Introduction to Azure ExpressRoute
Azure ExpressRoute enables you to create private connections between Microsoft Azure datacenters and infrastructure that is either on-premises or in a co-location environment. ExpressRoute connections do not go over the public internet, and offer higher security, reliability, and speeds with lower latencies than typical internet connections.
What is ExpressRoute?
ExpressRoute is a cloud connectivity service that allows you to extend your on-premises networks into the Microsoft cloud. It offers a reliable, high-speed, and low-latency connection to Microsoft services like Azure and Microsoft 365. This is achieved through dedicated network connections provided by network partners.
Key Benefits
- Reliability: Predictable performance and uptime.
- Speed: Higher bandwidth options, up to 10 Gbps.
- Security: Data travels over a private connection, not the public internet.
- Lower Latency: Reduced network latency due to direct connectivity.
- Cost Savings: Can reduce data transfer costs to and from Azure.
How it Works
ExpressRoute connections are established through network partners. You choose a partner and a location where they have a presence. The partner provides a dedicated circuit from your premises or co-location facility to a Microsoft peering location. This circuit is then used to route your traffic to Azure.
Use Cases
ExpressRoute is ideal for:
- Migrating large amounts of data to Azure.
- Ensuring consistent performance for critical applications.
- Connecting to Azure services from a private data center or enterprise network.
- Meeting regulatory compliance requirements that necessitate private connections.
ExpressRoute Components
- Customer premises/co-location: Your physical location or shared data center space.
- Network partner: A telecommunications provider that offers ExpressRoute connectivity.
- Microsoft peering location: A physical location where Microsoft network infrastructure connects with partner networks.
- Azure: Your Microsoft cloud environment.
Understanding these fundamentals will help you leverage ExpressRoute for robust and secure cloud connectivity.