What is AWS Cloud WAN?

AWS Cloud WAN is a networking service launched at AWS re:Invent 2021. This service is limited to AWS networking and allows AWS customers to connect on-premises data centers, remote sites, and cloud applications (inside AWS) over AWS global network. Remote sites can be added to Cloud WAN over IPSec VPN or AWS Direct Connect attachment, while AWS VPCs can be added using the VPC attachment option. To configure Cloud WAN customers need to first create a core network inside a global network. The core network has the Cloud WAN edge nodes. These edge nodes are deployed in the AWS regions geographically closest to the AWS cloud workloads, remote sites, and on-premises data centers. The Cloud WAN edge nodes are very similar to AWS Transit Gateways (TGW), they have similar attachment types. Edge nodes in different regions connect to each other in a full mesh topology over the AWS global backbone.

The Cloud WAN service is limited to AWS and does not provide the native support for multi-cloud deployments. However, if you want to use Cloud WAN with other cloud environments Alkira Cloud Area Networking can provide the necessary integration with your Cloud WAN deployments and extend connectivity to other cloud service providers with simplicity and ease of use. Alkira is an official Cloud WAN partner with a jointly validated solution for extending connectivity and security services between the AWS workloads and the multi-cloud environments.

To learn more about Alkira and AWS Cloud WAN integration, please visit us at AWS and Alkira Join Forces on Integrating AWS Cloud WAN with Alkira Cloud Area Networking