AWS Direct Connect Summary
What is AWS Direct Connect?
- AWS Direct Connect is a cloud service that establishes a dedicated network connection from your premises (your data centre or office) to AWS.
- This dedicated connection offers several advantages over using the public internet to connect to AWS:
- Higher bandwidth: Direct Connect can support connections from 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps, and you can create multiple connections as needed. This is much higher than typical internet connections, especially for uploading data.
- Lower latency: Data travels directly to AWS, bypassing the public internet and reducing latency. This is crucial for performance-sensitive applications.
- Increased security: Direct Connect provides a private connection, keeping your data off the public internet.
Connection Methods
There are three main ways to connect to AWS using Direct Connect:
- Physical Cross-Connect: A dedicated, physical Ethernet cable connects your equipment directly to AWS Direct Connect equipment.
- Carrier Interconnection: A carrier (telecommunications provider) provides a dedicated connection from your premises to AWS. This is useful if you don’t have a physical presence in a location where Direct Connect is available.
- Data Centre Interconnection: This uses a physical connection in a data centre to connect to a private network and then a VLAN (virtual network connection) to AWS. This can be a cost-effective option if you already have a presence in a data centre that offers Direct Connect.
Features
- Reduced Bandwidth Costs: Direct Connect bypasses internet service providers, potentially lowering data transfer costs.
- Compatibility: Direct Connect works with all AWS services, including Amazon S3, EC2, and VPC.
- Private Connectivity to Amazon VPC: Direct Connect can create a high-bandwidth private link from your network to your Amazon VPC.
- Scalability and Flexibility: You can scale bandwidth from 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps and create multiple connections.
- Ease of Use: You can set up Direct Connect using the AWS Management Console.
Benefits
- Optimal Performance: Direct Connect offers lower latency, improving performance for applications.
- Reduced Costs: It can lower network costs and data transfer fees, especially for large data transfers.
- Increased Security: The private connection enhances security by avoiding the public internet.
- Reliability: Direct Connect reduces network unpredictability, providing a more reliable connection.
Use Cases
- Extending Your Existing Network: Use Direct Connect to connect your network to AWS and then SiteLink to move data between your locations.
- Managing Large Datasets: Direct Connect is suitable for transferring large datasets quickly and reliably, for example, for backups, real-time analytics, or media processing.
- Building Hybrid Networks: Connect your on-premises network to your AWS network to create hybrid applications.
Example Use Case:
The sources present a scenario involving ABC Corporation, a financial services company. The company wants to connect its data centre to AWS using Direct Connect to meet specific requirements like low latency, high bandwidth, secure data transfer, and redundancy. This example demonstrates how Direct Connect can be used to fulfil the needs of businesses with critical applications that demand high performance and reliability.