The cloud computing market is exploding in Switzerland and Europe. Companies are massively migrating their infrastructure to the cloud, creating unprecedented demand for qualified professionals. But between Azure and AWS, which certification should you prioritize to maximize your chances with IT recruiters? This question keeps coming up in French-speaking Swiss tech communities. The answer depends on many strategic factors. Here’s a complete breakdown to make the right choice in 2026.
Before comparing certifications, we need to understand the current landscape. The market is structured around three giants that share the majority of global infrastructure.
Amazon Web Services maintains its position as global leader with 31% market share according to Synergy Research Group (SRG Research). Microsoft Azure follows with 20% of the global market, showing the fastest growth. Google Cloud Platform rounds out the top three with about 11% share.
These global statistics don’t fully reflect the Swiss market reality. In Europe, Azure is gaining ground spectacularly in large enterprises. Why? Native integration with the Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365, Active Directory, Teams) facilitates adoption in organizations already equipped with Microsoft solutions.
Job market figures reveal interesting trends. On Indeed France, over 3,000 job postings mention Azure compared to about 600 for AWS (Indeed France). In Switzerland, major Geneva and Zurich banks, insurance companies, and the federal administration overwhelmingly favor Azure.
According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Switzerland’s information technology sector continues to progress with sustained IT job growth. This dynamic directly benefits cloud computing specialists, creating considerable opportunities for certified profiles.
The industry sector significantly influences which cloud platform recruiters prefer.
Large Swiss companies and public administrations favor Azure. This trend is particularly visible in the Swiss banking sector, where regulatory compliance plays a determining role. Cantonal banks, UBS, Credit Suisse, and insurers like Swiss Re have heavily invested in Azure.
This adoption by market leaders creates a ripple effect throughout the Swiss economic ecosystem. The reasons are multiple: easy integration with Active Directory, compliance with strict data protection regulations, and local support from Microsoft Switzerland.
Conversely, tech startups in Lausanne, Geneva, and Zurich show a preference for AWS. The Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem readily adopts AWS for its flexibility and extensive catalog of innovative services. French-speaking Swiss fintechs particularly appreciate the maturity of AWS’s DevOps ecosystem.
This dichotomy creates a dual market in Switzerland. On one side, large organizations with Azure. On the other, the startup ecosystem with AWS. Between the two, a growing zone of companies adopting a multi-cloud strategy.
More and more companies are adopting a multi-cloud approach, using Azure and AWS simultaneously. This strategy aims to optimize costs, improve resilience, and avoid dependence on a single provider. Professionals mastering both platforms can negotiate significantly higher salaries.
Let’s talk concretely about compensation. Cloud certifications directly impact salary levels in Switzerland.
In Switzerland, according to data from salaires.ch (salaires.ch) cross-referenced with IT salary studies from specialized recruitment firms such as Michael Page Switzerland and Hays Switzerland, compensation for Microsoft Azure specialists varies according to experience, responsibility level, and region.
A junior Azure administrator (0 to 2 years of experience), holding notably the AZ-104 certification, can expect an annual gross salary between 90,000 CHF and 110,000 CHF. This range corresponds to practices observed in French-speaking Switzerland and can be slightly higher in the Zurich region, where demand for cloud skills remains strong (Glassdoor Switzerland – Azure).
An experienced Azure architect (3 to 5 years of experience), holding an advanced certification like AZ-305, generally earns between 125,000 CHF and 155,000 CHF per year. These profiles are sought after to design and lead transformation and migration projects to Microsoft Azure cloud (PayScale – Cloud Solutions Architect (Switzerland)).
Finally, senior Azure experts (over 8 years of experience) with multiple advanced certifications can reach compensation exceeding 170,000 CHF per year. In certain contexts, particularly within large banks and Geneva financial institutions, salaries can approach or even exceed 200,000 CHF, depending on the scope of responsibilities and skill rarity (Robert Walters – Switzerland Salary Study).
In Switzerland, AWS specialists’ salaries are among the highest in the IT market, due to strong international demand and a shortage of experienced profiles.
A junior AWS engineer, certified Solutions Architect Associate, generally earns an annual gross salary between 95,000 CHF and 120,000 CHF. This range corresponds to entry-level Cloud Engineer profiles observed in the Swiss market (Glassdoor Switzerland).
An experienced AWS architect, holding an AWS Professional certification and several years of experience, generally reaches a compensation level between 135,000 CHF and 165,000 CHF per year. These profiles are particularly sought after by tech companies, fintechs, and large Swiss groups.
The senior AWS experts, with specialized certifications and solid experience in complex or multi-cloud architectures, can exceed 180,000 CHF in annual compensation. These levels are mainly observed in the banking, financial, and industrial sectors in Switzerland (Robert Walters – Switzerland Salary Study).
Getting a cloud certification represents an investment in time and money. Let’s look concretely at what this involves.
Microsoft offers a clear structure. The Fundamentals (AZ-900) according to the official Microsoft site (Microsoft Learn) requires 20 to 40 hours of preparation.
Associate level (AZ-104, AZ-204, AZ-500) requires 60 to 120 hours. The Expert level (AZ-305, AZ-400) demands 120 to 200 hours of preparation. All certifications are valid for 3 years.
AWS also structures its certifications progressively. The Cloud Practitioner according to AWS Training (AWS Certification) requires 30 to 50 hours.
Associate certifications cost 150 USD and require 80 to 120 hours. The Professional certifications demand 150 to 250 hours of intensive preparation.
The exams are no formality. Official pass rates range between 60% and 70% for Associate levels, and drop to 45-60% for Professional levels. Serious preparation is therefore essential, combining training, intensive practice, and practice exams.
Beyond the simple certification logo, Swiss recruiters evaluate specific technical skills. During interviews, they systematically test the ability to solve concrete problems and integrate quickly into ongoing projects.
For Azure positions, recruiters value cloud infrastructure mastery. This includes managing Virtual Machines with sizing and high availability, App Services for web application hosting, and Azure Functions for serverless architectures. Containerization with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) has become essential for orchestrating large-scale applications.
Security is a central pillar in the Swiss banking context. Recruiters require expertise in Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) for identity management, RBAC to implement least privilege, and Key Vault to secure secrets and certificates. These skills are systematically tested in interviews.
Automation represents a major focus. Experience with Azure DevOps to create robust CI/CD pipelines and mastery of Terraform for Infrastructure as Code are systematically valued. Knowing how to quickly diagnose an incident with Azure Monitor and Log Analytics makes the difference between a junior and experienced profile.
On the AWS side, fundamental skills include EC2 for virtual machines, but especially Lambda for modern serverless architectures. Containerization via ECS or EKS becomes almost mandatory for architect positions. S3 storage remains ubiquitous: beyond basic use, recruiters appreciate mastery of lifecycle policies and different storage classes to optimize costs.
AWS networking requires deep understanding that’s often underestimated. Configuring VPCs with subnets, routing tables, and security groups forms the foundation. CloudFront and Route 53 complete this essential base.
AWS security relies on IAM: knowing how to create granular policies represents a decisive test in interviews. GuardDuty for threat detection and Secrets Manager are highly sought after in Swiss companies. Automation via CloudFormation or Terraform clearly separates operational profiles from architects. Knowledge of managed databases like RDS, DynamoDB, and Aurora demonstrates architectural maturity that’s appreciated.
Infrastructure as Code with Terraform has established itself as the de facto standard. This ability to manage multiple clouds with the same tool represents a major asset for companies in multi-cloud strategy. Docker containerization and Kubernetes orchestration are almost mandatory for architect and DevOps positions.
DevOps, GitOps, and SRE methodologies now structure the cloud teams of large enterprises. Recruiters appreciate candidates who concretely explain how they’ve improved availability or reduced time-to-market.
Mastery of scripting languages remains essential. Python dominates for automation and cloud APIs, PowerShell for Azure and Microsoft environments, Bash for Linux. Finally, FinOps skills (cloud cost optimization) are rapidly emerging. Knowing how to identify waste with AWS Cost Explorer or Azure Cost Management represents significant added value.
Here’s a pragmatic analysis framework adapted to the Swiss context.
Azure is the way to go if the target environment is Microsoft-centric. Large Swiss companies, cantonal banks, insurance companies, and public administration overwhelmingly favor Azure, creating strong demand in French-speaking Switzerland. The certification path is more structured (Fundamentals → Associate → Expert), making career planning easier.
For professionals familiar with Windows Server or Active Directory, Azure represents a logical evolution. Microsoft Learn resources in French are an advantage for French speakers. In terms of job posting volume, Azure dominates with a 5 to 1 ratio compared to AWS in the Swiss market.
AWS suits profiles attracted to constant innovation. Startups in the Lake Geneva region, Geneva fintechs, and scale-ups mostly use AWS for its flexibility. This platform offers better international prospects, particularly toward the United States.
The AWS DevOps ecosystem is more mature, with a very active global community. For enthusiasts constantly exploring new services, AWS offers the most extensive playground.
Dual certification becomes relevant after 3-5 years of experience. Learning a second platform then happens quickly thanks to transferable concepts.
Swiss IT service companies actively seek these versatile profiles. In a market where 92% of companies operate in multi-cloud, this strategy maximizes employability. It suits professionals aiming for global architecture responsibilities rather than narrow specialization.
The question “Azure or AWS” doesn’t have a universal answer. In Switzerland, Azure dominates the traditional job market, driven by large companies, banks, and public administration. This reality creates strong and stable demand for Azure skills in French-speaking Switzerland.
AWS offers slightly higher salary prospects (95,000-180,000 CHF versus 90,000-170,000 CHF for Azure) and unmatched international reach. The startup ecosystem remains mostly loyal to AWS.
Multi-cloud architectures are gradually transforming the situation. Professionals certified on both platforms maximize their opportunities and negotiate higher salary packages. To get started, objectively analyze your current professional environment and aspirations. Start with a Fundamentals certification, practice intensively, then progress to higher levels. Switzerland’s cloud market continues its growth, and certified skills open exceptional doors.
Which cloud certification is most in demand in French-speaking Switzerland in 2025?
Azure dominates widely with a strong presence in large companies, banks, and administration. This predominance is explained by integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, very widespread in traditional Swiss organizations.
How long does it take to get an Azure or AWS certification?
For entry-level certifications, expect 20 to 50 hours. Associate levels require 80 to 120 hours. Professional or Expert certifications demand 150 to 250 hours including practice and theory.
Should you certify in both Azure AND AWS or specialize?
To start, specialization is recommended. After 3-5 years, dual certification becomes strategic as it meets Swiss companies’ multi-cloud needs and generates 30% to 50% higher salary opportunities.
ITTA is the leader in IT training and project management solutions and services in French-speaking Switzerland.
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