AWS Direct Connect is a dedicated network connection from on-premises infrastructure, such as a corporate data center, to AWS cloud services. With Direct Connect, enterprises can bypass the public internet and establish a private connection to AWS, providing increased security, reliability, and speed to their cloud operations.
To set up AWS Direct Connect, first choose a Direct Connect location, which will host the connection between your on-premises infrastructure and AWS. Direct Connect locations are available across the globe and can be found in the AWS Management Console.
Next, select a Direct Connect partner, which is a provider that offers Direct Connect services, and create a Virtual Private Gateway (VGW) in AWS. This VGW will be the endpoint for the Direct Connect connection and will connect to a virtual private network (VPN) in your on-premises infrastructure.
Once the VGW is created, the Direct Connect connection can be established with the Direct Connect partner. This can be done by either setting up a physical connection between the on-premises infrastructure and Direct Connect location or by creating a virtual interface over a network service provider.
Using AWS Direct Connect offers several benefits over traditional cloud connectivity methods:
Here are some common use cases for AWS Direct Connect:
By using AWS Direct Connect, enterprises can improve the security, reliability, and speed of their cloud operations. This powerful tool is ideal for data-intensive applications, disaster recovery solutions, and multicloud connectivity scenarios.