VPN connectivity over Direct Connect

Can you explain what AWS Direct Connect is and how it differs from VPN connectivity?

AWS Direct Connect is a network service that provides an alternative to using the internet to utilize AWS services by establishing a private connection from an on-premises network to Amazon VPC. It offers a more consistent network experience compared to internet-based connections. VPN connectivity, on the other hand, involves creating an encrypted tunnel over the internet to connect your private infrastructure to AWS services. Direct Connect provides a dedicated network connection, while VPNs use the public internet but with encryption for security.

What are the primary advantages of using VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect?

The primary advantage of using VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect is that VPNs can be established quickly and do not require a physical connection to the AWS network. This makes VPNs more cost-effective for smaller data transfers, more flexible, and quicker to set up compared to Direct Connect, which typically requires more upfront investment and time to provision.

In what circumstance would you prefer to set up a VPN over Direct Connect?

I would prefer to set up a VPN over Direct Connect when the use case requires quick deployment, where scalability and the ability to connect from multiple geographic locations are important, or when handling variable or relatively low volumes of traffic. It’s also preferable when looking for a more cost-effective solution for redundancy or for businesses that do not require the high throughput provided by Direct Connect.

How would you establish redundancy for your AWS Direct Connect connection and how does VPN fit into this strategy?

To establish redundancy for AWS Direct Connect, you should set up a second Direct Connect connection, ideally using a different Direct Connect location to ensure physical diversity. VPN can also be integrated into this strategy by serving as a failover option in case both Direct Connect links fail or as a supplementary connection for increased resiliency and traffic management.

Can you implement both AWS Direct Connect and VPN simultaneously? If yes, how does AWS Direct Connect and VPN work together?

Yes, you can implement both AWS Direct Connect and VPN simultaneously. AWS Direct Connect can be used for a stable, high bandwidth connection, while VPNs add an additional layer of redundancy and can encrypt traffic that requires higher security. Traffic can be configured to route over Direct Connect for efficiency and fall back to VPN in case of a Direct Connect outage.

What encryption options are available when using VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect?

When using VPN Connectivity over Direct Connect, the VPN connection provides encryption using IPsec (Internet Protocol Security), which ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of the data that traverses the public internet. Direct Connect itself does not provide encryption, as it’s a private link, but coupling it with a VPN connection adds the security layer with encryption.

What are the differences in bandwidth when using VPN Connectivity compared to AWS Direct Connect?

VPN Connectivity is generally bandwidth-constrained compared to AWS Direct Connect, due to its reliance on the public internet and encryption overhead. VPNs can typically handle speeds up to 25 Gbps per connection, whereas AWS Direct Connect can provide dedicated connections at 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps, and link aggregation groups (LAGs) can combine multiple connections for higher throughput.

How does network performance compare when using VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect versus using the internet-based VPN?

Network performance over VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect is generally more consistent and offers lower latency than internet-based VPN connections. Since Direct Connect provides a private, dedicated network connection to AWS, it bypasses the public internet, reducing the risk of jitter, congestion, and packet loss that can affect internet-based VPNs.

What are some of the challenges of configuring VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect?

Some challenges include the complex configuration of route prioritization for failover and backup, ensuring the proper setup of BGP for dynamic routing, managing IPsec encryption for the VPN connection, and ensuring that network ACLs, security groups, and route table entries are correctly configured to allow traffic to flow securely and efficiently over both the Direct Connect and VPN connections.

How does the pricing model for VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect compare with using a VPN over the public internet?

The pricing model for VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect involves costs for both the Direct Connect connection (port-hour charges and data transfer out fees) and the VPN connection (VPN connection-hour charges). Using a VPN over the public internet only incurs VPN connection-hour charges and the cost for the internet service provider (ISP). While Direct Connect provides a more stable and potentially faster connection, it’s usually more expensive than a VPN over the internet due to the additional dedicated connection fees.

Discuss how Quality of Service (QoS) can be managed when using VPN Connectivity over AWS Direct Connect.

Quality of Service (QoS) cannot be directly managed over the AWS portion of a Direct Connect or VPN connection, as AWS networks are designed to provide the best effort delivery. However, you can implement QoS policies on your on-premises network equipment before traffic enters the Direct Connect or VPN connection. Properly configuring QoS can prioritize important or latency-sensitive traffic such as VoIP or streaming.