Solving High AWS to Azure Data Costs with IZO™ Multi-Cloud Connect

Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect stands as a pivotal software-defined interconnect-as-a-service solution, meticulously designed to streamline multi-cloud connectivity. It empowers enterprises to securely and seamlessly connect their critical applications, data centres, branch offices, and diverse cloud environments, all managed efficiently through a unified “single pane of glass.”

The imperative of cross-cloud data analytics

In today’s data-driven world, organisations increasingly rely on cloud data analytics to extract valuable insights and drive informed business decisions. Cross-cloud data analytics refers to the sophisticated capability of analysing and deriving intelligence from data that resides across multiple disparate cloud platforms, such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, without the cumbersome and often costly necessity of moving or centralising all that data into a single location.

Over the years, as these major cloud platforms have evolved, each has cultivated unique specialties and strengths pertinent to various aspects of cross-cloud data analytics requirements.

The customer’s challenge: High egress costs in a disconnected landscape

Our customer, a prominent financial services company, exemplified the challenges of a fragmented multi-cloud architecture. Their core Digital Lending platform was robustly running on AWS, while, crucially, all their sophisticated analytics services were strategically established on Microsoft Azure. This architectural split, while leveraging the best of both clouds, created a significant operational hurdle: data had to traverse from AWS cloud’s public endpoint, then via AWS’s native internet services, across the public internet, to finally reach Microsoft Azure’s endpoint.

At the substantial volume levels of data transfer required for their critical cross-cloud data analytics operations, this public internet transit became an exorbitant expense. The customer was incurring a staggering data egress cost of approximately $15,000 per month, solely due to the data moving between AWS and Microsoft Azure over public internet connections. This not only represented a significant drain on their operational budget but also introduced potential latency and security concerns inherent in public network transfers.

Also Read: Seamless OMS integration for fintech firm via IZO™ Multi Cloud Connect.

Tata Communications’ solution: Secure and cost-effective interconnect

When the customer approached Tata Communications for a viable solution, it became immediately clear that their cross-cloud data analytics operations were critical to their business. The solution needed to be robust, secure, and, most importantly, cost-effective. Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect emerged as the obvious and ideal “go-between” for their disparate cloud environments.

Our proposed architecture involved establishing direct, private connections: one end connected to AWS via AWS Direct Connect, and the other connected to Microsoft Azure via Azure ExpressRoute. Both of these dedicated connections were then terminated at a Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect node. Crucially, these endpoints were provisioned with sufficient bandwidth to handle the customer’s high volume of data transfers. The entire inter-cloud communication was then securely routed over Tata Communications’ resilient MPLS backbone, bypassing the public internet entirely.

Tangible benefits: Cost savings and operational simplicity

The implementation of Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect delivered immediate and profound benefits to the financial services company:

• Significant cost reduction: The most compelling outcome was the dramatic reduction in the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The customer achieved an impressive 29% reduction in costs, equating to approximately $10,700 per month, inclusive of all solution components. This saving was primarily driven by eliminating the high data egress charges previously incurred from transferring data over public internet connections between AWS and Azure.
• Simplified management: Beyond cost, the solution brought unparalleled operational simplicity. The customer no longer needed to possess separate, specialised skill sets for managing AWS and Microsoft Azure cloud connectivity independently. All components of this complex cross cloud data analytics architecture could now be managed and monitored within a single, unified pane of glass provided by Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect. This streamlined approach freed up valuable IT resources, allowing them to focus on core business innovation rather than intricate network configurations.
• Enhanced performance and security: While the primary drivers were cost and management, the shift to a private MPLS backbone for inter-cloud communication inherently delivered improved performance, lower latency, and enhanced security compared to traversing the public internet.

Your next steps towards optimised cloud connectivity

If your current cloud and data environment resonates with the use case described above, and you are seeking to optimise your cross-cloud data analytics operations, Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect offers a compelling solution. We invite you to take the following steps:

1. Explore our Cost Estimation Calculator: Discover your potential egress cost savings by using our intuitive calculator.
2. Explore Tata Communications IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect to gain a deeper understanding of its comprehensive capabilities.
3. Connect with our experts and schedule a consultation to discuss your specific setup and identify how we can help address your unique use cases. Start your trial today!