Whether they’re used alone or in combination, these approaches are truly driving changes in the connectivity designs required for cloud reachability. Australian universities are increasingly adopting hybrid cloud and multi-cloud solutions. At a network level, these mixed cloud models have resulted in increasingly complex connectivity options.

Here’s a way to get started with navigating these complexities to reduce risk and improve overall connectivity efficiency.

Cloud Connectivity options

The diagram above demonstrates the different cloud connectivity domains at a high level and helps to explain the key components and organisations involved (see corresponding numbers in diagram):

1. The cloud applications, data and services with their traffic flow characteristics and reachability requirements. These should drive the selection of the options for optimal connectivity.
2. Your side of the network and sub-options for how to connect to multiple clouds.
3. The cloud service provider’s side of the network, with their VPC and cloud-direct connectivity options (including requirements for any vendors who might manage cloud applications for you)
4. The connectivity provider (in this case, AARNet), who will extend connectivity from your network locations to the cloud provider network in their data centres AARNet calls these transmission service options “AARNet Cloud Connect”.

Learn more

Find detailed information in our AARNet Cloud Connectivity Primer, produced exclusively for networking technologists and IT managers at AARNet customer institutions. We recognise the complexities involved in cloud networking and that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work for all customers.

The AARNet Cloud Connectivity primer is designed to help you better understand the relevant networking landscape and some of the options and solutions available, including cloud provider and AARNet services for connecting to cloud. This document also aims to help customers understand some of the information and motivations we think are important when considering the options available to you.

Contact the AARNet Enterprise Service Team or your Customer Relations representative to get your free copy of the AARNet Cloud Connectivity Primer.