DevSecOops podcast hosts Tom Walker, James Vincent, and Scott Fletcher debate which cloud platform reigns supreme. Choosing between major cloud providers can get overwhelming. The three Co-Hosts set aside their usual neutrality to champion AWS (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), diving deep into what each brings to the table and where they fall short.

So let’s take a look at who rules the roost?

1. Developer Experience

Developed community, Tools, and Ecosystem is a leading indicator on what makes a better cloud platform. Kicking things off, Scott (speaking for Oracle) acknowledged OCI’s powerful, standards based tools for Java and enterprise applications but admitted its smaller developer community in Australia is a limiting factor.

James, championing AWS, recapped how Amazon’s early developer focus created a rich ecosystem, though it took time to gain trust from large enterprises. Tom, advocating for Azure, cited superior .NET integration, seamless onboarding, and the value of Microsoft’s end-to-end ecosystem for teams already heavily invested in the Microsoft stack.

2. Engineering & Infrastructure

James credited AWS with democratising advanced compute but pointed out persistent gaps in operational tools for complex enterprise needs. Tom made the case for Azure’s strength in hybrid cloud management, with Azure Arc allowing businesses to manage both on-premises and cloud resources seamlessly. Scott praised OCI for simplifying enterprise networking and reducing complexity but noted Oracle’s hybrid cloud features are less prominent locally than competitors.

3. Security

Oracle was lauded for making strict security controls and threat intelligence ‘on by default’ while AWS and Azure rely on costly add-ons and enterprise licensing. The DevSecOops show hosts agreed that while cloud-native security has improved dramatically, many enterprises still turn to third-party tools to fill the gaps. Tom acknowledged the high value of Microsoft’s Defender suite but conceded its advanced features are often locked behind additional paywalls.

4. Business Integration and Vendor Culture

All three hosts agreed the choice isn’t just technical. Azure’s integration with Office 365, Power Apps, and Microsoft’s SaaS offerings gives it a strong advantage for organisations already inside the Microsoft ecosystem. AWS, meanwhile, excels at empowering partners and industry verticals, but lacks the business application layer Microsoft offers. Oracle remains the gold standard for businesses running mission-critical databases and legacy applications, but faces perception and adoption challenges in smaller enterprises. Vendor support, cost transparency, and cultural fit also proved deciding factors, with the hosts noting major differences in responsiveness and approach between providers.

5. General Consensus

As we know the saying, that no one size fits all solution. All the major providers are viable, and each excels in different areas. The right choice depends on an organisation’s existing skillset, business goals, and appetite for either cloud-native or hybrid approaches. “There is no right or wrong answer,” the hosts concluded the importance of matching a provider’s strengths to specific business needs, rather than chasing the latest trend or feature.

Whether it’s AWS’s breadth, Azure’s ecosystem, or Oracle’s security-first approach, making the right cloud choice means knowing your business, your people, and where you want to go…not just which provider shouts the loudest. Companies need to focus on fit, not hype.