Azure ExpressRoute Overview

Azure ExpressRoute provides a private, dedicated, and optimized connection between your on-premises network or co-location environment and Microsoft Azure. This offers a more reliable and faster network experience compared to standard internet connections for accessing Azure services.

Key Benefits of ExpressRoute

• Higher Bandwidth: Offers dedicated bandwidth, ensuring consistent and predictable performance for your applications.
• Lower Latency: Reduces latency by establishing direct peering at network edge locations, improving application responsiveness.
• Increased Security: Traffic travels over a private connection, bypassing the public internet and enhancing security.
• Reliability: Provides dedicated connectivity with built-in redundancy options, ensuring high availability.
• Predictable Costs: Offers a clear and often more cost-effective pricing model for predictable network expenses.

How ExpressRoute Works

ExpressRoute connections are established through connectivity partners. You choose a partner, and they facilitate the physical connection from your premises to a Microsoft peering location. Once connected, you can provision virtual circuits to your Azure virtual networks.

ExpressRoute Components

• Local or Global Edge: Connect from a Microsoft edge router to your network.
• Connectivity Partner: A telecommunications provider that offers ExpressRoute services.
• Peering Locations: Facilities where Microsoft routers are located, allowing connection to the ExpressRoute network.
• Virtual Network Gateway: A resource in Azure that you create to connect your virtual network to ExpressRoute.
• ExpressRoute Circuits: The logical connection from your on-premises network to Microsoft.

Use Cases

ExpressRoute is ideal for scenarios requiring:

• Migrating large datasets to Azure.
• Running mission-critical applications in Azure.
• Hybrid cloud solutions needing consistent connectivity.
• Disaster recovery solutions requiring fast and reliable data replication.
• Accessing Microsoft 365 services with better performance.

Getting Started

To set up ExpressRoute:

1. Choose a connectivity provider and a peering location.
2. Provision an ExpressRoute circuit.
3. Configure your on-premises network to connect to the chosen peering location.
4. Create an ExpressRoute virtual network gateway in Azure and link it to your circuit.
5. Configure routing and other network settings.

For detailed configuration steps and pricing information, please refer to the ExpressRoute configuration guides.