Ethernity Cloud vs Azure Confidential Computing

Microsoft Azure has the most comprehensive confidential computing offering among the major cloud providers, supporting Intel SGX, Intel TDX, and AMD SEV-SNP across multiple VM series. Ethernity Cloud runs on the same Intel SGX technology but deploys it on a decentralized network of 5,000+ community-operated nodes instead of Microsoft's data centers.

Both platforms use hardware-secured enclaves. The difference is who owns the hardware and how execution is verified.

Overview

TEE technology comparison

Azure's broad hardware support

Azure currently offers the widest range of confidential computing hardware:

• DCsv2/DCsv3 — Intel SGX enclaves for process-level isolation (DCsv2 retiring June 2026)
• DCesv6/ECesv6 — Intel TDX for VM-level isolation on 5th Gen Xeon
• DCasv5/ECasv5 — AMD SEV-SNP for VM-level isolation on AMD EPYC

This gives Azure users flexibility to choose process-level isolation (SGX) for highest-security workloads or VM-level isolation (TDX/SEV-SNP) for lift-and-shift deployments.

Ethernity Cloud's focused approach

Ethernity Cloud uses Intel SGX exclusively (with TDX support coming in EC 2.0). The focus is narrower, but the architecture adds layers that Azure doesn't have:

• Triple-enclave separation — Azure runs your workload in a single enclave or confidential VM. Ethernity Cloud runs every task through three separate enclaves (TrustedZone, SecureLock, Validator), each with a distinct role. This architectural separation means compromising the execution enclave doesn't compromise validation or attestation.
• On-chain Proof of eXecution — Azure provides attestation quotes that you can verify through Microsoft's Azure Attestation Service. Ethernity Cloud writes a signed proof to a public blockchain after every execution — permanently verifiable by anyone, not just Azure customers.

The attestation difference

Azure Attestation Service: Azure provides a managed attestation service that verifies SGX quotes and TDX quotes. You can check that your workload ran in a genuine enclave. But the attestation service is operated by Microsoft, and the verification isn't public — it's between you and Azure.

Ethernity Cloud PoX: After every execution, a Proof of eXecution is written to Polygon or Bloxberg. This is a permanent, public record on a blockchain that neither Ethernity Cloud nor the node operator controls. An auditor in Tokyo can verify a computation that ran on a node in Berlin, years after the fact, without talking to either party.

This distinction matters for use cases where third-party verification is required: regulatory compliance, multi-party agreements, legal evidence, and research reproducibility.

When to choose Ethernity Cloud

• On-chain verification — You need permanent, public, independently verifiable proof of correct execution. Azure's attestation is provider-controlled; PoX is on a public blockchain.
• No single vendor trust — You don't want Microsoft (or any single company) to control your confidential compute infrastructure.
• Architectural isolation — You want the validation, execution, and attestation steps handled by separate enclaves that can't compromise each other.
• Multi-chain deployment — You want your execution proofs on Polygon, Bloxberg, or other networks.
• Community-owned infrastructure — You value DePIN principles: community-operated hardware with economic incentives for reliability.
• Simple serverless model — Write a function, deploy with 4 commands. No VM management.

When to choose Azure Confidential Computing

• Multiple TEE options — You need Intel SGX, Intel TDX, or AMD SEV-SNP. Azure offers all three. Ethernity Cloud currently offers SGX only.
• VM-level confidential computing — You want to run existing applications in confidential VMs without modifying code (TDX or SEV-SNP).
• Azure ecosystem — You need integration with Azure Key Vault, Azure Active Directory, Managed HSM, and other Azure services.
• Enterprise SLAs — You need contractual uptime guarantees with financial backing.
• Compliance certifications — Your organization requires SOC 2, HIPAA BAA, FedRAMP, or other certifications from your infrastructure provider.
• GPU confidential computing — Azure offers NVIDIA H100 confidential VMs. Ethernity Cloud is CPU-focused (GPU support not yet available).
• Data residency — You need workloads to run in a specific Azure region for regulatory reasons.

Cost comparison

Azure: Confidential computing VMs carry a premium over standard VMs. DCsv3 (SGX) instances start around $0.17/hour for the smallest size. You pay by the hour whether the VM is processing tasks or idle. Add storage, networking, and managed services for the full cost.

Ethernity Cloud: You pay per task based on compute resources consumed (CPU, memory, storage, bandwidth, duration). No idle costs. Token-based payments (ECLD on Polygon) mean pricing is market-driven, not set by a single provider. For burst or intermittent workloads, the per-task model is often more cost-effective.

The hybrid approach

Like the AWS comparison, these platforms can be complementary:

• Use Azure Confidential Computing for workloads that need managed services, specific compliance certifications, or GPU TEE
• Use Ethernity Cloud for workloads that need on-chain proof of execution, vendor-independent trust, or community-owned infrastructure
• Both use Intel SGX — your code logic is portable between them

The bottom line

Azure has the broadest confidential computing offering of any cloud provider: three TEE technologies, multiple VM series, GPU support, and deep ecosystem integration. It's the right choice when you need the Azure ecosystem and trust Microsoft as your provider.

Ethernity Cloud offers something Azure architecturally cannot: a decentralized trust model where no single company controls the infrastructure, triple-enclave isolation where validation, execution, and attestation are separated, and on-chain Proof of eXecution that creates permanent, publicly verifiable records of correct computation.

Azure asks you to trust Microsoft. Ethernity Cloud asks you to verify on-chain. The right choice depends on which trust model your workload demands.