What is the difference between AWS Direct Connect and AWS PrivateLink?

Summary

This article discusses the difference between AWS Direct Connect and AWS PrivateLink, as well as other related topics such as VPN connections, VPC endpoints, and more.

Main Thought

In today’s cloud computing landscape, connecting to various AWS services and resources is essential for many businesses. AWS Direct Connect and AWS PrivateLink are two options that offer secure and efficient connectivity.

Key Points

1. AWS Direct Connect and Virtual Private Gateway

While AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated connection from your infrastructure to AWS, the Direct Connect Gateway allows for easier connectivity to multiple AWS regions or VPCs using Virtual Private Gateways.

2. AWS Peering Connection and PrivateLink

PrivateLink enables private connectivity between VPCs, AWS services, and on-premises networks without exposing traffic to the public internet. In contrast, VPC Peering creates a bidirectional connection between two VPCs.

3. AWS PrivateLink and its Uses

AWS PrivateLink simplifies network architecture by providing private connectivity between VPCs, AWS services, and different accounts, without the need for traffic to go through the public internet.

4. AWS VPN Connection and Direct Connect

While both AWS VPN Connection and Direct Connect offer secure connectivity to AWS, VPN connections utilize the public internet, which can have unpredictable performance and security concerns. Direct Connect bypasses the public internet and establishes a dedicated connection.

5. Types of AWS Direct Connect Connections

There are two types of AWS Direct Connect connections: dedicated connections, where a physical ethernet connection is associated with a single customer, and hosted connections, where a physical ethernet connection is provisioned by an AWS Direct Connect Partner and shared.

6. Difference between AWS PrivateLink and VPC Endpoint

VPC endpoints provide entry points in a VPC for private connectivity to a specific service. AWS PrivateLink, on the other hand, offers private connectivity between VPCs and services, allowing access without going through the internet.

7. Disadvantages of AWS PrivateLink

While AWS PrivateLink offers secure and private connectivity, it only allows the consumer of the service to initiate requests, making it unidirectional. For bi-directional connectivity, VPC peering may be a better choice.

8. AWS Direct Connect and Interconnect

AWS Direct Connect is a private network connection between your facilities and AWS. In contrast, Interconnect allows for the linking of multiple connections, enabling data exchange between two or more networks or entities.

9. Direct Connect and Layer 2 or 3

Direct Connect uses Layer 2 routing for secure connectivity between your infrastructure and AWS. Layer 3 routing is utilized by similar services in Azure, such as ExpressRoute and Virtual Network.

10. Types of VPC Endpoints

There are two types of VPC endpoints: interface endpoints and gateway endpoints. These endpoints provide private connectivity to various AWS services within a VPC.

Questions and Answers

1. What is the difference between AWS Direct Connect and AWS PrivateLink?

AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated and secure connection between your infrastructure and AWS, while AWS PrivateLink offers private connectivity between VPCs, AWS services, and on-premises networks without internet exposure.

2. What is the difference between AWS Direct Connect and Virtual Private Gateway?

AWS Direct Connect enables a dedicated connection to AWS, while the Direct Connect Gateway allows for easier connectivity to multiple AWS regions or VPCs using Virtual Private Gateways.

3. What is the difference between AWS Peering Connection and PrivateLink?

AWS PrivateLink provides private connectivity to specific services within a VPC, while AWS Peering Connection establishes a bidirectional layer 3 connection between two VPCs.

4. What is AWS PrivateLink used for?

AWS PrivateLink simplifies network architecture by providing private connectivity between VPCs, AWS services, and different accounts without exposing traffic to the public internet.

5. What is the difference between AWS VPN Connection and Direct Connect?

AWS VPN Connection utilizes the public internet for secure connectivity to AWS, while Direct Connect establishes a dedicated and secure connection bypassing the public internet.

6. What are the two types of AWS Direct Connect Connections?

The two types of AWS Direct Connect connections are dedicated connections, associated with a single customer, and hosted connections, provisioned by an AWS Direct Connect Partner and shared.

7. What is the difference between AWS PrivateLink and VPC Endpoint?

VPC Endpoint is an entry point in a VPC for private connectivity to a service, while AWS PrivateLink provides technology for private connectivity between VPCs and services without internet exposure.

8. What are the disadvantages of AWS PrivateLink?

One disadvantage of AWS PrivateLink is that it only allows the consumer to initiate requests, making it unidirectional. For bi-directional connectivity, VPC peering may be a better choice.

9. What is the difference between AWS PrivateLink and VPC Endpoint?

VPC Endpoint is an entry point in a VPC for private connectivity to a service, while AWS PrivateLink provides technology for private connectivity between VPCs and services without internet exposure.

10. What is AWS Direct Connect?

AWS Direct Connect is a networking service that provides a private network connection between your on-premises infrastructure and AWS, bypassing the public internet.

11. What are the two types of AWS VPN?

AWS VPN consists of two services: AWS Site-to-Site VPN, which securely connects your on-premises network to Amazon VPC, and AWS Client VPN, which securely connects users to AWS or on-premises networks.

12. What is the difference between Direct Connect and Interconnect?

AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated connection between your infrastructure and AWS, while Interconnect allows for the linking of multiple connections to enable data exchange between networks or entities.

13. Is Direct Connect Layer 2 or Layer 3?

AWS Direct Connect uses Layer 2 routing for secure connectivity, while Layer 3 routing is used by similar services in Azure, such as ExpressRoute and Virtual Network.

14. What are the two types of VPC endpoints?

The two types of VPC endpoints are interface endpoints and gateway endpoints, providing private connectivity to AWS services within a VPC.

What is the difference between AWS Direct Connect and Virtual Private Gateway

AWS Direct Connect gateway is aimed at making it easier to connect from a single Direct Connect location to multiple AWS regions or VPCs. The Direct Connect Gateway is connected to multiple AWS VPCs in different AWS regions via Virtual private Gateways.

What is the difference between AWS peering connection and PrivateLink

While PrivateLink creates a local interface with a local IP which allows unidirectional access to a specific application/port, VPC Peering creates a bidirectional layer 3 connection between two VPCs.

What is AWS PrivateLink used for

AWS PrivateLink provides private connectivity between VPCs, AWS services, and your on-premises networks without exposing your traffic to the public internet. AWS PrivateLink makes it easy to connect services across different accounts and VPCs to significantly simplify your network architecture.

What is the difference between AWS VPN connection and direct connect

Keep in mind, however, that VPN connectivity utilizes the public Internet, which can have unpredictable performance and despite being encrypted, can present security concerns. AWS Direct Connect bypasses the public Internet and establishes a secure, dedicated connection from your infrastructure into AWS.

What are the two types of AWS Direct Connect connections

With AWS Direct Connect, you have two types of connection:Dedicated connections, where a physical ethernet connection is associated with a single customer.Hosted connections, where a physical ethernet connection is provisioned by an AWS Direct Connect Partner and shared with you.

What is the difference between AWS private link and VPC endpoint

VPC endpoint — The entry point in your VPC that enables you to connect privately to a service. AWS PrivateLink — A technology that provides private connectivity between VPCs and services. So PrivateLink is technology allowing you to privately (without Internet) access services in VPCs.

What are the disadvantages of AWS PrivateLink

PrivateLink Drawbacks

Well, there are few small details one needs to be aware of: AWS PrivateLink only allows the consumer of the service to initiate request to the provider (unidirectional). If you need bi-directional connectivity, then maybe VPC peering is a better choice.

What is the difference between AWS PrivateLink and VPC Endpoint

VPC endpoint — The entry point in your VPC that enables you to connect privately to a service. AWS PrivateLink — A technology that provides private connectivity between VPCs and services. So PrivateLink is technology allowing you to privately (without Internet) access services in VPCs.

What is AWS Direct Connect

AWS Direct Connect is a networking service that provides an alternative to using the internet to connect to AWS. Using AWS Direct Connect, data that would have previously been transported over the internet is delivered through a private network connection between your facilities and AWS.

What are the two types of VPN AWS

AWS VPN is comprised of two services: AWS Site-to-Site VPN and AWS Client VPN. AWS Site-to-Site VPN enables you to securely connect your on-premises network or branch office site to your Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC). AWS Client VPN enables you to securely connect users to AWS or on-premises networks.

What is the difference between direct connect and interconnect

In contrast to direct connect, interconnect is not limited to one-to-one connections between singular private networks and cloud services. Interconnect is the linking of multiple connections to enable data exchange between two or more networks or entities.

Is Direct Connect layer 2 or layer 3

AWS VPC and Direct Connect are two services that enable a virtual private network. However, it uses layer 2, and not layer 3 routing. ExpressRoute, and Virtual Network, two similar services from Azure, use layer 3 routing.

What are the two types of VPC endpoints

There are two types of VPC endpoints:interface endpoints.gateway endpoints.

What is the difference between gateway endpoints and PrivateLink

Gateway endpoints do not use AWS PrivateLink, unlike other types of VPC endpoints. There is no additional charge for using gateway endpoints. Amazon S3 supports both gateway endpoints and interface endpoints. For a comparison of the two options, see Types of VPC endpoints for Amazon S3 in the Amazon S3 User Guide.

What are the benefits of using AWS Direct Connect and private network connections

AWS Direct Connect makes it easy to establish a dedicated connection from an on-premises network to one or more VPCs. AWS Direct Connect can reduce network costs, increase bandwidth throughput, and provide a more consistent network experience than internet-based connections.

What are the benefits of PrivateLink

Benefits of PrivateLinkSimplified Architecture.Securely consume cloud-based services (SaaS offerings)Secure your traffic and data as it does not traverse via the public internet.Save time and reduce the possibility of network/security misconfiguration (no firewall rule, route table, etc)Maintain compliance.

What is the difference between cloud connect and direct connect

The main difference between direct connect and the previous solutions is the transition from public to private. With cloud connect, you can utilize your private network for cloud connection. Not only is this more convenient, but it also helps protect your data.

What is direct connect gateway in AWS

The Direct Connect gateway uses a private virtual interface for the connection to the AWS Direct Connect location. There is an AWS Direct Connect connection from the location to the customer data center.

What are the two types of AWS Direct connect connections

With AWS Direct Connect, you have two types of connection:Dedicated connections, where a physical ethernet connection is associated with a single customer.Hosted connections, where a physical ethernet connection is provisioned by an AWS Direct Connect Partner and shared with you.

What are the three types of Interconnect

Types of InterconnectionsPEERING EXCHANGE.CROSS CONNECT. A cross connect is the equivalent of running a fiber or copper cable between each company's servers.INTER-SITE CONNECTIVITY.BLENDED IP.There are other reasons to consider interconnection services from a colocation provider:

What is the difference between site to site VPN and direct connect

The connection between the client network and the AWS VPC is encrypted when using AWS Site-to-Site VPN. For businesses that demand stronger security requirements, AWS Direct Connect is the primary option since it offers higher security.

What is the maximum bandwidth for AWS Direct Connect

For Dedicated Connections, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, and 100 Gbps ports are available. For Hosted Connections, connection speeds of 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, 300 Mbps, 400 Mbps, 500 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps, 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps may be ordered from approved AWS Direct Connect Partners.

Is VPC endpoint same as PrivateLink

VPC endpoint — The entry point in your VPC that enables you to connect privately to a service. AWS PrivateLink — A technology that provides private connectivity between VPCs and services. So PrivateLink is technology allowing you to privately (without Internet) access services in VPCs.

What is the difference between AWS private endpoint and peering

Peering Connection: A peering connection enables you to route traffic via private IP addresses between two peered VPCs. VPC Endpoints: Enables private connectivity to services hosted in AWS, from within your VPC without using an Internet Gateway, VPN, Network Address Translation (NAT) devices, or firewall proxies.

What is the difference between direct connect and hosted direct connect

Dedicated connections are physical connections between your network and an AWS network inside an AWS Direct Connect location. You request a dedicated connection through the AWS Direct Connect console. Hosted connections are logical connections that an AWS Direct Connect Delivery Partner provisions on your behalf.