outposts, which enable you to deploy any AWS infrastructure component on your in-house server.

In contrast to Azure DevOps Services, a PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) solution, AWS is an IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) solution, which means it is connected to the underlying infrastructure. While packages may be deployed from Azure DevOps Platform to another environment, such as AWS, the opposite is not feasible. You can only deploy to AWS infrastructure through AWS DevOps, such as EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) or S3 (Simple Storage Service).

AWS DevOps toolset includes:

• A continuous integration/continuous delivery service called AWS CodePipeline.
• A managed service build tool called AWS CodeBuild.
• A deployment automation tool called AWS CodeDeploy.
• A platform for managing DevOps projects called AWS CodeStar.

In general, AWS DevOps is probably the most refined DevOps platform for existing or prospective Amazon Web Services customers.

Which one to choose between Azure and AWS?

The primary distinction between the Azure and AWS DevOps toolsets is how they integrate with their respective platforms. Both products, for obvious reasons, combine the appearance and feel of their different cloud platform’s user interfaces. AWS DevOps is much simpler to get started with, while the Azure DevOps suite is more integrated across the various Azure DevOps toolsets and has a considerably more extensive set of integrations with the whole Azure Marketplace.

Moreover, upon choosing, it all comes down to what your employer thinks. That is, whatever job you get is of primary importance. If the sole job available targets Azure systems, then focus on completing an Azure DevOps certification. On the other hand, the industry has shifted toward AWS. Many companies and hiring managers prefer individuals with an AWS-based DevOps certification, owing to AWS’s increasing market dominance and various other fundamental options that perform better when AWS systems are used.

Apart from that, it all comes down to your work needs and which one you believe is most advantageous for you since this is the only way to choose between the two and seek a source of DevOps certifications.

Advantages of cloud computing DevOps

Cloud solutions and DevOps complement one another well in an environment designed for agility and adaptability. When DevOps and cloud computing are integrated, they can significantly improve the software development lifecycle. Businesses that use DevOps in the cloud may improve software delivery performance by an average of 81 percent.

The following are the primary advantages of cloud-based DevOps:

Automation options based on the cloud

Automation is a critical component of DevOps efficiency. Numerous cloud platforms provide sophisticated automation capabilities for DevOps operations, such as continuous development and integration. These technologies provide uniformity and efficiency while requiring less human involvement.

Centralized platform

The cloud offers a centralized framework from which businesses can manage all aspects of their production workloads, including testing, deployment, monitoring, and operation. This enables you to keep track of everything in one location. When all of your DevOps information is in one place, it’s simpler to manage compliance and security. This way, you may get even more actionable insights and business information.

Scalable infrastructure

The cloud is the most cost-effective method to guarantee that you can scale up or down any infrastructure required without spending a fortune on equipment. As a result of this scalability, DevOps is a highly effective way to roll out new features, functionality, and possibilities as your company develops. You can mix cloud computing with DevOps agility to provide limitless development possibilities for your organization.

Agile development

The cloud can offer a variety of staging and testing servers, allowing DevOps teams to continue working while waiting for servers to become available. Utilizing DevOps across the cloud environment enables teams to experiment more freely since builds may occur more often. DevOps teams can rapidly provision servers that meet their requirements.

Reliability and stability

Since cloud providers emphasize availability and stability, they can manage and maintain all aspects of the platform. Instead of worrying about these problems, IT firms can concentrate on product development, which results in better product performance, user experience, and speed to market. The key to success, in this case, is selecting a cloud provider capable of delivering the appropriate degree of uptime for your company.

Conclusion

Cloud computing, on its whole, has risen in popularity over the last several years. Businesses of all sizes can discover how a cloud environment enables them to develop at their speed. Just as cloud communications continue to increase in popularity, cloud-based development and application management procedures become more attractive as your team realizes the full advantages of cloud-based DevOps.

Later, you’ll find that you’re using various DevOps techniques to increase the efficiency of your whole workforce. When this occurs, your team’s performance and efficiency are sure to soar.  There are no limits to what your DevOps team and the cloud can achieve with the proper cloud provider guiding and supporting you.