Selecting the right AWS private connectivity options: A decision framework

This article presents a decision framework for selecting the right AWS private connectivity option among Direct Connect, Direct Connect SiteLink, and AWS Interconnect based on connectivity patterns and operational requirements.

• Three connectivity patterns: AWS to on-premises, data center to data center, and AWS to other clouds
• Direct Connect dedicated connections offer highest bandwidth (up to 400 Gbps) with full control and MACsec encryption
• AWS Interconnect – last mile provides fully managed connections with built-in redundancy and 99.99% SLA
• Direct Connect SiteLink enables private site-to-site traffic between data centers over AWS backbone
• AWS Interconnect – multicloud delivers private Layer 3 connections to other cloud providers with redundant facilities
• Decision factors include time to market, bandwidth, encryption, resiliency, operational overhead, and cost

The framework helps organizations match their connectivity requirements to the appropriate option, with decision matrix and tree provided for design conversations.