Cloud

Navigating the 2025 Cloud Wars: AWS, GCP, Azure, and Private Cloud

May 20, 2025

By Koby Phillips, VP of Cloud Practice, Telarus

Today we’re diving deep into the heart of the cloud wars, and looking at the three market leaders: AWS, GCP (Google Cloud Platform), and Azure. These titans are locked in a fierce battle for dominance, each wielding powerful weapons in their quest for market share. As a technology advisor, you have a big opportunity to help clients navigate this complex landscape and find the right solutions. So it’s important to have a solid understanding of their pros and cons.

Read ahead for my take on AWS, GCP, Azure, and the resurgence of private cloud.

AWS: The Goliath

AWS is the granddaddy of them all boasting the most comprehensive suite of services, a massive global infrastructure, and a loyal customer base.

GCP: The Underdog (with a Serious Bite)

GCP is known for its cutting-edge technology, particularly in areas like data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Azure: The Challenger

Microsoft Azure offers deep enterprise relationships and is an extension of the Microsoft ecosystem—making it fast and easy to deploy.

Enter Private Cloud: The Unsung Hero

Now, let’s not forget our trusty steed: private cloud, which offers plenty of flexibility, but with tighter access control and security resources than public cloud.

Private cloud is making a big comeback as organizations plan for AI, with IDC predicting that global spending on private, dedicated services 🡥 will more than double by 2027. In addition, organizations are increasingly embracing the best of both worlds: Hybrid models that leverage the agility and innovation of public cloud for burstable workloads, while relying on the security and control of private cloud for mission-critical applications.

The Bottom Line: There’s No One-Size-Fits-All

When it comes to cloud adoption, it’s impossible to say that one service is better than another. In fact, the best cloud strategy often involves a multi-cloud or hybrid approach, leveraging the strengths of different providers and deployment models.

That said, many business and technology leaders are struggling to keep up with the changing cloud landscape—and this is where you come in.

As technology advisors, your role is to help customers make informed choices and deliver optimal outcomes. This can be achieved through:

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many points to consider when selecting a cloud platform. And the rapidly evolving cloud landscape doesn’t make things any easier for IT decision-makers. Companies are also increasingly using AI to improve security, automate routine tasks, and streamline deployments.

This is certainly an exciting time to be a technology advisor. Stay informed, stay curious, and let’s continue to guide our clients towards success in this fast-changing market.

When in doubt, lean on the Telarus Cloud Practice Team—we’ve got you.

Ready for more learning? Check out this recent HITT session on Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions!