What is Difference Between AWS Direct Connect and VPN

If you want to connect your business infrastructure with Amazon Web Services you can do it in several different ways. However, either VPN (Virtual Private Network) or AWS Direct Connect is used during each connection process. If you are trying to figure out which option is better for you, you should know that both have some good features to offer. But depending on what the main criteria are for your business, you will prefer one or the other. That is why we decided to explain to you in more detail what the differences are between AWS Direct Connect and VPN and help you understand what works better for you.

AWS Direct Connect

AVS Direct Connect is a network solution that allows you to connect local services to AWS cloud services without using the Internet. This way, by bypassing the use of the Internet, you (as the name suggests) directly deliver all data through a private network, which can be a significant feature for many business owners. The Good thing about AWS Direct Connect is that it helps achieve great security within your infrastructure, because all information is delivered directly to the AWS cloud, without the use of intermediaries that could violate privacy.

What can be achieved as a consequence? Using AWS Direct Connect like the one you can find on www.consoleconnect.com can significantly reduce financial expenses, and also improve the overall user experience, which is always desirable. With this network service you can use all AWS services (EC2, VPC, S3, and others). This network solution uses an AWS Direct Connection router. A cable that is wired in a special way is connected to this router on one side, while on the other side it is connected with a laser optical cable of 1 or 10 gigabytes.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

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A VPN is a network that, unlike the AWS Direct Connection, involves the use of the Internet. If you are wondering how it is safe for your business and all the information you transfer from your local infrastructure to Amazon Virtual Private Cloud, you should know that an encrypted network is being used during this process, which increases security. These connections are a good option because they can be configured very quickly and very easily, so owners of different businesses often prefer them because of that.

If you have moderate bandwidth and are willing to tolerate the changing connectivity that the internet brings with it, then this may be the solution for you. However, one of the major disadvantages of this network solution is that it is internet-based, which automatically means that 100% security cannot be guaranteed, so you should be aware of this and consider the extent to which it could potentially affect your business.

AWS Direct Connect vs VPN

1. Accessibility to Amazon Web Services

The first feature that distinguishes these two network solutions is the accessibility of Amazon Web Services. When it comes to AWS Direct Connection, it uses a fiber-optic network that provides very fast and easy access to Amazon VPC. This is not the case with VPNs, considering that the connection is encrypted, so accessibility is reduced.

2. Privacy and security

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AVS Direct Connection offers incomparably better privacy and security due to bypassing the Internet and using private data networks. With VPN, data is shared through an encrypted but public network, using the Internet. Although it offers a certain degree of security, the fact that your data is exposed to the Internet increases the risk of security breaches.

3. Performance

When it comes to performance, in most cases the VPN lags behind AWS Direct Connection. Virtual Private Network offers less than 4GB per Virtual Private Cloud. With AVS Direct connection, these values ​​differ. It offers between 1 and 10GB, but that figure can even go up to 40GB with LAG (Link Aggregation Group). Based on this, you can conclude that the performance and efficiency of AVS Direct Connection is mostly higher compared to VPN, so if this feature is crucial to you, we suggest you choose this option.

4. Fluctuations in data transmission and overall user experience

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Considering that in the case of AWS Direct Connection, the Internet is not used, but a private network, network fluctuations are generally minimal and the overall user experience is much better. As VPN uses the Internet, the stability of the network depends on external factors, so with this network service you have to agree to tolerance in such situations. The user experience is fine, but it is variable, which can be a significant hurdle for some people.

5. Link Aggregation Groups

Link Aggregation groups are a useful addition, as they help to merge multiple connections into one. This way, easier connection management, better organization, and efficiency are achieved. Link Aggregation Groups can be used in the case of AWS Direct Connection, but not with Virtual Private Network, which is their disadvantage.

6. Financial expenses

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One of the main disadvantages of AWS Direct connection is that it is a more expensive option. VPN offers less financial outlay and easier configuration. However, what you need to keep in mind is that the performance of AWS Direct connection is much better compared to VPN, so it is best to take all the factors into consideration and conclude what is the most important for you. But if you are on a budget and are looking for a more affordable option, VPN is definitely a way to go.

Conclusion

There are several different networking solutions you can use to connect to Amazon Web Services. AWS Direct Connection is a network service that uses a private network, bypasses the Internet and offers security when transferring data from local infrastructure to AVC. A VPN uses an encrypted network within a public network (Internet) and is a cheaper option, but in its case the security of the business data may be compromised, as the data may become publicly available. To conclude, both options have their advantages and disadvantages. We suggest that you take them all into consideration and make a final conclusion about which solution works best for you and your business.