Which one do you choose- AWS or Microsoft Azure?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Any organization whether it is vast or small works on data that can be in any form. Data storage becomes an essential part of the organization, as each step of the business plan depends upon data, and with growing businesses data increases significantly. Traditionally, data storage solutions were physical storage like a hard drive, then those devices need to be secured somewhere. In today’s time, companies and businesses are much more conscious about the safety and security of storing their business information in one place. In the digital era, every step we take and every move we make online will be counted, which is super essential for organizations to understand the buying and consumption patterns of their consumers. Not even online, but also offline, this is the time of smart devices which are self-data generating and well connected to the internet, thanks to the internet of things (Iot). With the help of Iot, we can get the details, how products are used. Because the smart devices are connected and help in understanding the consumption patterns. 

With the launch of technological innovations, corporations have moved from conventional storage machines in the direction of more augmented and efficient cloud storage solutions. Now, Business does not have to worry about losing their vital data because cloud storage program helps to keep their crucial industry data protected. Cloud has renovated the direction in which organizations manage their data. The information is on cloud-based storage servers is retrieved with the help of the internet. The companies which provide the network services and structure for the cloud are called cloud service providers (CSPs). Amazon and Microsoft are the two cloud help sources.

The public cloud platforms help consumers gain new resources, without including investing in new hardware or software anymore. Instead, they pay their cloud service supplier a subscription fee or pay only for the reserves they use. Merely by fill up web forms, users can set up accounts and spin up virtual machines or provision new applications.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure are two of the greatest names in the world of public cloud computing. Which one is right for you? To help you make that conclusion, let us have a look at how these are putting their steps into the real world.

 

 

Microsoft Azure	Amazon Web Service (AWS)
Azure is the cloud service platform provided by Microsoft, which delivers services in various domains, like compute, storage, networking, database, and other functionality that supports businesses. Microsoft announced Azure in 2010. It is evolving as one of the prominent business-related cloud service suppliers. Software Developers and other personnel employ these services to build, operate, and coordinate services and applications through the cloud. Azure services are divided into the platform service (PaaS), software as a service (SaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)	The name of the cloud service platform provided by Amazon is Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS was launched in 2006 and turn out to be the best cloud platform amongst the other cloud platforms. The various domains it provides services in are- Storage Service, Computing Service, and other functions that support businesses to expand. These services cater to operate with each other to generate an accessible and efficient result. These can be applied to develop and coordinate several applications in the cloud platform. Amazon Web Services are further classified into three types such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS).
Microsoft’s estimating is also pay-as-you-go, but they cost per minute, which offers a more precise pricing model. Azure also provides short-term promises with the alternative between pre-paid or monthly charges.	Amazon Web Services charges per hour. Amazon has a pay-as-you-go model. Services are purchasable on the following models: On-demand: Pay for what you use without direct cost. Reserved: Example for 1 or 3 years with direct cost on a user basis. Spot: Clients bid for extra capability available.
Microsoft offers Virtual Network (VNET) that enables users the ability to create isolated networks as well as subnets, route tables, private IP address ranges, and network gateways. Both services offer solutions to prolong the on-premises data center into the cloud and firewall option.	AWS provides VPC, i.e., Virtual private cloud facilitates the user to create separated networks inside the cloud. Within VPC, a user can build subnets, route tables, private IP address ranges, and network gateways.
Azure users choose Virtual Hard Disk (VHD), which is corresponding to a Machine Instance, to create a VM. Virtual Hard Disk can be pre-shaped by Microsoft, the user, or a 3rd party. The user should require the number of cores and memory.	AWS EC2 users can set up their own VMs or choose pre-configured device images or modify MIs. Customers select the size, power, memory capacity, and number of VMs, and choose from various areas and accessibility zones.
Azure is accessible to Hybrid cloud systems. Tools like- SQL database and Active Directory work well with Azure.	AWS is enclosed to private or third-party cloud providers. AWS also delivers more elasticity, capacity, and customization. But there is a learning curve with AWS.
Being a topnotch IT Provider, Microsoft has great assistance for hybrid cloud services, with platforms like Hybrid SQL Server, Azure StorSimple, and Azure Stack, a new hybrid cloud podium product brings almost full public Azure functionality to your own on-premises data centers using the same pay-as-you-go pricing model it offers for its public cloud.	AWS unveiled Snowball Edge, a 100TB hard drive for shifting loads between its cloud and clients’ data centers. It also added a hybrid element to its portfolio when it collaborated with VMware to allow its customers to rush into its cloud environments.
Azure brings native integration for the tools like- VBS, SQL database, Active Directory, in case one is already using these window development tools. Azure supports open source and now can run Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Apache Hadoop clusters, despite Microsoft has not always incorporated the model.	In this platform, there are more open-source integrations available which include GitHub and Jenkins. And it also supports Linux servers.
Microsoft alleges to have more than 50 compliant offerings, which include ITAR, DISA, HIPAA, CJIS, FIPS.	Amazon compliance offerings include certifications in ITAR, DISA, HIPAA, CJIS, FIPS, and more.

 

Final Thoughts-

With the above comparison or explanation, one can easily select the required services, both Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services are capable of catering to the best of their abilities and still evolving. Cloud is a new technology and any addition to these technologies will not surprise us in the future. It is found that these two cloud platforms have strong competencies. It is hard to select any one of them. It depends upon the business need while choosing from, you’ll be obtaining the profits of a hyper scalable cloud solution that can encounter your growing business requirements. Where on one side AWS is more flexible and provides additional features, but when it comes to Hybrid cloud and integration with Microsoft stack, Azure is an exceptional choice. Therefore, organizations can choose any of the cloud platforms, according to their requirements.

Read More Related Topics- Bag of words Using Python

 

Author’s Name- Palak Airon
Author’s Bio- Data Scientist personnel with over 8 years of professional experience in the IT industry. Competent in Data Science and Digital Marketing. Expertise in professionally researched technical Content Writing.

World’s first reusable, digitally connected planner launches in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Rocketbook Panda Planner is a scientifically-designed reusable daily planner that will empower you to take back control, reclaim your happiness and flourish in every way

Rocketbook, maker of Amazon’s best-selling notebook, is pleased to introduce, in partnership with Panda Planner, the Rocketbook Panda Planner. It is the world’s first reusable, digitally connected planner. Specifically designed to improve your productivity and happiness, the planner features several templates to help you set goals, measure your progress, and reflect on how far you’ve come. The templates are broken down into monthly, weekly, and daily sections that help organize every aspect of your life. The Planner features Rocketbook’s reusable technology, making it the last planner you’ll ever need to buy. The Planner is now available at Atlas starting at PHP 2100.

And as part of the #GiftsThatGiveBack campaign, for every purchase of the panda planner through Atlas, 10% of proceeds will support WWF-Philippines’ conservation initiatives.

This season of giving, consider giving gifts that give back. Together, we can #ChangeTheEnding for the people and the environment! 

In each of the monthly, weekly and daily sections, the Planner comes with pages designed for setting goals, making plans, end-of-day reviews, managing projects, and tracking habits. The Planner also provides space to write down what’s motivating you, as well as an area for meditation and affirmations. Rocketbook and Panda Planner designed each section to enable users to think through their priorities and goals, reflect on the past weeks’ happenings, and create a plan for the future that will bring increased productivity and happiness.

The Planner provides a classic pen and paper experience, but its eco-friendly design means there’s no more wasted paper. Featuring Rocketbook’s patented reusable technology, Planner’s synthetic paper allows you to write smoothly with a Pilot FriXion pen, marker or highlighter and then wipe the page clean with a damp cloth, enabling you to use the notebook again and again.

The Rocketbook Panda Planner also connects a variety of cloud services including Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, Box, iCloud, Slack, email and more for easy organization, uploading and sharing capabilities. Use the Rocketbook app to scan your notes, transcribe your handwriting, and send to your favorite service. Then, erase and use it again. Seven symbols at the bottom of each page act as the magic “buttons” behind Rocketbook’s quick and easy cloud organization. First, assign each icon to the cloud destination of your choice. Then, when you mark that icon on your page, the Rocketbook app automatically files your notes to the right place. The Rocketbook app also crops and enhances each page so your digital notes are even more crisp and vibrant than the real thing.

Rocketbook Panda Planner is available today in a variety of colors on Atlas for PHP 2100 in executive size and PHP 2200 in letter size. Notebooks also include one Pilot FriXion pen and microfiber cloth.

Massive Ipo Watershed Reforestation Slated Next Year

Wazzup Pilipinas!


DENR, GCash, WWF and BIOFIN to plant 365,000 native trees in 2021

Ipo Watershed, which supplies fresh water to 20 million people living or working in Metro Manila, will be bolstered with hundreds of thousands of new trees next year.

Through donations generated from GCash, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the United Nations Development Programme’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) will plant the first of 365,000 native trees like Narra, Lauaan, Kupang and Yakal as soon as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in 2021.

“We originally wanted to plant in mid-2020, but decided to heed lockdown guidelines to ensure public safety,” explains Mabel Niala, Mynt Public Affairs and CSR Head of GCash. GCash is the Philippines’ top cashless service and serves a fifth of its population, plus 75,000 partner merchants and 75 nonprofits.

Using their mobile phones, users can plant trees through GCash Forest. Users earn Green Energy Points by reducing their individual carbon footprints. Paying bills online for instance, eliminates the need to drive to a bank and consume paper for receipts and forms. More points can be garnered for walking to work, taking the stairs and avoiding single-use plastic items.

When users reach 20,560 points, his or her virtual tree will be fully-grown and a corresponding native tree shall be planted in Ipo Watershed.

Cover photo:

Rainforestation is the process of restoring ailing forests with native rainforest species instead of commercial or fruit-bearing trees. Ipo Watershed’s plant nursery brims with native species like Yakal, Kupang, Narra, Lauaan and Dau. DENR, GCash, BIOFIN and WWF aim to plant 365,000 new trees as soon as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in 2021.

Watersheds host resident and migratory populations of waterbirds, such as this pair of rare Philippine Ducks (Anas luzonica).

Trees for Water

Trees provide innumerable services for people and nature. They provide oxygen, shade, habitats, erosion-control, food, medicine and other benefits.

Sadly, they are being cut down at astronomical rates. The Philippines is losing at least 52,000 trees daily. Logging, slash-and-burn-farming and land development are annually erasing 47,000 hectares of forestland – an area thrice the size of Quezon City. Just 7.168 million hectares of forestland remains in the Philippines.

Watersheds are zones which naturally collect and store water. They are typically heavily-vegetated because trees absorb rainwater which drains into streams, rivers and lakes.

Ipo Watershed, together with the Angat and Umiray watersheds, supplies 98% of Metro Manila’s water needs. Situated northeast of the sprawling Metropolis, it covers 7236 hectares in Norzagaray and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, plus Rodriguez in Rizal. It is home to several species of charismatic animals, including the Philippine Brown Deer, Philippine Warty Pig, Tarictic Hornbill, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and Osprey.

Though protected by several proclamations including a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title for the Indigenous Dumagat tribes of the watershed, Ipo Watershed is pockmarked by patches of burnt soil. From 85%, forest cover plummeted to 40% in recent years, mostly due to slash-and-burn or kaingin farming and charcoal-making.

It is estimated that for 2021, Metro Manila’s water demands will overtake supply by as much as 13% during peak days, meaning more dry faucets and unserved households – but taking care of watersheds can avert this.

“GCash Forest has proven that mobile technology can generate real change for our forests,” says Niala. “Everyone can now get a chance to plant a tree through the click of a button. If you haven’t tried GCash Forest yet, please download the app and help restore our forests today.”

Water scarcity is a daily reality of millions of people. Planting trees and protecting groundwater sources is a form of insurance to keep our taps flowing.

Ipo Watershed, together with the Angat and Umiray Watersheds, supplies 98% of the water requirements of Metro Manila, one of the world’s most densely-populated cities with a daytime population of 20 million people. In March 2019, 10,000 households lost access to fresh water owing to reduced water levels in nearby La Mesa Dam. Conversely, the lack of trees around Metro Manila contributed to massive and highly-destructive floods in late 2020.