Private access to services
AWS PrivateLink (interface endpoints) vs Azure Private Link and private endpoints
AWS PrivateLink (interface VPC endpoints and endpoint services) maps to Azure Private Link (private endpoints and Private Link services).
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS PrivateLink (interface endpoints) | Azure Private Link and private endpoints |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Private access to AWS services, your own endpoint services, and partner services through elastic network interfaces in your subnets. | Private endpoints place a private IP for an Azure PaaS resource, partner service, or your own Private Link service inside your virtual network. |
| Pricing model | Per endpoint per AZ-hour plus per GB processed. | Per private endpoint-hour plus per GB inbound and outbound. |
| Docs | AWS PrivateLink (interface endpoints) docs | Azure Private Link and private endpoints docs |
| Pricing page | AWS PrivateLink (interface endpoints) pricing | Azure Private Link and private endpoints pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 ANS-C01 Retiring SCS-C03 | AZ-104 AZ-700 AZ-305 |
Key differences
- DNS. AWS interface endpoints can turn on private DNS for the service's default name automatically. Azure private endpoints usually rely on Azure Private DNS zones (privatelink.* zones) linked to the virtual network, often managed centrally with Azure Policy.
- Granularity. An Azure private endpoint maps to one specific resource instance (for example, one storage account). Many AWS interface endpoints map to a whole service in a Region, controlled with endpoint policies.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per endpoint per AZ-hour plus per GB processed. AWS PrivateLink (interface endpoints) pricing →
- Azure
- Per private endpoint-hour plus per GB inbound and outbound. Azure Private Link and private endpoints 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. |
| 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 Administrator Associate AZ-104 | Azure | Associate | current |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate AZ-700 | Azure | Associate | current |
| 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 PrivateLink (interface endpoints)?
AWS PrivateLink (interface VPC endpoints and endpoint services) maps to Azure Private Link (private endpoints and Private Link services).
How does pricing compare between AWS PrivateLink (interface endpoints) and Azure Private Link and private endpoints?
AWS: Per endpoint per AZ-hour plus per GB processed. Azure: Per private endpoint-hour plus per GB inbound and outbound. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (ANS-C01) [retiring]; AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104); Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700); Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).