By KYN AI Advisory Team — AI implementation specialists, Singapore
For a Singapore business moving off on-premise servers or a tangle of hosted tools, the AWS or Azure decision is usually settled by two things: what the team already runs, and who will operate the account afterwards. This comparison covers the points that change the decision for an SME and leaves out the ones that only matter at enterprise scale.
Do AWS and Azure both have a region in Singapore?
Yes. AWS runs the Asia Pacific (Singapore) region, named ap-southeast-1. Microsoft runs the Southeast Asia region in Singapore. Google Cloud runs asia-southeast1 in Singapore as well. For data that must stay in Singapore under a contract or a regulator's expectation, all three can keep it here. Latency to users in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia is similar across the three.
The practical difference is not the region. It is which services you will use inside it.
When does Azure fit better than AWS?
When the business already runs on Microsoft 365. Identity through Entra ID, files in SharePoint and OneDrive, mail in Exchange Online. Azure reuses the same tenant and the same logins. A finance team that lives in Excel and Teams will find Azure's single sign-on and permissions model arrives already set up.
Azure also fits when the systems being migrated are Windows Server and SQL Server workloads. Licensing terms for moving existing Windows and SQL licences to Azure are more favourable than for moving them elsewhere.
When does AWS fit better than Azure?
When the systems are built in code by a technical team, or will be. AWS has the broadest set of managed services for application builders, the largest pool of engineers who know it in Southeast Asia, and the most documentation for any given problem. If you are hiring developers or working with an agency that writes code, AWS is the default they will know.
AWS also fits when the migration is a rebuild rather than a lift. Moving a legacy ERP as-is is a different project from replacing it with a system built on managed databases and serverless functions. For the second kind, AWS's tooling is mature.
What about Google Cloud?
Google Cloud is the third option and the right one for some SMEs, especially those on Google Workspace or building data-heavy products. KYN has built client systems on Google Cloud, including a finance product on Cloud Run with Cloud SQL and Document AI. The decision rule is the same: match the cloud to what the team already uses and who will operate it.
How do the pricing models differ for an SME?
Both AWS and Azure charge per unit of use: compute hours, storage, data transferred out, database capacity. Both offer committed-use discounts in exchange for a one or three year term. Both charge for data leaving their network, which is the cost that surprises SMEs most.
The honest answer is that for a single SME workload the monthly bill is close on either cloud. The bill is driven by architecture decisions, not by the logo. A system that runs on managed, scale-to-zero services costs little when idle. A system lifted onto always-on virtual machines costs the same at 3 am as at 3 pm. KYN's own systems run at S$0 to 60 a month per system in hosting at October 2026 prices, because they are built on the first pattern.
What if you need hybrid, with some systems staying on-premise?
Both clouds support it. Azure's hybrid story is the more developed for Windows estates: Azure Arc manages on-premise servers from the Azure portal, and ExpressRoute gives a private link. AWS offers Outposts for on-premise AWS hardware and Direct Connect for private links.
For most SMEs, hybrid is a transition state rather than a destination. A factory floor system that cannot leave the site, a legacy database that will be retired next year. Plan for hybrid as a phase with an end date, and choose the cloud by where the systems will end up.
Who should own the cloud account?
You should. Whichever cloud you choose, the account must be in your company's name, with billing to your card and the root credentials held by someone on your staff. The agency or consultant works inside it with access you can revoke.
This matters more than the AWS or Azure choice. A migration into an agency's account is a migration you will have to do twice. KYN's [infrastructure builds](/infrastructure) run in the client's account from the first day.
How did one manufacturer decide?
A fabrication manufacturer we worked with ran eleven systems, none owned by a technical team, with staff working around them in spreadsheets on personal accounts. We inventoried what was actually in use, agreed a target of three systems, and rebuilt them under the company's own cloud account. The cloud choice followed the team: the systems were built in code, so the stack was chosen for managed services and for the engineers who would maintain it. The [cloud migration cost and steps guide](/blog/cloud-migration-singapore-cost-and-steps) describes the four steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS or Azure cheaper for a Singapore SME?
For a single workload the bills are close. Cost is set by architecture: scale-to-zero managed services cost little when idle, always-on virtual machines cost the same around the clock. Data leaving the cloud is charged on both.
Can data stay in Singapore on AWS and Azure?
Yes. AWS has the Asia Pacific (Singapore) region and Azure has the Southeast Asia region in Singapore. Choose the Singapore region when creating resources and data at rest stays here.
Should a Microsoft 365 business choose Azure?
Usually. Identity, files and mail are already in the Microsoft tenant, so Azure arrives with logins and permissions in place. If the systems being built are custom code maintained by developers, AWS or Google Cloud may still fit better.
Who should hold the AWS or Azure account?
The business, in its own name, with root credentials held by staff. Consultants and agencies work inside the account with revocable access.
Checked October 2026.
Related reading
- [Cloud migration in Singapore: cost and steps](/blog/cloud-migration-singapore-cost-and-steps)
- [AWS migration for Singapore SMEs](/blog/aws-migration-for-singapore-smes)
- [Infrastructure: one stack under your own account](/infrastructure)
Sources
- AWS global infrastructure, regions and availability zones: https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/regions_az/
- Microsoft Azure geographies: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/explore/global-infrastructure/geographies/
- Google Cloud locations: https://cloud.google.com/about/locations
Curious whether Marketing agents fits your business? Talk to KYN on WhatsApp — no forms, just a conversation.