Network security & firewalls
AWS Shield (Standard and Advanced) vs Azure DDoS Protection
AWS Shield maps to Azure DDoS Protection.
Both include free, always-on baseline protection (Shield Standard and Azure infrastructure DDoS protection) and a paid tier (Shield Advanced, and DDoS Network Protection or IP Protection).
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Shield (Standard and Advanced) | Azure DDoS Protection |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | DDoS protection. Shield Standard is automatic and free. Shield Advanced adds protection for specific resources, the Shield Response Team, cost protection, and attack visibility. | Infrastructure DDoS protection is free and automatic. Paid DDoS Network Protection (priced per 100 protected public IPs) and DDoS IP Protection (per protected IP) add tuned mitigation, telemetry, and alerts. Network Protection also adds rapid response support, cost protection, and a WAF discount. |
| Pricing model | Shield Standard is free. Shield Advanced is a monthly fee plus data transfer usage fees. | Infrastructure protection is free. Network Protection is a monthly fee (covering up to 100 IPs, with overage per IP), and IP Protection is per IP per month. |
| Docs | AWS Shield (Standard and Advanced) docs | Azure DDoS Protection docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Shield (Standard and Advanced) pricing | Azure DDoS Protection pricing |
| Exams | SCS-C03 SAA-C03 | AZ-700 SC-500 |
Key differences
- Billing. Shield Advanced is a monthly subscription per organization (one-year commitment) plus data transfer out. DDoS Network Protection is a monthly price covering up to 100 public IPs, and DDoS IP Protection is priced per protected IP.
- Extras. Shield Advanced and DDoS Network Protection both include rapid response and cost protection. DDoS IP Protection doesn't.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Shield Standard is free. Shield Advanced is a monthly fee plus data transfer usage fees. AWS Shield (Standard and Advanced) pricing →
- Azure
- Infrastructure protection is free. Network Protection is a monthly fee (covering up to 100 IPs, with overage per IP), and IP Protection is per IP per month. Azure DDoS Protection 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 Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Italian version retires after Dec 31, 2026. |
| 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 Shield (Standard and Advanced)?
AWS Shield maps to Azure DDoS Protection. Both include free, always-on baseline protection (Shield Standard and Azure infrastructure DDoS protection) and a paid tier (Shield Advanced, and DDoS Network Protection or IP Protection).
How does pricing compare between AWS Shield (Standard and Advanced) and Azure DDoS Protection?
AWS: Shield Standard is free. Shield Advanced is a monthly fee plus data transfer usage fees. Azure: Infrastructure protection is free. Network Protection is a monthly fee (covering up to 100 IPs, with overage per IP), and IP Protection is per IP per month. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03); AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700); Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500).