AWS Direct Connect: What you need to know
AWS Direct Connect establishes a dedicated network connection between your on-premises infrastructure and Amazon Web Services, bypassing the public internet entirely. This private connection delivers consistent performance, enhanced security, and often cost savings for organizations with substantial cloud workloads.
For businesses running mission-critical applications or handling sensitive data, the reliability and predictability of AWS Direct Connect can make the difference between seamless operations and costly downtime. But understanding when and how to implement this service requires a clear grasp of its capabilities and your specific infrastructure needs.
What is AWS Direct Connect?
Definition and key components
AWS Direct Connect is Amazon's dedicated network service that creates a private connection between your data center, office, or colocation environment and AWS. Unlike standard internet connections that route traffic through multiple networks, Direct Connect provides a direct pathway to AWS services.
The service operates through AWS Direct Connect locations, specialized facilities where AWS maintains networking equipment. Your organization connects to these locations either through a dedicated line or by working with an AWS Direct Connect Partner like Flexential. From there, AWS handles the connection to their global infrastructure.
Key components include:
- Dedicated connections: Physical ethernet connections ranging from 1Gbps to 100Gbps
- Hosted connections: Shared connections provided through AWS partners, starting at 50Mbps
- Virtual interfaces (VIFs): Logical connections that segment traffic for different AWS accounts or services
- Direct Connect gateways: Enable connection to multiple AWS regions through a single Direct Connect connection
Core benefits
| Benefit | Description | Impact |
| Consistent performance | Dedicated bandwidth eliminates internet congestion | Predictable latency and throughput for critical applications |
| Enhanced security | Private connection bypasses public internet | Reduced exposure to DDoS attacks and data interception |
| Cost optimization | Lower data transfer costs for high-volume workloads | Potential cost reduction on AWS data egress charges |
| Hybrid integration | Seamless extension of on-premises networks | Simplified hybrid cloud architectures and management |
| Compliance support | Private connectivity aids regulatory requirements | Easier adherence to HIPAA, PCI DSS, and other standards |
Key use cases for AWS Direct Connect
Hybrid cloud deployments
Organizations maintaining both on-premises and cloud infrastructure benefit significantly from AWS Direct Connect. Rather than forcing all communication through unpredictable internet connections, Direct Connect creates a seamless bridge between environments.
Consider a financial services company that keeps customer databases on-premises for compliance reasons but uses AWS for analytics and reporting. Direct Connect allows their applications to query on-premises data and process results in the cloud as if everything existed in a single network. This eliminates the latency and security concerns that come with internet-based connections.
Data-intensive applications
Applications that frequently move large datasets between on-premises systems and AWS see dramatic improvements with Direct Connect. Video streaming companies, research institutions, and backup services often transfer terabytes of data daily, volumes that can overwhelm internet connections and generate substantial egress fees.
Example: A media company transferring raw video files to AWS for processing benefits from Direct Connect's dedicated bandwidth. The connection ensures uploads complete reliably without competing with other internet traffic, while avoiding the unpredictable costs and performance of internet-based transfers.
Compliance-driven industries
Healthcare, finance, and government organizations often face strict requirements about how data travels between systems. While internet connections encrypt data in transit, many compliance frameworks prefer or require private network paths.
Direct Connect provides this private pathway, making it easier to demonstrate compliance with regulations like HIPAA or PCI DSS. The connection also enables organizations to extend their existing security controls and monitoring tools to include cloud resources.
How to get started with Direct Cloud Connect
Choosing the right connection type
Your connection choice depends on bandwidth requirements, budget, and timeline. Dedicated connections offer the highest performance and most control but require longer setup times and higher costs. Hosted connections through partners like Flexential provide faster deployment and lower initial investment while still delivering private connectivity.
For most organizations, hosted connections represent a practical starting point. They allow you to experience Direct Connect benefits without committing to expensive dedicated infrastructure. As your cloud usage grows, you can evaluate whether dedicated connections make sense.
Integration with AWS Services
AWS Direct Connect works with virtually all AWS services, but some integrations provide particular value. Amazon S3 for backup and archival, Amazon RDS for database workloads, and Amazon EC2 for compute resources all benefit from the consistent performance Direct Connect provides.
Setting up the connection involves creating virtual interfaces for different types of traffic. You might use one virtual interface for production workloads requiring guaranteed bandwidth and another for development environments with lower priority.
Working with an AWS Partner like Flexential
Rather than managing Direct Connect infrastructure yourself, partnering with an experienced provider like Flexential simplifies deployment and ongoing management. Partners maintain the physical infrastructure, handle redundancy, and often provide additional services like cloud interconnect capabilities.
This approach reduces complexity while providing faster access to Direct Connect benefits. Instead of waiting months for dedicated connection installation, partner solutions typically activate more quickly.
Direct Cloud Connect with Flexential
Flexential Cloud Fabric overview
The Flexential Coud Fabric solution provides a platform for connecting to AWS and other cloud providers. Rather than managing separate connections to each cloud service, Cloud Fabric offers a unified interface for provisioning and managing multiple cloud connections.
The platform addresses traditional cloud networking complexity by providing software-defined connectivity. Organizations can establish connections to AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and other providers through a consistent interface and management experience.
Self-service portal and on-demand provisioning
Traditional Direct Connect deployments require extensive coordination between multiple teams and vendors. The Flexential self-service portal streamlines this process by allowing network administrators to provision and modify connections through a web interface.
This self-service approach enables IT teams to respond to infrastructure needs more quickly than traditional vendor-managed processes. Changes that previously required service tickets and lengthy approval processes can be handled directly by your team.
Performance, security, and cost advantages
The Flexential approach to AWS Direct Connect provides several operational benefits:
Performance: The service includes monitoring and management tools to help maintain consistent connectivity. Built-in redundancy options help ensure availability during maintenance or outages.
Security: All connections leverage the Flexential secure colocation facilities and certified network operations center. The private connectivity combines with physical security controls for comprehensive protection.
Cost: Bundled pricing for multiple cloud connections can provide cost efficiencies compared to managing individual connections to each cloud provider. Shared infrastructure reduces both capital and operational expenses.
Ready to experience the performance and security benefits of AWS Direct Connect? Explore Flexential interconnection solutions and discover how our connectivity services can support your cloud strategy.
FAQs about AWS Direct Connect
What is AWS Direct Connect?
AWS Direct Connect is a dedicated network service that connects your on-premises infrastructure directly to Amazon Web Services without using the public internet. It provides consistent performance, enhanced security, and potential cost savings for cloud workloads.
How does AWS Direct Connect improve cloud performance?
By bypassing the unpredictable public internet, Direct Connect provides consistent bandwidth and lower latency. This stability is particularly valuable for applications requiring real-time data synchronization or frequent communication between on-premises and cloud systems.
What are the benefits of using direct cloud connect?
Direct cloud connect offers predictable performance, enhanced security through private connections, potential cost reductions on data transfers, simplified hybrid cloud architectures, and better compliance posture for regulated industries.
How does Flexential support AWS Direct Connect?
Flexential provides hosted Direct Connect services through the Cloud Fabric platform, offering managed deployment and self-service provisioning capabilities. This eliminates much of the complexity associated with managing dedicated connections directly.
What industries benefit most from AWS Direct Connect?
Healthcare, financial services, media and entertainment, manufacturing, and government organizations often see significant benefits due to their requirements for consistent performance, security, and compliance. However, any organization with substantial cloud workloads can benefit from the performance and cost advantages.
How do I set up AWS Direct Connect with Flexential?
Setting up Direct Connect through Flexential involves connecting to the Cloud Fabric platform, which provides access to AWS and other cloud providers. The specific setup process and timeline depend on your requirements and existing infrastructure.
What is the difference between public internet and Direct Connect?
Public internet connections route traffic through multiple networks with variable performance and security characteristics. Direct Connect provides a private, dedicated path to AWS with consistent bandwidth and lower latency. While internet connections work for many applications, Direct Connect better serves mission-critical workloads and high-volume data transfers.
