In late August, Azure launched a new service called Azure Multicloud Interconnect. This service enables businesses to connect privately between Azure and AWS. Let’s explore the features this new network service offers for customers using multiple cloud providers.

Azure Multicloud Interconnect

Azure manages this service and provides a dedicated path for data that doesn’t traverse the public internet. This lets workloads run securely across different clouds. Traffic between Azure and the connected cloud provider travels over private connectivity, rather than the public internet.

How does it work?

Azure Multicloud Interconnect provides a robust solution for organisations that need secure, efficient connections between their Azure and AWS environments. This service leverages Azure ExpressRoute and AWS Direct Connect to create a seamless, private connection that simplifies the complexities typically associated with multicloud networking.

At the core of this service is collaboration between Microsoft and AWS, which manage the underlying circuits, routing, and encryption protocols on customers behalf. This coordinated effort lets users enjoy reliable, high-performance connectivity between their cloud infrastructures without shouldering the burden of systems integration. This is particularly beneficial for businesses that may lack the in-house expertise to navigate the technical challenges of setting up and maintaining these connections.

Interconnect’s multicloud connections feature includes built-in 4-way resiliency for high availability and continuous 24/7 operations. Because the service builds on familiar models such as ExpressRoute and Direct Connect, organisations can integrate it smoothly into existing workflows, tools, and operational practices. This compatibility not only streamlines integration but also lets teams use existing knowledge and processes, boosting productivity while minimising the learning curve of adopting new technologies.

Azure Multicloud Interconnect lets users create a single interconnect resource, replacing the fragmented array of circuits, routers, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) sessions, and encryption methods typically required in a self-managed setup. By simplifying this architecture into a single managed resource, it reduces operational complexity and builds greater confidence among decision-makers in deployment and ongoing management.

How to provision MultiCloud Interconnect?

Setting up an interconnect between cloud services involves four key stages, facilitating a seamless experience from the initial infrastructure to managing workloads across multiple clouds:

1. ExpressRoute Circuit: Start by creating an ExpressRoute circuit. In this step, select the Azure Multicloud Interconnect port type to enable the desired connectivity.
2. Interconnect Resource: After setting up the circuit, create the Azure Multicloud Interconnect resource. This resource is crucial as it establishes a private connection between different cloud platforms.
3. Provider Setup: At this stage, you will need to generate or redeem an activation key and choose a supported cloud service provider. Currently, during the preview phase, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the designated provider for this integration.
4. Connected Workloads: The final step involves connecting your virtual networks. This lets applications, data, and AI workloads communicate seamlessly across both cloud environments, improving overall functionality and performance.

To provision this connectivity, you create an Azure Multicloud Interconnect resource and exchange an activation key with the provider. You do not need to coordinate provider circuits, physical or virtual routers, cross-connects, virtual LANs, point-to-point addressing, or Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peering sessions. Each interconnect is backed by redundant infrastructure in physically separate areas to ensure high availability. Additionally, MAC Security (MACsec) is enabled by default on the physical links between Azure and the supported cloud provider.

What are the benefits of MultiCloud Interconnect?

Azure Multicloud Interconnect offers benefits that significantly improve the management and efficiency of running applications across multiple cloud environments. By streamlining cross-cloud networking, it turns what was traditionally a complex, labour-intensive process into a straightforward, on-demand capability.

• One key advantage is the reduced time to achieve results. With Azure Multicloud Interconnect, you can establish private connectivity between Azure and AWS through a guided, managed workflow, eliminating the need for prolonged, multi-vendor integration projects.
• Additionally, Microsoft lowers the operational burden by managing the infrastructure, ensuring resiliency, and overseeing the lifecycle of the networking components. This lets your networking team focus on strategic work instead of troubleshooting or maintaining hardware.
• The interconnect delivers predictable, reliable performance through a dedicated private path that provides high capacity, consistent throughput, and low latency—benefits public internet or VPN connections often can’t match.
• Private connectivity and default MACsec encryption also enhance security by safeguarding intercloud traffic in transit from exposure on the public internet.
• Lastly, Azure Multicloud Interconnect ensures a uniform experience across both cloud platforms. It lets you provision, monitor, and manage connections with the familiar tools and constructs your teams already use in both Azure and AWS. Customers no longer have to manually set up complex networks, including physical connections and routing protocols.

Things to consider:

1. Can I use an existing ExpressRoute circuit with Azure Multi-Cloud Interconnect?
   No, you cannot use a traditional ExpressRoute circuit for Azure Multi-Cloud Interconnect. Although Azure Multi-Cloud Interconnect uses Azure ExpressRoute as its foundation, you must create a new ExpressRoute circuit and select Azure Multi-Cloud Interconnect as the port type during setup.
2. How does Azure Multi-Cloud Interconnect differ from Azure ExpressRoute? Azure Multi-Cloud Interconnect uses ExpressRoute to extend private connections to other cloud providers. In contrast, Azure ExpressRoute connects on-premises and colocation networks directly to Azure. While ExpressRoute offers secure private connectivity, Azure Multi-Cloud Interconnect builds on that by providing managed cloud-to-cloud connectivity, automated provisioning with supported cloud providers, and built-in resiliency management.
3. Region availability: Currently, the service is available only in Australia East, US East, Germany West Central, and US West Azure regions. Region availability is subject to change during the preview.

Overall, Azure Multicloud Interconnect presents a straightforward and manageable solution for organisations looking to enhance their multicloud strategies, ultimately allowing them to focus on their core goals and objectives without the distractions of intricate connectivity challenges.