Network security & firewalls
AWS Network Firewall vs Azure Firewall
AWS Network Firewall maps to Azure Firewall.
Both are managed, stateful, autoscaling firewalls with domain filtering, threat intelligence, and intrusion prevention.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Network Firewall | Azure Firewall |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Managed, stateful network firewall and IPS for VPCs, with Suricata-compatible rules, domain filtering, TLS inspection, and AWS-managed threat signatures. | Managed, stateful, autoscaling network firewall in Basic, Standard, and Premium tiers, with FQDN filtering, threat intelligence, and (Premium) TLS inspection and IDPS. |
| Pricing model | Per firewall endpoint-hour plus per GB processed (and advanced inspection for TLS). | Per deployment-hour by tier plus per GB processed. |
| Docs | AWS Network Firewall docs | Azure Firewall docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Network Firewall pricing | Azure Firewall pricing |
| Exams | SCS-C03 ANS-C01 Retiring | AZ-700 SC-500 |
Key differences
- Rules. Network Firewall uses stateless rules plus Suricata-compatible stateful rules (and AWS-managed threat signatures). Azure Firewall uses network, application (FQDN), and DNAT rule collections in a firewall policy, with IDPS and TLS inspection in the Premium tier.
- Deployment. Network Firewall places endpoints in a subnet in each AZ, and you route traffic through them. Azure Firewall is deployed in a hub virtual network (or a secured Virtual WAN hub), with UDRs sending spoke traffic to it.
- Tiers. Azure Firewall comes in Basic (up to 250 Mbps), Standard, and Premium. Network Firewall has a single tier with optional features.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per firewall endpoint-hour plus per GB processed (and advanced inspection for TLS). AWS Network Firewall pricing →
- Azure
- Per deployment-hour by tier plus per GB processed. Azure Firewall pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate AZ-700 | Azure | Associate | current |
| Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate SC-500 | Azure | Associate | current New certification. A practice assessment isn't available yet, which the page says usually means the exam recently left (or is in) beta. |
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 AWS Network Firewall?
AWS Network Firewall maps to Azure Firewall. Both are managed, stateful, autoscaling firewalls with domain filtering, threat intelligence, and intrusion prevention.
How does pricing compare between AWS Network Firewall and Azure Firewall?
AWS: Per firewall endpoint-hour plus per GB processed (and advanced inspection for TLS). Azure: Per deployment-hour by tier plus per GB processed. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03); AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (ANS-C01) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700); Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500).