AWS Control Tower Reviews

Name: AWS Control Tower
Brand: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Rating: 4.3 (17 reviews)

4.3 out of 5

17 reviews
94% willing to recommend

What is AWS Control Tower?

AWS Control Tower offers the easiest way to set up and govern a new, secure, multi-account AWS environment. It establishes a landing zone that is based on best-practices blueprints, and enables governance using guardrails you can choose from a pre-packaged list.

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AWS Control Tower is the #8 ranked solution in top Cloud Management solutions. PeerSpot users give AWS Control Tower an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. AWS Control Tower is most commonly compared to VMware Aria Automation: AWS Control Tower vs VMware Aria Automation. AWS Control Tower is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 68% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 15% of all views.

Helped 831,020 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

MuhammadAzhar Khan

Senior DevOps Engineer at Alibaba Group

Control Tower offers many valuable features for managing all account security. I can manage user security and user IAM, firewall, and other security-related tasks via Control Tower. The unified security management is a crucial aspect, and whenever an AWS organization is used, Control Tower is typically included to ensure comprehensive compliance fulfillment.

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Rasanpreet Singh

Senior Consultant at Infosys

It is undoubtedly a growing service, and it's evident that AWS is continuously working to improve it. However, some challenges do arise when it comes to migrating existing accounts that are not yet under Control Tower into the system. This process often involves creating specific roles manually, and it can be somewhat tedious and there isn't a readily available set of guidelines for this process. It requires some searching and digging through to find the necessary information. It is essential to clarify that this isn't necessarily a drawback of the service, but having a clear and concise set of predefined guidelines from AWS for moving existing accounts under AWS Control Tower would be highly beneficial as it would simplify the process and make it more user-friendly.

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Eldar Aronovich

Head of DevOps & Consultant at Pheno.AI

It has a limitation that only one account can be provisioned at a time, which may seem restrictive, but it doesn't have a significant impact on the overall work as it is a centralized task that is not done frequently. The ability to increase capacity and functionality aligns well with most user's needs. It is not a service that is used on-demand, but rather it becomes an integral part of the overall architecture and structure. Once implemented, it serves as the framework and foundation for the entire production environment and it is consistently used in the daily operations of the organization.

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AWS Control Tower mindshare

As of January 2025, the mindshare of AWS Control Tower in the Cloud Management category stands at 1.8%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud Management

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Cloud Management	Jan 17, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	AWS Control Tower vs VMware Aria Automation	Jan 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	AWS Control Tower vs Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM)	Jan 17, 2025	Download
Comparison	AWS Control Tower vs VMware Aria Operations	Jan 17, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
VMware Aria Automation	4.0	11.2%	94%	170 interviews Add to research
OpenNebula	4.1	8.5%	100%	15 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Compliance, security, and centralized management stand out in AWS Control Tower. Features like guardrails, single sign-on, and service catalogs enhance governance and automation. Service Control Policies and AWS Config allow tailored access while promoting security and cost efficiency. The tool simplifies account provisioning and baseline networking, offering ready-to-use templates. Its flexibility, scalability, and user-friendly design align with organizational standards, boosting consistency and fostering strong customer relationships through automated account management.

"I would rate the solution a 10 out of 10."
"Control Tower offers many valuable features for managing all account security."
"AWS Control Tower is a tool specifically designed for multi-account management. It offers the advantage of highly granular management."

Room for Improvement

AWS Control Tower could benefit from improved integration with AWS functions and enhanced security features. Users seek more customizable guardrails and automation tools. Improved execution speed, a simplified interface, and better resources are desired. Enhancing support for multi-region configurations, refining the account migration process, and addressing sync issues would be beneficial. Users also express a need for better log management, centralized APIs, and multi-tenant capabilities, along with more intuitive setup procedures.

"There is a sync issue within the organization. It is important that the system syncs automatically instead of requiring me to manually choose sync options."
"There is a sync issue within the organization."
"AWS should provide more resources, examples, and tutorials."

ROI

AWS Control Tower delivers significant value by streamlining management, enhancing security, and ensuring compliance across multiple AWS accounts. Users experience cost savings and reduced human effort through centralized governance, allowing for efficient account handling. The platform provides a standardized structure for various elements like billing, security, and logging, aiding consistency and efficiency. Though costs may exceed traditional data centers, AWS's features and facilities contribute substantially to business success.

Pricing

AWS Control Tower is generally considered cost-effective, leveraging a pay-as-you-go model without additional charges for account management. While free in some regions, like within the AWS Organization, users in Brazil report high costs. Pricing interlinks with individual billing strategies, often reduced via AWS Hub's consolidated billing. Its affordability varies, with small businesses sometimes finding it expensive, yet valuable for streamlining operations and enhancing security. Large enterprises could benefit from cost reductions.

"I believe it's free of charge or comes at a very low cost. It's an additional feature. Even if there is a fee, it's minimal. AWS seems to assist customers in gaining a comprehensive view of their security setups within AWS. Using Control Tower is highly recommended, especially as your company grows and involves Active Directory, various departments, and different architectural aspects. It becomes more advisable to leverage Control Tower rather than managing these aspects manually, especially for larger organizations."
"It is cost-effective and the associated cost is quite minimal."
"The pricing structure is closely intertwined with the specifics of your environment and the billing strategy you employ."

Popular Use Cases

AWS Control Tower is primarily used for account security, governance, and management across multiple accounts. It provides a centralized point for access control, compliance monitoring, and enforcement of best practices. It aids in automating account provisioning and establishing guardrails for security and structure. Organizations leverage it for building landing zones, integrating AWS services, and ensuring security policies are consistently applied, making it essential for complex, multi-account environments.

Service and Support

AWS Control Tower customer support receives high marks for being consistent and professional. Many rate it between eight and ten out of ten. Enterprise support offers rapid responses, though accessing higher-tier specialists may take time. While technical support addresses Control Tower-specific issues effectively, users handle security rules and Active Directory integrations independently. Authentication concerns are minimal when managed by partners. AWS is preferred over other providers due to its comprehensive support services.

Deployment

Experiences with AWS Control Tower's initial setup vary. Some find it straightforward due to automation and user-friendly guidance, especially with default settings and predefined names. Others mention complexities when interfacing with Active Directory, requiring advanced knowledge. Some note deploying it initially for new projects to avoid disruptions. While deployment can seem intricate, familiarity improves ease. Ratings range from five to eight out of ten, highlighting user experience differences depending on setup complexity and familiarity.

Scalability

AWS Control Tower's scalability is highly rated, ranging mostly between seven and ten out of ten. Users find it versatile for centralized management and customization based on organizational needs. It effectively accommodates multiple accounts and workload increases, despite some regional limitations. Many users appreciate its scalability at no extra charge, benefiting from additional AWS resources. Its integration into daily operations makes it a foundational aspect of many organizations' cloud infrastructure.

Stability

AWS Control Tower is highly stable with ratings mostly between 7 and 10. Users note occasional disruptions in regional services and challenges with existing accounts not integrated with Control Tower, yet they emphasize its reliability and strong security features. Its regular updates and comprehensive documentation contribute to its stability, providing an effective way to manage multiple AWS accounts efficiently. While there is praise for its stability, some suggest room for improvement.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our AWS Control Tower Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.