What is Azure ExpressRoute?
Azure ExpressRoute lets you create private connections between your on-premises infrastructure and Microsoft Azure. These connections are established through a connectivity provider, offering higher bandwidth, lower latencies, and greater reliability than typical internet connections. ExpressRoute is ideal for mission-critical applications and data transfer scenarios where consistent performance and security are paramount.
Key Features and Advantages
- Private and Secure Connectivity: Traffic bypasses the public internet, reducing exposure to security threats and ensuring data privacy.
- High Bandwidth and Low Latency: Choose from various speed tiers and dedicated connections for optimized application performance.
- Reliability and Redundancy: Designed for high availability with redundant paths and provider SLAs.
- Global Reach: Connect to Azure regions worldwide through a vast network of connectivity partners.
- Cost-Effective: Predictable pricing based on bandwidth and data transfer, potentially reducing egress costs compared to public internet.
ExpressRoute Architecture
(Illustrative Diagram Placeholder)
This diagram shows how your on-premises network connects to Azure through a connectivity provider and an ExpressRoute circuit.
How ExpressRoute Works
ExpressRoute connections are provisioned through a supported network service provider. You choose a provider, select a location, and order an ExpressRoute circuit. This circuit provides a dedicated, private path from your network edge to a Microsoft Enterprise Edge (MSEE) router in a co-location facility. Once the circuit is active, you can configure peering (Microsoft, Public, or Private) to access Azure services, Microsoft 365, or your private IP address spaces.
Use Cases
ExpressRoute is well-suited for a variety of scenarios, including:
- Migrating large datasets to Azure.
- Running hybrid cloud applications that require seamless data flow.
- Connecting multiple branch offices to Azure.
- Ensuring consistent performance for applications hosted in Azure, such as financial trading platforms or IoT data ingestion.
- Meeting compliance requirements for data residency and security.
Explore the following sections to delve deeper into the benefits, connectivity options, and configuration details of Azure ExpressRoute.
Learn More About ExpressRoute Benefits