Identity & access management
AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) vs Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC)
Microsoft maps AWS Resource Access Manager to Azure RBAC.
Because Azure subscriptions share one Entra tenant, you usually share by granting roles on a resource, rather than by creating resource shares.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) | Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC) |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Shares resources such as subnets, transit gateways, Resolver rules, and license configurations across accounts or the whole organization. | Authorizes access to Azure resources by assigning built-in or custom roles to Entra principals at management group, subscription, resource group, or resource scope, with deny assignments and ABAC conditions. |
| Pricing model | Free. | Free. |
| Docs | AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) docs | Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC) docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) pricing | Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC) pricing |
| Exams | SAP-C02 Retiring ANS-C01 Retiring | AZ-104 AZ-305 |
Key differences
- On AWS, accounts are hard boundaries, so RAM explicitly shares subnets, transit gateways, and similar resources. On Azure, cross-subscription access works through role assignments in the same tenant, and some services have their own sharing (for example, Azure Compute Gallery or virtual network peering).
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional SAP-C02 | AWS | Professional | retiring Being updated to SAP-C03. Registration for SAP-C03 opens Oct 27, 2026. Last day to take SAP-C02 is Nov 16, 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 Administrator Associate AZ-104 | 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 Resource Access Manager (RAM)?
Microsoft maps AWS Resource Access Manager to Azure RBAC. Because Azure subscriptions share one Entra tenant, you usually share by granting roles on a resource, rather than by creating resource shares.
How does pricing compare between AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) and Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC)?
AWS: Free. Azure: Free. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) [retiring]; AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (ANS-C01) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104); Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).