Best Cloud Computing deals

{"intro":"Choosing a cloud provider depends on your workload type, existing tooling, and compliance needs. The three major hyperscalers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) dominate, but smaller providers and specialized services can offer better pricing or features for specific use cases. Match the service model (IaaS, PaaS, serverless) to your team's operational capacity.","criteria":[{"title":"Service Model Fit","body":"Decide whether you need raw infrastructure (IaaS), managed platforms (PaaS), or serverless functions. Higher-level services reduce ops work but add vendor lock-in and per-execution costs."},{"title":"Pricing Structure","body":"Compare on-demand rates, reserved/committed-use discounts, and free tier limits. Data egress, API calls, and idle resources are common hidden costs that can dominate bills."},{"title":"Region & Compliance","body":"Check available data center regions for latency and data residency. Verify certifications like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR support if your industry requires them."}],"pricingReality":"Most providers offer pay-as-you-go with credits for new users (e.g., $300 free for 90 days on GCP, similar AWS Activate tiers). Committed-use plans can cut costs 30-70% for predictable workloads, but overcommitting is a common mistake."}