Object access, file access & analytics
Amazon S3 Inventory and S3 Metadata vs Blob inventory and change feed
S3 Inventory maps directly to Azure blob inventory.
S3 Metadata (queryable Iceberg tables of object metadata) maps only partly to the Blob change feed, which logs changes but isn't a queryable table.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon S3 Inventory and S3 Metadata | Blob inventory and change feed |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | S3 Inventory delivers scheduled CSV, ORC, or Parquet object listings. S3 Metadata keeps queryable Iceberg journal and live-inventory tables of object metadata in S3 Tables. | Blob inventory produces scheduled CSV or Parquet reports of blobs, versions, snapshots, and containers. Change feed is an ordered, durable log of create, update, and delete events kept in the account. |
| Pricing model | Inventory is billed per million objects listed. Metadata adds per-update charges plus S3 Tables storage. | Inventory is billed per million objects scanned. Change feed is billed per change event recorded, plus storage. |
| Docs | Amazon S3 Inventory and S3 Metadata docs | Blob inventory and change feed docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon S3 Inventory and S3 Metadata pricing | Blob inventory and change feed pricing |
| Exams | SOA-C03 | AZ-104 |
Key differences
- Formats. S3 Inventory writes CSV, ORC, or Parquet. Blob inventory writes CSV or Parquet. Both run daily or weekly.
- Live metadata. S3 Metadata keeps journal and live inventory tables in S3 Tables that you query with SQL. On Azure, you process change feed logs yourself (for example, with Spark) to get a similar view.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Inventory is billed per million objects listed. Metadata adds per-update charges plus S3 Tables storage. Amazon S3 Inventory and S3 Metadata pricing →
- Azure
- Inventory is billed per million objects scanned. Change feed is billed per change event recorded, plus storage. Blob inventory and change feed pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate SOA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Replaces AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate (SOA-C02), whose last exam day was Sep 29, 2025. Simplified Chinese and Korean versions retire after Nov 19, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 | 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 Amazon S3 Inventory and S3 Metadata?
S3 Inventory maps directly to Azure blob inventory. S3 Metadata (queryable Iceberg tables of object metadata) maps only partly to the Blob change feed, which logs changes but isn't a queryable table.
How does pricing compare between Amazon S3 Inventory and S3 Metadata and Blob inventory and change feed?
AWS: Inventory is billed per million objects listed. Metadata adds per-update charges plus S3 Tables storage. Azure: Inventory is billed per million objects scanned. Change feed is billed per change event recorded, plus storage. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate (SOA-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104).