AWS re:Invent 2025 - Building High-Performance, Secure networks for Hybrid and Multicloud (HMC209)

Building High-Performance, Secure Networks for Hybrid and Multicloud

Overview

• Presenters: Brandon Wright (Equinix) and Ranga Tatai (AWS)
• Key topics: Leveraging AWS Direct Connect and Equinix Fabric for high-performance, secure hybrid and multicloud networking

Importance of Large Data Movements

• Data-intensive workloads are increasingly common, including:
  • AI/ML model training and inference
  • Industry-specific data consolidation (e.g. autonomous vehicles, connected manufacturing, media production)
  • Cloud migration projects moving hundreds of petabytes of data
• Reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity is critical to enable these use cases and meet performance requirements

AWS Direct Connect

• Dedicated network connection to AWS that bypasses the public internet
• Provides:
  • Consistent, predictable performance with SLA-backed availability
  • Encrypted data transfer using MACsec
  • Extensive global coverage with over 100 locations in 30+ countries
• Enables faster data transfers compared to VPN or internet-based connections
  • Example: 10PB data transfer in 1 hour over 25Gbps Direct Connect vs. 5% completion over VPN
• Crucial for latency-sensitive distributed workloads and data access

Equinix Fabric

• Equinix's global software-defined network platform
• 270+ data centers across 36 countries, 75 metros, 6 continents
• 220+ cloud on-ramps, including 56 AWS Direct Connect locations
• Leverages 2,000+ fiber and telecom networks for reliable, low-latency connectivity
• 99.999% global uptime SLA

Equinix Fabric Cloud Router

• On-demand, service-based cloud routing solution
• Enables rapid, elastic hybrid and multicloud connectivity
• Supports high-availability with primary and secondary data paths
• Scalable from 50Mbps to 100Gbps per instance, over 1Tbps aggregate
• Provides predictable, low-latency performance (e.g. 63ms West-East US)
• Allows direct cloud-to-cloud connectivity without hairpinning through on-premises

Customer Case Studies

1. Speed and Agility: Financial services firm used Equinix Fabric to quickly interconnect AWS and Azure, improving response times for automotive loan approvals.
2. Massive Scale: Autonomous vehicle company leveraged Equinix Fabric and AWS Direct Connect to transfer 500TB of data per day from distributed vehicle fleets into public clouds.

Try It Yourself

• Equinix offers a 7-day free trial of the Fabric Cloud Router on the AWS Marketplace
• Allows testing of hybrid and multicloud connectivity with 200Mbps virtual connections

Key Takeaways

• Reliable, high-performance networking is critical for data-intensive workloads in hybrid and multicloud environments
• AWS Direct Connect and Equinix Fabric provide secure, low-latency connectivity solutions to enable these use cases
• Equinix Fabric's cloud routing capabilities allow rapid, elastic multicloud interconnectivity with predictable performance
• Customers have seen significant benefits in terms of speed, agility, and scalability when leveraging these solutions