Cloud Providers #
Cloud strategy should align with your team capabilities, compliance needs, and workload profile.
The big three #
- AWS: breadth of services and ecosystem depth
- Microsoft Azure: strong enterprise and Microsoft stack integration
- Google Cloud Platform: data, AI, and Kubernetes strengths
Alternative providers #
- DigitalOcean: simple developer experience and predictable pricing
- Linode: straightforward infrastructure and cost transparency
Cloud decision checklist #
Use this shortlist when selecting a provider:
- workload fit (compute, data, edge, AI)
- regional availability and latency requirements
- IAM/security controls and compliance scope
- managed services maturity
- pricing model and cost tooling
- hiring and operational familiarity
Operating model recommendations #
- Start with a single primary cloud unless multi-cloud is required
- Use Terraform/OpenTofu modules to enforce consistency
- Standardize observability and security controls across accounts/subscriptions/projects
- Tag resources for ownership, environment, and cost allocation