Software · head to head
AWS GovCloud vs Azure Government
The short version
- Each has a real cost: AWS GovCloud access is restricted to vetted US entities, with account holders screened for US citizenship or permanent residency; Azure Government restricted to US government entities, their solution providers and contractors handling government data, with Microsoft validating eligibility first
- They diverge on capability: AWS GovCloud covers ITAR Compliant, Azure Government covers DOD IL5 Approved.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AWS GovCloud and Azure Government actually diverge.
| Attribute | AWS GovCloud | Azure Government |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 1975 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Cli, Sdk), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in AWS GovCloud
- ITAR Compliant
- DOD SRG Levels
- Isolated Infrastructure
- Full AWS Services
- Third-party Tools
- Government Systems
- Security Tools
Only in Azure Government
- DOD IL5 Approved
- Isolated Datacenters
- Hybrid Cloud
- AI & ML Services
- Microsoft 365
- Dynamics 365
- Power Platform
Both cover
- FedRAMP High Authorized
- Web support
- Cli support
- Sdk support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
AWS GovCloud
- Hosting controlled unclassified information for US federal agenciesnot Azure Government
- Workloads requiring FedRAMP High, ITAR or DFARS compliancenot Azure Government
- Defence and public sector systems needing US-person operationnot Azure Government
- Regulated contractors handling government datanot Azure Government
Azure Government
- Hosting US government workloads in dedicated domestic datacentresnot AWS GovCloud
- Systems needing FedRAMP High, DoD IL2 to IL5, CJIS or ITAR authorisationnot AWS GovCloud
- State, local and tribal government cloud servicesnot AWS GovCloud
- Contractors processing controlled government datanot AWS GovCloud
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
AWS GovCloud
- Access is restricted to vetted US entities, with account holders screened for US citizenship or permanent residency
- Separate IAM, console, CLI and APIs from commercial AWS, so accounts and tooling do not carry across
- Not every AWS service is available in the two GovCloud regions
- Pricing is not published on the product page
Azure Government
- Restricted to US government entities, their solution providers and contractors handling government data, with Microsoft validating eligibility first
- A narrower service catalogue than commercial Azure
- New features arrive later than in the commercial regions
- Pricing is not published and runs through federal contract vehicles such as JWCC, GSA and NASA SEWP
Pricing, plan by plan
AWS GovCloud
On request- Pay-as-you-goFree
- Compute
- Storage
- Database
Azure Government
On request- Pay-as-you-goFree
- Virtual Machines
- Azure SQL
- Storage
Which should you pick?
Choose AWS GovCloud if
- You need itar compliant.
- You work on Web, Cli, Sdk.
- You also want dod srg levels.
Choose Azure Government if
- You need dod il5 approved.
- You work on Web, Cli, Sdk.
- You also want isolated datacenters.
Questions people ask
- Is AWS GovCloud or Azure Government better?
- Neither clearly leads. AWS GovCloud starts at On request and Azure Government at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AWS GovCloud or Azure Government?
- AWS GovCloud starts at On request and Azure Government at On request.
- Does AWS GovCloud or Azure Government run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Cli, Sdk, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is AWS GovCloud best used for?
- AWS GovCloud is most often used for hosting controlled unclassified information for us federal agencies, workloads requiring fedramp high, itar or dfars compliance, defence and public sector systems needing us-person operation, regulated contractors handling government data. Of those, hosting controlled unclassified information for us federal agencies and workloads requiring fedramp high, itar or dfars compliance are not what Azure Government is typically brought in for.
- What can AWS GovCloud do that Azure Government cannot?
- AWS GovCloud covers ITAR Compliant, DOD SRG Levels, Isolated Infrastructure, Full AWS Services. Azure Government covers DOD IL5 Approved, Isolated Datacenters, Hybrid Cloud, AI & ML Services. Both handle FedRAMP High Authorized, Web support, Cli support, Sdk support.