Load balancing
Gateway Load Balancer vs Azure Gateway Load Balancer
Gateway Load Balancer maps to Azure Gateway Load Balancer.
Both transparently steer traffic through a pool of virtual appliances using encapsulation.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Gateway Load Balancer | Azure Gateway Load Balancer |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Transparently inserts fleets of third-party virtual appliances (firewalls, IDS) into traffic paths using GENEVE encapsulation and GWLB endpoints. | Chains network virtual appliances transparently in front of a Standard public load balancer or VM IP configuration, using VXLAN encapsulation. |
| Pricing model | Per GWLB-hour and GLCU-hour, plus GWLB endpoint-hours and data processed. | Billed like Standard Load Balancer (rules and data processed). |
| Docs | Gateway Load Balancer docs | Azure Gateway Load Balancer docs |
| Pricing page | Gateway Load Balancer pricing | Azure Gateway Load Balancer pricing |
| Exams | ANS-C01 Retiring SCS-C03 | AZ-700 |
Key differences
- Encapsulation. AWS uses GENEVE. Azure uses VXLAN.
- Insertion. AWS inserts appliances with Gateway Load Balancer endpoints in route tables. Azure chains the Gateway Load Balancer to a Standard public load balancer frontend or a VM's public IP configuration.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per GWLB-hour and GLCU-hour, plus GWLB endpoint-hours and data processed. Gateway Load Balancer pricing →
- Azure
- Billed like Standard Load Balancer (rules and data processed). Azure Gateway Load Balancer pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty ANS-C01 | AWS | Specialty | retiring The exam is being retired. The last day to take it is Dec 31, 2026. Existing certifications stay active for their three-year period. |
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty SCS-C03 | AWS | Specialty | current The current code (SCS-C03) is taken from the exam-prep link on the official certification page. Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America), and Portuguese (Brazil) versions retire after Dec 31, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate AZ-700 | 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 Gateway Load Balancer?
Gateway Load Balancer maps to Azure Gateway Load Balancer. Both transparently steer traffic through a pool of virtual appliances using encapsulation.
How does pricing compare between Gateway Load Balancer and Azure Gateway Load Balancer?
AWS: Per GWLB-hour and GLCU-hour, plus GWLB endpoint-hours and data processed. Azure: Billed like Standard Load Balancer (rules and data processed). Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (ANS-C01) [retiring]; AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700).