AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud Networking Services: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Key takeaways

• All three clouds provide private networks, load balancers, DNS, VPN, dedicated links, private service access and firewalls.
• Names differ, concepts match. Learn one cloud, then map the rest.
• Notable difference: a Google Cloud VPC is global, while AWS VPCs and Azure VNets are regional.
• Choose by your existing stack, skills, hybrid needs and cost model, not by feature lists.
• Always check each provider's current documentation and pricing pages.

What is cloud networking?

Cloud networking means building and connecting networks with software inside a cloud provider: private address ranges, subnets, routes, firewalls, load balancers, DNS and links back to your office or data centre. Instead of racking routers, you create these through consoles, command lines or code. The ideas, such as CIDR ranges, routing and security rules, stay the same as in traditional networking, so a CCNA-level foundation helps a lot.

How do the services map across the three clouds?

Product names and bundles change, so use this as a map and check each provider's documentation: AWS, Microsoft Learn and Google Cloud.

What design differences matter most?

• Scope of the network: in Google Cloud, a VPC is a global resource with regional subnets. In AWS and Azure, the virtual network is tied to a region, so connecting regions needs peering or a hub service.
• Security rule model: AWS security groups are stateful and attach to network interfaces, while NACLs are stateless at the subnet. Azure uses NSGs that can attach to subnets or interfaces. Google firewall rules apply by network tags or service accounts.
• Load balancer families: AWS splits by layer (ALB for HTTP, NLB for TCP and UDP). Azure separates Layer 4 and Layer 7 and global entry services. Google offers global external load balancing as a single anycast front end.
• Hybrid connectivity: all three support VPN and dedicated links, and the choice depends on your carrier options and bandwidth needs.

How do you choose?

1. Start with where your workloads and skills already are. Moving networking between clouds is costly.
2. List the must-have connections: office VPN, dedicated link, other clouds, partners.
3. Check data transfer pricing between zones, regions and out to the internet. It often drives the bill more than the services themselves.
4. Test on a small project with real traffic patterns.
5. Use infrastructure as code, such as Terraform, so networks are reviewable and repeatable.

It is common to use more than one cloud. In that case, plan non-overlapping IP ranges from day one.

Common mistakes

• Overlapping CIDR ranges between VPCs, VNets and on-premises, which blocks peering later.
• Opening security rules to 0.0.0.0/0 "temporarily".
• Ignoring data egress costs in the design.
• Putting everything in one flat subnet.

Next steps

Read what a VPC is and how it secures cloud networking and how cloud load balancing works. To learn hands-on, see our AWS Solutions Architect course or the Azure administrator course.

Related reading

• What is Cloud-Native Network Design and Why Is It Essential for IT Architects in 2026?
• Which Cloud Provider is Best? Comparing AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud for Performance, Security, and Cost