In the evolving landscape of digital transformation, cloud computing stands out as a pivotal component. For enterprises, the journey to the cloud is often fraught with concerns, especially around cybersecurity. Yet, as the digital shift progresses, more than 60% of security professionals now believe that the risk of breaches is equal to or lower in public cloud environments compared to on-premise setups. This article explores the intricacies of building secure cloud connections, highlighting the challenges, solutions, and best practices for enterprises.
Understanding the Public Cloud
Cloud computing has revolutionized modern business operations by providing faster, more flexible, and cost-effective solutions. Public cloud services, accessible via the public internet, have become ubiquitous. They offer infinite scalability, flexible pricing, faster deployment, and the advantage of maintenance by Cloud Service Providers (CSPs). These benefits have driven widespread cloud adoption, making the cloud an integral part of contemporary enterprise IT strategies.
Challenges of Connecting to the Cloud
Despite the advantages, connecting to the cloud presents several challenges:
Service Outages and Performance Issues
Service outages and poor performance are common pitfalls in cloud connectivity. These issues often arise from relying on the public internet, which is prone to congestion and inefficiencies. The dynamic and shared nature of public internet routes can lead to data packet loss and increased latency, significantly impacting business operations.
Security Risks
Security remains a paramount concern. The public internet is a frequent target for cyberattacks, such as Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks can lead to significant downtime and data loss, with Gartner estimating downtime costs at $5,600 per minute. The multi-hop nature of public internet connections introduces multiple points of failure and increases the surface area for potential attacks.
Strategies for Secure Cloud Connectivity
Public Internet Connections
Connecting to the cloud via the public internet is straightforward but fraught with vulnerabilities. The ease of connection is often overshadowed by the risks of data breaches and inconsistent performance. Enterprises must consider these factors when planning their cloud strategies.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
VPNs offer a more robust solution by creating private networks over public connections. However, they still operate at Layer 3 via service providers across the public internet, leaving them susceptible to similar performance issues and security threats as direct public internet connections.
Dedicated, Direct Cloud Connections
A more secure and efficient approach involves using dedicated, direct cloud connections. CSPs like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Alibaba Cloud, and Google Cloud Platform have developed partner programs to enhance cloud connectivity. Solutions such as AWS Direct Connect, Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute, Alibaba Express Connect, and Google Cloud Interconnect enable enterprises to bypass the public internet, thereby mitigating security and performance issues.
Benefits of Direct Cloud Connections
Enhanced Security
Direct connections eliminate the risks associated with the public internet by providing a dedicated pathway to the cloud. This reduces the surface area for attacks and ensures that data is transmitted securely between enterprise facilities and the cloud.
Improved Performance and Reliability
Direct cloud connections offer stable, predictable performance with lower latency. By avoiding multiple hops, these connections reduce the chances of packet loss and improve overall data transfer speeds. Enterprises benefit from a more reliable and efficient cloud experience.
Cost Efficiency
While there are upfront costs associated with establishing direct connections, they can lead to significant savings in the long run. By reducing data transfer fees and avoiding the high costs of public internet vulnerabilities, enterprises can achieve a more cost-effective cloud strategy.
Implementing Direct Cloud Connections
Cloud On-Ramps and Internet-Bypass Solutions
For enterprises located in data centers with cloud on-ramps, connecting to cloud services can be achieved through simple data center interconnections (cross-connects). These connections, typically using Layer 2 Ethernet, range from 50Mbps to 10Gbps. For those not present in such data centers, global connectivity providers can offer the necessary backhaul connectivity to link enterprise premises directly to CSPs.
Network as a Service (NaaS)
NaaS platforms like Infiny by Epsilon simplify the process of establishing direct cloud connections. These platforms automate network provisioning, reducing the need for extensive manual configuration and enabling enterprises to scale their cloud infrastructure on-demand. NaaS platforms also help bridge the skill gaps in IT departments by providing advanced tools and pre-configured solutions.
Case Study: Asian Multinational Enterprise
An Asian multinational investment holding conglomerate, with operations across five continents, faced challenges in securely accessing their cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Initially deployed in their Hong Kong office with a direct connection to Microsoft Azure, the company sought to replicate this setup across other regions to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
Solution
Epsilon provided two ExpressRoute circuits to Microsoft Azure, ensuring high availability and resilience through diverse routing. Using Infiny, the company could easily manage and scale their cloud connections, facilitating future connections to multiple CSPs.
Results
The enterprise achieved a secure, cost-efficient connectivity model, allowing seamless access to their cloud-based ERP system without operational disruptions. This solution exemplified how direct cloud connections could support complex, multi-regional business operations.
Conclusion
Building secure cloud connections is crucial for enterprises aiming to leverage the full potential of cloud computing. While public internet connections are the easiest to set up, they come with significant security and performance drawbacks. VPNs offer some improvements but still fall short in reliability and efficiency.
The most effective solution lies in dedicated, direct cloud connections, which provide enhanced security, improved performance, and cost efficiency. By partnering with CSPs and leveraging advanced connectivity solutions like NaaS platforms, enterprises can overcome the challenges of cloud connectivity and ensure a robust, scalable, and secure IT infrastructure for the future.
For enterprises looking to stay ahead in the digital era, investing in secure cloud connections is not just an option but a necessity. With the right strategy and tools, they can transform their IT infrastructure, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation.