VM security & operations
AWS Nitro Enclaves / AMD SEV-SNP on Amazon EC2 vs Azure confidential computing (confidential VMs & enclaves)
AWS Nitro Enclaves and AMD SEV-SNP on EC2 map to Azure confidential computing (confidential VMs and SGX application enclaves).
Azure has a broader confidential VM lineup; AWS relies more on its Nitro System isolation plus enclaves.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Nitro Enclaves AMD SEV-SNP on Amazon EC2 | Azure confidential computing (confidential VMs & enclaves) |
| Lifecycle | Generally available Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Isolated, hardened VMs carved out of an EC2 instance's vCPUs and memory, with no network, storage, or interactive access. Attestation integrates with AWS KMS. Memory encryption and attestation with AMD SEV-SNP on supported AMD-based instance types (M6a, C6a, and R6a at the time of verification), for shared tenancy or Dedicated Hosts. | Confidential VMs use AMD SEV-SNP (DCasv5/v6, ECasv5/v6) or Intel TDX (DCesv6, ECesv6), plus H100 confidential GPUs. Azure Attestation and confidential OS disk encryption are available, and Intel SGX application enclaves are offered too. |
| Pricing model | There's no extra charge for Nitro Enclaves or SEV-SNP. You pay for the parent instance. | Confidential VM sizes have their own per-hour prices, plus a small charge for the VM guest state disk. |
| Docs | AWS Nitro Enclaves docs AMD SEV-SNP on Amazon EC2 docs | Azure confidential computing (confidential VMs & enclaves) docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Nitro Enclaves pricing AMD SEV-SNP on Amazon EC2 pricing | Azure confidential computing (confidential VMs & enclaves) pricing |
| Exams | SCS-C03 | SC-500 AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Whole-VM. Azure confidential VMs support AMD SEV-SNP (DCasv5/v6, ECasv5/v6) and Intel TDX (DCesv6, ECesv6), plus H100 confidential GPUs, with confidential OS-disk encryption and Azure Attestation. EC2 supports SEV-SNP on a smaller set of AMD types (M6a, C6a, R6a at verification).
- Enclaves. Nitro Enclaves split vCPUs and memory off a parent instance into a hardened VM with no network, storage, or shell, and integrate attestation with AWS KMS key policies. Azure's application-enclave option is Intel SGX.
- Baseline. AWS states that the Nitro System prevents operator access and that memory is always encrypted on recent processors. Azure positions confidential VMs and Trusted Launch as separate tiers.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- There's no extra charge for Nitro Enclaves or SEV-SNP. You pay for the parent instance. AWS Nitro Enclaves pricing → AMD SEV-SNP on Amazon EC2 pricing →
- Azure
- Confidential VM sizes have their own per-hour prices, plus a small charge for the VM guest state disk. Azure confidential computing (confidential VMs & enclaves) 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. |
| 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. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 | Azure | Expert | current English version updated Apr 17, 2026. |
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 Nitro Enclaves and AMD SEV-SNP on Amazon EC2?
AWS Nitro Enclaves and AMD SEV-SNP on EC2 map to Azure confidential computing (confidential VMs and SGX application enclaves). Azure has a broader confidential VM lineup; AWS relies more on its Nitro System isolation plus enclaves.
How does pricing compare between AWS Nitro Enclaves and AMD SEV-SNP on Amazon EC2 and Azure confidential computing (confidential VMs & enclaves)?
AWS: There's no extra charge for Nitro Enclaves or SEV-SNP. You pay for the parent instance. Azure: Confidential VM sizes have their own per-hour prices, plus a small charge for the VM guest state disk. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03); Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500); Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).