AWS vs GoogleCloud vs DigitalOcean - Which Cloud to Choose?

Question

Amazon Web Services

Hi all!
There is a growing startup that is currently hosted on a regular VPS.
Required:
- transfer the database (MySQL) to the cloud;
- file storage in S3-compatible object storage;
- as well as in the near future to be divided into microservices (docker + k8s).

Q: Which cloud provider should I choose: AWS, GoogleCloud or DigitalOcean?
How reliable is DigitalOcean?
How confusing are AWS and GoogleCloud?
I would like to know your personal experience, and the experience of your friends. Well, in general, any pros and cons.

Question 2: If you don't like the chosen provider, how difficult will it be to move and transfer terabytes of data from one provider to another?
How are huge databases migrated in general?

Thank you!

Answer 1

So, for starters, DigitalOcean is NOT a CLOUD. It's just a collection of related services. Logging in to DigitalOcean is very easy, and logging out too, everything is clear and transparent, but there is not even horizontal scaling. These are the same slightly pumped VPS-ki.
Now for everything else. There is the golden trinity of AWS/Azure/GCP, but other rules come into play here.

1. It is worth paying attention to the fact that they really need to learn and it takes time. To make a decision, not a craft and not fly into the money, a month is not enough, because there are a lot of things.
   
2. I can say that moving from one cloud to another is possible under two conditions: you use only basic services (like virtual machines, databases, S3) and you have 2 architects with a strong understanding of these clouds
   
3. Two architects because I don't know any such person who has spent enough energy and delved deep into several clouds at once. I was there everywhere and as a result I settled on AWS anyway, although Azure and GCP have their advantages.
   
4. About services - going to the cloud and not using the special services and features of this cloud is expensive and stupid
   
5. And the most interesting thing is that it is easier to do and migrate a project than to train people and change approaches to pricing
   
6. Migration to and from the cloud is not done at the click of a finger, especially if there is a lot of data
   

On AWS, I can share guides on how to go there, and they also have a very clear Cloud Migration section with documentation. If we compare these clouds then:

• AWS - serverless, cutting-edge solutions, transparent infrastructure
  
• Azure - an ecosystem from MS, wonderful CosmosDB (but it's more about prices)
  
• GCP - Global Resources, BigData
  

At the same time, most of these features in one form or another are in other clouds.
And a small note on k8s. If you are not going to the GCP then you do not need it. AWS and Azure have made it so that you can conveniently drive it there, but it will be more expensive. The same AWS ECS + Fargate is much more convenient and I don’t know those System Engeneers who voluntarily switched from this to k8s

Answer 2

1. As with any choice - you need to make a list of requirements / criteria, and compare how each product satisfies them.
If k8s - I would choose GCP, where managed k8s is the most advanced and stable.
AWS is the most popular, so it's easier to find a specialist.
2.

transfer of terabytes of data from one provider to another

- this is just the easiest.
Transferring a "live" system is always a difficult task. The more complex the system and the greater the load, the more interesting :-)

Answer 3

In principle, moving terabytes is not so difficult. It is much more difficult to prepare for the move.
I know a case when an oil company tested a provider for three months before moving to him. Migration, by the way, took 4 working days.
AWS seems too confusing to me. Personal dislike directly to him. It seems that there is documentation, and that's it. But he's kind of dull. And you'll get bored with the support, if something happens. DigitalOcean was discussed above. Maybe try one of ours? Reviews slipped on Habré .

Answer 4

I think, like any startup, you first of all need to solve business problems and increase your user base.
Cloud providers have special programs for startups. If you are already cooperating with a business accelerator, you can learn more from them.
AWS has an AWS Activate program https://aws.amazon.com/en/activate/ I can share the contacts of AWS Solution Architect for Startups.
GCP and Azure also have their own programs. Whoever gives you more goodies, that is dad ...
At first, I would try to do everything in serverless as much as possible.
Why do you need K8s? This is unnecessary complexity for your 10-100 containers. Your startup is not in the administration of the cuber.
For containers, there are simpler AWS ECS, Fargate, Azure Container Service (ACS) services.
I just need to practice terraforming, I'm ready to help.
Cart @Shtir33