How do you connect your network to cloud providers? Almost all WAN providers (think AT&T, BT and Verizon) have built relationships with cloud service providers. This offers a direct interconnect between your MPLS network and the cloud provider. So, is this a cost effective and reliable way to obtain the network performance you require?
Organisations are using more and more cloud based services. This means the need for enhanced performance, security and reliability becomes critical. The use of Office 365, Salesforce and Amazon Web Services is now commonplace across most major organisations. Typically, there are two approaches to connecting your network to cloud providers. Either via the Internet or using an interconnect from your MPLS provider.
The Option to Directly Connect Your MPLS Network to Cloud Providers
The number of cloud services that you can connect to your network provider is growing daily. This is achieved by clever data centre pairing or direct links to these services with an interconnect relationship. Suppliers argue that this is a secure way to obtain guaranteed service levels.
Global organisations have been considering the move to hybrid networks. At the same time, they are looking to leverage their core network to connect directly with the cloud services they use.
Cost Model
The cost model used here is a ‘pay as you go’ approach. Most network service providers offer threshold bands offering discounts based on volumes. Considering the high costs of MPLS and the need to pay bandwidth, this is an expensive option.
Benefits
Key benefits of this approach include:
1. Performance
- Determined performance levels via high powered, low latency private connections.
- Global locations to cloud services providing enhanced performance thanks to optimised path selection.
- Bandwidth scales up or down to meet volume demands.
2. Simplicity
- Usage based resources on demand. No need to install costly infrastructure with restrictive speed limitations.
- The ability to scale up or down with simple management via a centralised portal.
- Access to new cloud services as they become available.
3. Secure
- Secure gateways via private connections are completely separate from the public Internet.
4. Reliability
- Service Level Agreements with high availability are supported in a contractual agreement. This is based on the service provider leveraging their mission critical infrastructure with multiple points of resilience.
5. Cost Saving
- The total cost of ownership is much lower when compared to installing separate communication links to each cloud provider.
The service access can be ceased with a short notice period. This allows for simple switching between cloud applications when required.
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