Dedicated Connection
Definition
A private, physical network link between your premises and a cloud provider — completely separate from the public internet.
Use Cases
- Netflix: High-throughput, reliable connectivity between AWS and production environments for cloud-based streaming operations and data movement. — Uses AWS Direct Connect to establish private network connectivity into AWS, typically via colocation/Direct Connect locations with BGP routing to VPCs for predictable network performance compared with internet VPN alone. (More consistent network performance and operational reliability for large-scale data transfers and service connectivity, supporting stable production operations.)
- Adobe: Enterprise-grade private connectivity to Azure for business-critical workloads and large data transfers supporting digital experience and SaaS operations. — Uses Azure ExpressRoute to connect corporate/colocation networks privately to Microsoft’s network, integrating with existing WAN and routing policies to reach Azure services without traversing the public internet. (Improved network predictability and reduced exposure to internet variability, enabling more consistent performance for latency-sensitive and data-intensive workloads.)
- Spotify: Private, predictable connectivity to Google Cloud for data-intensive analytics and platform services. — Uses Google Cloud Interconnect (often via colocation or a service provider partner) with BGP to connect on-prem/partner networks to Google’s network for stable throughput and lower jitter than typical internet paths. (More consistent connectivity for large-scale data movement and platform operations, improving reliability for data pipelines and internal services.)
Provider Equivalents
- AWS: AWS Direct Connect
- Azure: Azure ExpressRoute
- GCP: Cloud Interconnect
- OCI: OCI FastConnect
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between a dedicated connection and a site-to-site VPN?
- A dedicated connection is a private physical circuit (or private port at a colocation) into the cloud provider’s network, designed for predictable performance and higher throughput. A site-to-site VPN runs over the public internet using encryption; it’s usually faster to set up and cheaper, but performance can vary with internet congestion and routing.
- When should I use a dedicated connection to the cloud?
- Use it when you need predictable latency and throughput, you move large volumes of data regularly (backups, analytics, media, replication), you have strict network/security requirements that prefer private connectivity, or you need more reliable hybrid connectivity than the public internet can provide. Many organizations start with VPN and add a dedicated connection as traffic and criticality grow.
- How much does a dedicated cloud connection cost?
- Costs typically include: (1) the cloud provider port/hourly charges (varies by port speed and region), (2) data transfer/egress charges (provider-specific), and (3) telecom/partner circuit fees from your site or colocation to the provider’s connection point. Total cost depends on bandwidth (e.g., 1/10/100 Gbps options), redundancy (dual links/locations), distance to a colocation facility, and how much data you send out of the cloud.
Category: networking
Difficulty: intermediate
Related Terms
See Also