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AWS Direct Connect vs AWS Storage Gateway: What are the differences?
AWS Direct Connect vs AWS Storage Gateway
AWS Direct Connect and AWS Storage Gateway are two services offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that cater to different aspects of data storage and connectivity needs. While both services aim to improve the efficiency and reliability of data transfer, they have distinct features that set them apart.
Connectivity vs Storage: The main difference between AWS Direct Connect and AWS Storage Gateway lies in their primary purpose. AWS Direct Connect focuses on providing a dedicated network connection between an on-premises data center and AWS, enabling organizations to establish a private and low-latency link for data transfer. On the other hand, AWS Storage Gateway primarily deals with storage-related tasks, acting as a bridge between on-premises applications and AWS cloud storage services.
Data Transfer Modes: AWS Direct Connect supports two data transfer modes: dedicated connections and hosted connections. Dedicated connections offer private network connectivity with high bandwidth and consistent throughput, while hosted connections provide a more flexible and cost-effective option with shared bandwidth. In contrast, AWS Storage Gateway employs various transfer modes like file, volume, and tape gateways to cater to different storage and backup requirements, offering a range of functionalities such as file sharing, block volume access, and virtual tape library integration.
Data Storage Location: When it comes to data storage, AWS Direct Connect does not directly handle storage but serves as a dedicated link to transfer data between on-premises and AWS. In contrast, AWS Storage Gateway acts as a local caching layer, allowing organizations to store and access frequently used data on-premises while seamlessly moving less frequently accessed data to AWS cloud storage. This hybrid approach provides a balance between low-latency access and cost-effective scalability.
Data Latency and Bandwidth: AWS Direct Connect ensures low-latency and consistent network connections by bypassing the public internet and directly connecting to AWS regions. It offers high bandwidth options ranging from 1 Gbps to 100 Gbps and can accommodate large data transfers without worrying about internet congestion. On the other hand, AWS Storage Gateway's data transfer speeds depend on the available network bandwidth and latency between the on-premises location and the AWS region. While it provides decent performance, it might not match the dedicated and predictable network speeds of AWS Direct Connect.
Data Security and Compliance: AWS Direct Connect helps enhance data security by offering a private, dedicated, and isolated connection that bypasses the public internet. It can be configured with encryption protocols like IPSec VPN and AWS Direct Connect virtual interfaces supporting either AWS Direct Connect Dedicated Connections or AWS Direct Connect Hosted Connections. AWS Storage Gateway also provides security features such as encryption at rest and in transit, data integrity checks, and integration with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for access control to ensure compliance and protection of stored data.
Cost and Pricing Model: AWS Direct Connect has a separate pricing structure based on the number of ports, location, and data transfer volume. It offers cost-saving possibilities by reducing data transfer costs over long durations. In contrast, AWS Storage Gateway's pricing combines elements of data transfer, storage usage, and additional features like caching and virtual tape libraries. The costs are calculated based on factors like gateway type, data transfer volume, and storage usage, providing flexibility in adjusting to storage requirements and usage patterns.
In summary, AWS Direct Connect focuses on providing dedicated network connectivity between on-premises data centers and AWS, ensuring low-latency, high-bandwidth data transfer. AWS Storage Gateway, on the other hand, acts as a storage bridge, enabling organizations to seamlessly integrate on-premises applications with AWS cloud storage services, providing a hybrid storage solution with caching and backup capabilities.
