Hybrid storage gateways
AWS Storage Gateway – Volume Gateway vs StorSimple
Azure has no current equivalent of AWS Storage Gateway Volume Gateway.
Microsoft's comparison lists "None", and StorSimple, Azure's former hybrid storage array, has reached end of support.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Storage Gateway – Volume Gateway | StorSimple Retired |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | StorSimple 8000 and 1200 devices, Device Manager, and Data Manager have all reached end of support. |
| What it is | Cloud-backed iSCSI volumes for on-premises servers, either cached (primary data in S3, hot data local) or stored (all data local, with snapshots to AWS as EBS snapshots). | Hybrid storage arrays and virtual arrays that tiered on-premises volumes and shares to Azure Storage. |
| Pricing model | Per GB written to AWS (capped monthly per gateway), plus volume storage and EBS snapshots. | Not applicable. |
| Docs | AWS Storage Gateway – Volume Gateway docs | StorSimple docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Storage Gateway – Volume Gateway pricing | StorSimple pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 SAP-C02 Retiring | AZ-305 |
Key differences
- On Azure, the usual alternatives are Azure Backup for on-premises servers, Azure Site Recovery for replication into Azure, or Azure Local with its own storage.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per GB written to AWS (capped monthly per gateway), plus volume storage and EBS snapshots. AWS Storage Gateway – Volume Gateway pricing →
- Azure
- Not applicable. StorSimple 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 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. |
| 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
Does Azure have an equivalent to AWS Storage Gateway – Volume Gateway?
Azure has no current equivalent of AWS Storage Gateway Volume Gateway. Microsoft's comparison lists "None", and StorSimple, Azure's former hybrid storage array, has reached end of support.
How does pricing compare between AWS Storage Gateway – Volume Gateway and StorSimple?
AWS: Per GB written to AWS (capped monthly per gateway), plus volume storage and EBS snapshots. Azure: Not applicable. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).