Block storage
Amazon EC2 instance store vs VM temporary disks, local NVMe, and ephemeral OS disks
EC2 instance store maps to Azure VM temporary disks and local NVMe disks.
Azure can also put the OS disk itself on local storage (ephemeral OS disks), which helps stateless scale sets.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon EC2 instance store | VM temporary disks, local NVMe, and ephemeral OS disks |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Physically attached local disks (often NVMe SSD) on some instance types. Included in the instance price, and the data is lost when the instance stops, hibernates, or terminates. | Many VM sizes include a temporary disk or local NVMe drives at no extra charge, whose data isn't preserved across deallocation or host moves. Ephemeral OS disks put the OS disk on that local storage for stateless VMs and scale sets. |
| Pricing model | Included in the instance price. | Included in the VM price. Ephemeral OS disks have no storage charge. |
| Docs | Amazon EC2 instance store docs | VM temporary disks, local NVMe, and ephemeral OS disks docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon EC2 instance store pricing | VM temporary disks, local NVMe, and ephemeral OS disks pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 | AZ-104 |
Key differences
- Data loss. Instance store data is lost on stop, hibernate, or terminate (it survives reboots). Azure temp and local NVMe data is lost when the VM is deallocated or moved to another host.
- OS disk. Ephemeral OS disks are a current Azure feature, with partial (default) or full caching and fast reimage. On EC2, boot volumes are normally EBS.
- Availability. Both depend on the instance or VM size. Many newer Azure sizes come in versions without a temp disk, and some offer local NVMe instead.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Included in the instance price. Amazon EC2 instance store pricing →
- Azure
- Included in the VM price. Ephemeral OS disks have no storage charge. VM temporary disks, local NVMe, and ephemeral OS disks pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Italian version retires after Dec 31, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 | Azure | Associate | current |
Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Amazon EC2 instance store?
EC2 instance store maps to Azure VM temporary disks and local NVMe disks. Azure can also put the OS disk itself on local storage (ephemeral OS disks), which helps stateless scale sets.
How does pricing compare between Amazon EC2 instance store and VM temporary disks, local NVMe, and ephemeral OS disks?
AWS: Included in the instance price. Azure: Included in the VM price. Ephemeral OS disks have no storage charge. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104).