TL;DR
AWS offers the most mature security services ecosystem with extensive third-party integrations. Azure excels in enterprise environments with deep Active Directory integration and Microsoft 365 security synergies. Both have comprehensive compliance certifications. Choose AWS for cloud-native security depth; choose Azure for Microsoft ecosystem integration and hybrid enterprise scenarios.
AWS and Azure dominate the cloud market and both invest heavily in security. AWS has the longest track record and broadest service selection, while Azure benefits from Microsoft's enterprise security expertise and integration with Active Directory. This comparison examines their security approaches.
Security Feature Comparison
| Security Feature | AWS | Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Provider | IAM + Identity Center | Entra ID (Azure AD) |
| MFA Options | Virtual, Hardware tokens | Authenticator, FIDO2, SMS |
| Key Management | KMS, CloudHSM | Key Vault, Managed HSM |
| Secrets Management | Secrets Manager | Key Vault Secrets |
| DDoS Protection | Shield Standard/Advanced | DDoS Protection Basic/Standard |
| WAF | AWS WAF | Azure WAF |
| SIEM | Security Lake + Partners | Microsoft Sentinel |
| Compliance Certs | Extensive | Extensive |
Identity and Access Management
AWS IAM and Identity Center
AWS IAM provides fine-grained access control with policy-based permissions. AWS Identity Center (formerly SSO) enables centralized access management across multiple AWS accounts. Integration with external identity providers requires configuration. The model is powerful but complex.
Azure Entra ID
Azure Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is a full identity platform that manages both Azure resources and enterprise applications. Integration with on-premises Active Directory is seamless for hybrid environments. Conditional Access policies enable sophisticated security controls based on risk signals.
Threat Detection
AWS Security Services
AWS offers GuardDuty for threat detection, Security Hub for centralized security management, and Detective for investigation. These services work together but require separate configuration. Third-party SIEM integration is common for enterprises.
Azure Security Services
Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native SIEM with AI-powered threat detection. Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides security posture management. The integration between Microsoft security products (Defender, Sentinel, Entra) creates a unified security platform.
Choose AWS When: You need the broadest range of security services, want extensive third-party security tool integration, or have complex multi-account architectures. AWS's maturity and ecosystem are unmatched. Best for organizations with strong AWS expertise or cloud-native architectures.
Choose Azure When: You're a Microsoft shop with existing Active Directory, Microsoft 365, or enterprise Microsoft agreements. Azure's Entra ID integration simplifies identity management. Best for enterprises with hybrid cloud needs or heavy Microsoft ecosystem investment.
Compliance and Governance
Both platforms support extensive compliance frameworks including SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and FedRAMP. Azure has an advantage for government workloads with dedicated government cloud regions. AWS has broader global region availability. Both provide compliance documentation and audit support.
Best Practices for Both Platforms
- Enable MFA for all users, especially privileged accounts
- Use managed identities/roles instead of long-lived credentials
- Enable security monitoring and threat detection services
- Encrypt data at rest and in transit
- Implement network segmentation with VPCs/VNets
- Use infrastructure as code for consistent security configuration
- Regularly review and audit access permissions
Can I use Azure AD with AWS?
Yes, Azure AD (Entra ID) can be configured as an identity provider for AWS through SAML federation. This allows using Azure AD credentials for AWS access, useful for organizations standardizing on Microsoft identity.
Which cloud has better government certifications?
Both have strong government certifications. Azure has dedicated government cloud with IL5/IL6 authorization. AWS GovCloud provides similar capabilities. Specific certification requirements determine which is better for your use case.
Is Microsoft Sentinel better than AWS security tools?
Sentinel provides a more integrated SIEM experience, especially for Microsoft environments. AWS's approach of separate services (GuardDuty, Security Hub, Detective) offers more flexibility but requires more integration work.
Secure Your Cloud Deployment
CheckYourVibe scans your code for security issues before deploying to any cloud.
Try CheckYourVibe Free