AWS Direct Connect is a service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that enables customers to establish a dedicated network connection between their on-premises data centers or corporate networks and AWS. It bypasses the public internet, providing a more consistent and predictable network experience, lower latency, and increased security compared to internet-based connections.
In the context of AWS global infrastructure, AWS Direct Connect plays a crucial role in connecting customers' on-premises environments to AWS regions and services around the world. By establishing Direct Connect connections, customers can extend their private networks into AWS, allowing them to access AWS services as if they were hosted within their own data centers.
Here's how AWS Direct Connect relates to the global infrastructure:
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Global Reach: AWS Direct Connect is available in numerous geographic regions globally. Customers can establish Direct Connect connections in multiple AWS regions to access resources distributed across different regions.
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Direct Connection to AWS Regions: Direct Connect enables customers to establish private connectivity to AWS regions, bypassing the public internet. This allows for more consistent network performance and reduced latency compared to internet-based connections.
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Integration with AWS Services: Once a Direct Connect connection is established, customers can access various AWS services such as Amazon EC2, Amazon S3, Amazon RDS, and others directly from their on-premises environments. This integration allows for seamless hybrid cloud deployments and enables customers to leverage AWS resources alongside their existing infrastructure.
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Private Connectivity to AWS Services: Direct Connect also provides private connectivity to other AWS services beyond compute instances, such as AWS Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), AWS Transit Gateway, and AWS Direct Connect Gateway. This allows customers to build complex network architectures spanning their on-premises environments and multiple AWS regions securely.
Overall, AWS Direct Connect enhances the connectivity options available to customers and facilitates hybrid cloud deployments by providing private, dedicated network connections between on-premises environments and AWS global infrastructure. It's a critical component for organizations looking to extend their networks into the cloud while maintaining high performance, reliability, and security.
