In the early days of the internet, the term “cloud” was a simple placeholder in telecom diagrams, representing the undefined destinations of data. The focus was on transmission, not the myriad possibilities within this “cloud.” Today, the paradigm has shifted dramatically. We are captivated by the amazing potential of data within cloud environments, yet we often overlook the critical aspect of how data securely and reliably journeys to and from the cloud. It’s akin to meticulously planning a dream vacation, perhaps even researching the best “Travel Tweaks Com” for optimizing your itinerary, without considering the fundamental logistics of transportation.
Before embarking on your cloud journey, a critical evaluation of your network options is paramount. While perhaps less glamorous than envisioning your cloud-based innovations, understanding how your data travels is non-negotiable. Just as seasoned travelers rely on expert advice to navigate complex journeys, businesses need to carefully consider their network pathways to the cloud.
Rest assured: Robust and secure network solutions exist for every cloud strategy. However, choosing the optimal path requires careful consideration of your specific needs and resources. For those who aren’t network specialists, deciphering the intricacies can seem daunting. If terms like CCIE and TCP blur together, this guide provides a foundational overview of the network options available to connect you to the cloud, ensuring your data’s journey is as smooth and efficient as any well-planned travel itinerary, perhaps even leveraging insights you might find on resources like “travel tweaks com” for optimizing your digital infrastructure.
Fundamentally, there are three primary network options for establishing cloud connectivity:
- Encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) over the Internet
- Integrating a cloud environment as a node within your existing Wide Area Network (WAN).
- Dedicated point-to-point circuits, often referred to as leased lines.
Encrypted VPN over the Internet
Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology empowers businesses to create secure and cost-effective geographically distributed networks utilizing the public internet infrastructure. A significant advantage of VPN access is its affordability, as data transmission leverages the open internet. Implementation is also relatively straightforward. These benefits have been instrumental in facilitating widespread business adoption of the internet and, subsequently, the cloud.
VPNs ensure security through tunneling protocols and robust security measures like encryption. Encryption protocols commonly employed include Internet Protocol Security (IPSec), Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS), and Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS).
To maintain data segregation as it traverses the internet’s routers, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is employed. MPLS essentially establishes a dedicated virtual pathway for your data between your outgoing router and its final cloud destination. This technology mirrors the multi-tenant architecture of public clouds, where your data is securely contained within its own virtual environment.
A Node on your WAN
Wide Area Networks (WANs) facilitate connectivity between multiple Local Area Networks (LANs) across an organization. Many WANs incorporate virtual LANs (VLANs) interconnected by VPNs through local exchange carriers to the internet. MPLS protocol again plays a crucial role in safeguarding data integrity within your WAN and during internet transit.
While organizations opting for this approach still benefit from internet-based data transmission, implementation is typically more complex and costly compared to a simple VPN setup. Integrating the cloud as a VPN extranet within your WAN is often a suitable solution for mid-sized organizations with geographically dispersed WAN environments.
Point to Point Connections
For organizations prioritizing absolute data control and security, point-to-point leased line connections (or private circuits) offer dedicated, always-on, fixed bandwidth connectivity between your data center and your cloud environment.
While all three network options offer security, point-to-point connections represent the pinnacle of security. They also deliver the highest speeds but are the most expensive option.
Point-to-point connections are well-suited for large enterprises with mission-critical applications and stringent compliance requirements mandating an exclusive, direct cloud connection. This includes financial institutions requiring ultra-high bandwidth, government agencies and their suppliers with stringent security mandates, and healthcare organizations obligated to guarantee patient data privacy.
Mix and Match for Resilience
Each of these three options encompasses various tiers of speed, quality, and security. A detailed exploration of their nuances falls outside the scope of this discussion. However, it’s essential to recognize that a tailored solution, or a combination thereof, can be engineered to securely and effectively transport your data to your cloud environment.
In fact, combining multiple options is often the most effective strategy to mitigate downtime risk. Every connection type, even dedicated point-to-point circuits, is susceptible to outages. Redundancy through multiple connections is the only true safeguard against the risk of losing cloud data access.
Acceptable risk levels are directly tied to the criticality of the application. For a non-production test environment, temporary data access loss may be inconsequential. However, for high-frequency trading firms, any downtime risk is unacceptable.
Bandwidth and Latency Considerations
Beyond connection type, bandwidth and latency are crucial factors in network selection.
Bandwidth needs are dictated by your cloud service utilization. Managing Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) typically requires minimal bandwidth. However, running SQL databases, conducting real-time transactions, or performing bulk nightly backups demand significantly more bandwidth to maintain acceptable performance.
Application providers often publish bandwidth guidelines. Microsoft, for instance, recommends a bandwidth range of 3 megabits per second (Mbps) (dual T1) and higher, with latency under 100 milliseconds (ms) for SQL databases in operational use. Quantify your bandwidth needs by aggregating the throughput requirements of all cloud-accessed applications and services. If these services are currently within your data center, you likely already have this data.
Latency, the delay between data packet dispatch and arrival, is inherent in all transmission mediums (cable, fiber optics, etc.) and limits the feasible distance to your cloud environment.
Network health also significantly impacts latency. ISP performance isn’t solely responsible for cloud data delays; internal factors like firewalls, routers, and servers can introduce latency after data reaches your network perimeter. Given the network strain from virtualization, collaboration tools, BYOD policies, and other modern IT demands, a comprehensive network health and capacity assessment is advisable before migrating to the cloud. Just as “travel tweaks com” might offer advice on pre-trip vehicle maintenance, a network assessment is crucial preparation for your cloud journey.
A Unified Perspective
The “cloud” metaphor, while conceptually useful, can foster a perception of the cloud as an external, detached entity. However, cloud adoption fundamentally expands your corporate IT landscape to encompass your internal infrastructure, cloud network connection, and the cloud environment itself. These elements are interdependent and must be treated as integral components of a holistic system. The failure of any component compromises the entire system. Neglecting any aspect in your IT strategy, especially network connectivity, will hinder your cloud ambitions, regardless of the innovation, creativity, or cost-effectiveness of your cloud destination. You simply won’t be able to get there effectively.
By Mike Johnson
