Simplifying Multi-Region Hybrid Connectivity with AWS Direct Connect Gateway

AMJ Cloud Technologies partnered with a global logistics and supply chain company to streamline their multi-region hybrid cloud connectivity using AWS Direct Connect Gateway. This case study demonstrates how we reduced network complexity, lowered costs, and enhanced scalability for their global operations.

Situation

The client, a logistics company with data centers in Singapore and Frankfurt, operated a multi-region AWS deployment across Asia, Europe, and North America to support logistics tracking, inventory management, and real-time analytics. With a multi-account AWS strategy, they managed separate accounts for production, development, and regional business units. Initially, they connected their on-premises data centers to AWS using standard AWS Direct Connect (DX) links, one per region. As their AWS footprint expanded to five regions and over a dozen VPCs, this approach became unsustainable.

Task

Our team was tasked with designing a solution to meet the following objectives:

• Simplify network architecture by reducing the number of Direct Connect configurations.
• Lower operational and infrastructure costs associated with multiple DX links.
• Enhance scalability to support a growing number of AWS accounts, regions, and VPCs.
• Eliminate routing conflicts and ensure conflict-free connectivity across VPCs.
• Maintain high availability and performance for latency-sensitive workloads.

The project was executed by a team of cloud architects and network engineers over an eight-week timeline.

Action

To achieve these objectives, we implemented AWS Direct Connect Gateway to centralize hybrid connectivity, enabling global VPC access from a single Direct Connect location while ensuring performance, scalability, and resilience:

1. Single DX Location, Global Reach:

   • Retained a single 10 Gbps Direct Connect link in Singapore, connected through a colocation facility.
   • Utilized this link to connect to VPCs across five AWS regions via an AWS Direct Connect Gateway.

2. Private Virtual Interface (VIF) Configuration:

   • Created a Private VIF and associated it with the Direct Connect Gateway, enabling secure communication from the client’s data center to multiple VPCs across regions.

3. Multi-Account VPC Associations:

   • Associated VPCs from different AWS accounts (e.g., production, development, analytics) with the same Direct Connect Gateway, simplifying cross-account network management.

4. Centralized Routing:

   • Configured all VPCs with unique, non-overlapping CIDR blocks to ensure conflict-free routing.
   • Used Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) for dynamic route advertisement from on-premises routers to AWS.

5. High Availability Strategy:

   • Established a redundant IPsec VPN connection to each region as a failover path.
   • Configured automatic rerouting over the VPN in the event of a Direct Connect failure to maintain connectivity.

6. No VPC-to-VPC Routing via Gateway:

   • Addressed the limitation of Direct Connect Gateway by using AWS Transit Gateway for intra-region VPC-to-VPC communication, ensuring efficient inter-VPC traffic flow.

7. Testing and Validation:

   • Conducted simulated failure tests to confirm high availability and failover performance.
   • Monitored latency, routing behavior, and cost metrics to validate improvements.

The team collaborated with the client to monitor metrics during rollout and fine-tuned configurations to optimize performance and scalability.

Result

The AWS Direct Connect Gateway implementation delivered significant outcomes:

• Consolidated Five Direct Connect Configurations into a Single Architecture: Reduced operational complexity and improved network visibility.
• 40% Reduction in Network Infrastructure Costs: Eliminated the need for multiple colocation connections, delivering substantial savings.
• Support for Up to 500 VPCs Across Regions and Accounts: Provided a scalable solution for onboarding new accounts and regions without additional DX links.
• Consistent, Low-Latency Connectivity for Global Workloads: Enhanced performance for latency-sensitive applications like shipment tracking and data synchronization.
• Centralized Network Management Across Multiple AWS Accounts: Strengthened governance and compliance while allowing granular control of VPC associations.
• Operational Simplicity: Quick implementation with minimal disruption.

This solution has become a reference for AMJ Cloud Technologies’ multi-region hybrid connectivity projects, showcasing our expertise in AWS networking and scalability architectures.

Technologies Used

• AWS Direct Connect (10 Gbps – Singapore): Provided dedicated network connectivity.
• AWS Direct Connect Gateway: Centralized global VPC connectivity.
• Private Virtual Interfaces (VIFs): Enabled secure access to VPCs.
• Border Gateway Protocol (BGP): Managed dynamic routing.
• IPsec VPN for Redundancy: Ensured high availability.
• AWS Transit Gateway (for intra-region VPC communication): Supported inter-VPC traffic.
• Multi-Account VPC Architecture: Simplified cross-account management.
• AWS Regions (Singapore, Frankfurt, US East - N. Virginia, Tokyo, Sydney): Supported global operations.

Key Use Cases

This architecture is suitable for:

• Global enterprises with multi-region, multi-account AWS deployments.
• Organizations requiring centralized, scalable hybrid cloud connectivity.
• Businesses seeking cost-efficient solutions for large-scale network expansion.

Ready to simplify your hybrid cloud connectivity? Contact us to explore how AMJ Cloud Technologies can help.

Key Takeaways

This case study highlights the impact of AWS Direct Connect Gateway in simplifying multi-region hybrid connectivity for a logistics client. By consolidating a fragmented network architecture into a centralized, scalable solution, we reduced costs, enhanced performance, and improved governance. AMJ Cloud Technologies is dedicated to delivering practical cloud solutions for global, hybrid architectures.

Architectural Diagram