Powerful Reasons to Choose Azure Express Route vs VPN gateway
Table of Contents
What is Azure ExpressRoute?
Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute is one of the most used solutions, cloud-driven and seeking to be in organizations within networking grounds. This brings up a question for most organizations: whether to choose between Azure VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute – two of the most widely used options on the horizon. This blog article will help understand the key differences, features, pricing, limitations and the best use cases for Azure VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute.
What is an Azure Gateway?
An Azure Gateway serves as a connection point for different types of networks. It allows communication between your on-premises network and connect to Azure cloud. Azure Gateways facilitate secure connections, manage network traffic, and enable access to Azure services from external networks. Azure offers various types of gateways to cater to different networking requirements.
Different Types of Gateways in Azure:
Azure provides several gateway types to meet diverse networking needs:
- VPN Gateway: Connects on-premises networks to Azure via encrypted tunnels over the public internet.
- ExpressRoute Gateway: Provides a private connection between on-premises networks and Azure, bypassing the public internet for more secure and reliable connectivity.
- Application Gateway: Manages traffic to web applications, providing features like SSL termination and URL-based routing.
Each gateway type serves specific use cases, so it’s essential to choose the right one based on your needs.
What is a VPN Gateway in Azure?
A VPN Gateway in Azure is a specialized type of gateway that allows you to create secure, encrypted connections between your on-premises network and Azure. This is done over the public internet, ensuring that data is transmitted safely. VPN Gateways are essential for organizations looking to integrate their on-premises infrastructure with Azure services while maintaining data privacy and security.
Key Features of the VPN Gateway
- Site-to-Site Connectivity: Allows secure connections between on-premises networks and Azure virtual networks.
- Point-to-Site Connectivity: Enables remote users to connect securely to Azure from their devices.
- ExpressRoute Support: VPN Gateways can complement ExpressRoute by providing redundancy and additional connectivity options.
- Encryption: All data transmitted through VPN Gateways is encrypted, ensuring security and compliance with data protection standards.
- Traffic Management: VPN Gateways can manage and optimize traffic flow between networks, improving performance.
Pricing and Availability of Azure VPN Gateway
The pricing of Azure VPN Gateways is based on several factors, including the selected gateway SKU, the amount of data processed, and the number of connections. Azure offers different SKUs (Basic, VpnGw1, VpnGw2, and VpnGw3) to cater to varying performance needs.
- Basic: Suitable for small workloads and limited traffic.
- VpnGw1, VpnGw2, VpnGw3: Designed for increasing levels of traffic and more complex scenarios, each with enhanced features and capacity.
Azure VPN Gateway is generally available in all Azure regions, ensuring that organizations can deploy their solutions globally.
Limitations of the Azure VPN Gateway
Despite its advantages, Azure VPN Gateway has some limitations:
- Bandwidth Constraints: Depending on the selected SKU, there are maximum bandwidth limits that may not meet the needs of high-traffic applications.
- Latency: Since the connection is over the public internet, latency can be higher than private connections like ExpressRoute.
- Public Internet Dependency: The reliance on the public internet can introduce variability in performance and reliability.
What is an Azure Express Route Gateway?
An Azure Express Route Gateway is designed for organizations that require a private, dedicated connection between their on-premises infrastructure and Azure. Unlike VPN Gateways, which use the public internet, Connectivity with ExpressRoute allows for more security and reliability by creating a private connection through a third-party service provider.
Key Features of the ExpressRoute Gateway
- Private Connectivity: Offers a secure connection that does not traverse the public internet, reducing exposure to potential security risks.
- High Performance: Provides higher bandwidth options and lower latency than VPN Gateways, making it ideal for large-scale applications.
- Redundancy: Built-in redundancy ensures high availability and reliability for mission-critical applications.
- Global Reach: Supports connections to Azure services across various regions, enhancing flexibility for global operations.
Integration with Microsoft Services: Easily integrates with other Microsoft services, providing a seamless experience for users.
Pricing and Availability of Azure Express Route Gateway
Azure Express Route pricing is based on several factors, including the selected bandwidth, the number of circuits, and the location of the ExpressRoute peering. The pricing model consists of a monthly charge for the circuit plus data transfer charges, which vary based on the region and type of data transfer (inbound or outbound).
ExpressRoute is available in various Azure regions, with options for local, regional, and global connectivity.
Limitations of the ExpressRoute Gateway
While ExpressRoute offers many benefits, it also has some limitations:
- Higher Cost: ExpressRoute can be more expensive than VPN Gateways, making it less suitable for smaller organizations with limited budgets.
- Complex Setup: Setting up an ExpressRoute connection can be more complex and time-consuming than a VPN Gateway.
Dependency on Third-Party Providers: Requires working with a connectivity provider, which may add additional steps to the setup process.
Comparing Azure VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute Gateway
When deciding between Azure VPN Gateway and Azure Express Route, it’s essential to consider the following factors:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion
Choosing between Azure VPN Gateway and Azure Express Route involves understanding your organization’s unique networking needs, performance requirements, and budget constraints. Both solutions offer robust features and capabilities, but their suitability depends on the specific use cases you aim to address. By carefully considering the differences and benefits of each gateway, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and enhances your cloud connectivity.
ExpressRoute connectivity providers enable seamless connections from various regions to ExpressRoute locations, ensuring optimal performance while adhering to the specific requirements of each geopolitical region.
Read Microsoft Official documentation
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