FastConnect vs Other Connectivity Options: A Comprehensive Comparison

Jeanette Lee

·December 29, 2023

·8 min read

Understanding FastConnect in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

FastConnect is a connectivity option in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure that enables organizations to establish a dedicated and private connection between their on-premises networks and the Oracle Cloud. This high-bandwidth, low-latency connection ensures secure and reliable communication for enterprise workloads. By eliminating the need for public internet connections, FastConnect enhances performance, security, and control over data transfer. With FastConnect, organizations can experience faster data transfer rates, reduced latency, and improved network performance compared to traditional internet-based connections. This dedicated connection provides a robust foundation for organizations looking to leverage the power of the cloud while maintaining the security and control they require.

Benefits of Using FastConnect

FastConnect offers several key benefits that make it a preferred connectivity option for organizations in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Enhanced Performance and Reliability

FastConnect provides high-bandwidth connections, enabling faster data transfer rates compared to public internet connections. By bypassing the public internet, FastConnect reduces latency and ensures consistent network performance, making it ideal for latency-sensitive applications. This improved performance allows organizations to achieve faster response times and better overall user experience.

Additionally, FastConnect offers Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for uptime and packet delivery. These SLAs guarantee reliable connectivity by providing assurances on network availability and packet delivery rates. With these guarantees in place, organizations can confidently rely on FastConnect for their critical workloads without worrying about potential disruptions or data loss.

Improved Security and Control

One of the significant advantages of using FastConnect is the enhanced security and control it provides. By establishing a private connection, FastConnect isolates traffic from the public internet, reducing the risk of cyber threats such as unauthorized access or data breaches. This isolation ensures that sensitive data remains protected within a dedicated network environment.

FastConnect also enables direct access to Oracle Cloud services, allowing organizations to implement robust security measures tailored to their specific needs. With this direct access, organizations can enforce stringent security policies, such as encryption protocols or firewall rules, to safeguard their data during transit.

Furthermore, FastConnect supports private peering, which allows organizations to establish private connections with other networks or cloud providers. This feature ensures data privacy and compliance with industry regulations by keeping sensitive information within controlled environments.

Overall, the enhanced performance, reliability, security features, and control offered by FastConnect make it an excellent choice for organizations looking to optimize their cloud networking capabilities in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Setting Up and Configuring FastConnect

Setting up and configuring FastConnect in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure involves a series of steps to establish a secure and reliable connection between your on-premises network and the cloud.

Prerequisites and Requirements

Before setting up FastConnect, you will need the following:

An Oracle Cloud Infrastructure tenancy: You must have an active tenancy in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to configure FastConnect.
A FastConnect provider: Choose a FastConnect provider that meets your connectivity requirements. These providers offer dedicated connections to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
Compatible network equipment: Ensure that your on-premises network is equipped with compatible routers or switches that can establish connectivity with the FastConnect provider's network.

Additionally, make sure you have the necessary permissions and credentials within your tenancy to configure FastConnect successfully. This may involve working closely with your organization's network or infrastructure team.

FastConnect supports multiple connection speeds and redundancy options, allowing you to customize your setup based on your specific needs. Consider factors such as bandwidth requirements, redundancy requirements, and future scalability when selecting the appropriate configuration for your environment.

Step-by-Step Configuration Process

To set up and configure FastConnect, follow these steps:

Configure your on-premises network: Set up the necessary routing protocols, IP addressing, and security policies on your on-premises network devices to establish connectivity with the FastConnect provider's network.
Configure the FastConnect provider's network: Work with your chosen FastConnect provider to configure their side of the connection. This typically involves providing them with relevant details about your network setup.
Create a virtual circuit in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: In the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Console, create a virtual circuit that represents the logical connection between your on-premises network and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
Configure routing and security policies: Define routing policies within Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to ensure proper traffic flow between your networks. Implement security policies such as access control lists (ACLs) or firewall rules to protect data during transit.
Validate and test the connection: Once all configurations are in place, validate and test the FastConnect connection by sending test traffic between your on-premises network and resources in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. This step ensures successful communication before deploying production workloads.

By following this step-by-step process, you can set up and configure FastConnect effectively, establishing a dedicated connection that offers high performance, reliability, security, and control for seamless integration between your on-premises infrastructure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Comparison with Other Connectivity Options

When considering connectivity options for your cloud networking needs, it's essential to compare FastConnect with other alternatives such as VPN and internet peering.

FastConnect vs VPN

FastConnect offers several advantages over VPN connections:

Higher bandwidth and lower latency: FastConnect provides higher bandwidth capacity, allowing for faster data transfer rates compared to VPN connections. It also reduces latency by bypassing the public internet, resulting in improved network performance.
Designed for large-scale enterprise applications: While VPN connections are suitable for smaller workloads and remote access scenarios, FastConnect is specifically designed to meet the demands of large-scale enterprise applications. It offers a dedicated and private connection, ensuring better security and performance compared to VPN over the public internet.

By leveraging FastConnect, organizations can achieve faster and more reliable connectivity, making it an ideal choice for mission-critical workloads that require high-performance networking capabilities.

FastConnect vs Internet Peering

FastConnect differs from internet peering in the following ways:

Dedicated connection: FastConnect establishes a dedicated connection between your on-premises network and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. In contrast, internet peering relies on public internet connections. This dedicated connection ensures better security and reliability for critical workloads.
Higher bandwidth and lower latency: FastConnect provides higher bandwidth capacity and lower latency compared to internet peering. This makes it particularly suitable for applications that require fast data transfer rates or low-latency communication.

While internet peering may be suitable for non-sensitive traffic or less critical workloads, FastConnect is preferred when secure and reliable communication is paramount.

By understanding these comparisons with other connectivity options like VPN and internet peering, organizations can make informed decisions regarding their cloud networking requirements. FastConnect stands out as a robust solution offering higher performance, enhanced security, and dedicated connectivity tailored to meet the needs of enterprise-grade applications.

Real-World Use Cases and Success Stories

FastConnect in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure has been successfully implemented in various real-world scenarios, showcasing its versatility and tangible benefits for organizations.

Use Case: Hybrid Cloud Deployments

FastConnect enables seamless integration between on-premises infrastructure and Oracle Cloud, making it an ideal solution for hybrid cloud deployments. Organizations can leverage FastConnect to extend their data centers, migrate workloads, and achieve a hybrid cloud architecture that combines the benefits of both on-premises infrastructure and the scalability of the cloud.

By utilizing FastConnect, organizations can establish a dedicated and private connection between their on-premises network and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. This allows them to securely access cloud resources while maintaining control over sensitive data. The flexibility and scalability offered by FastConnect make it an excellent choice for organizations looking to optimize their hybrid cloud environments.

Success Story: Company X's Improved Performance

Company X implemented FastConnect in their infrastructure and experienced significant performance improvements for their mission-critical applications. By bypassing the public internet, they were able to reduce latency and achieve faster data transfer rates.

With FastConnect's dedicated connection, Company X was able to ensure consistent network performance, resulting in enhanced application responsiveness and improved user experience. This success story highlights how implementing FastConnect can have a direct impact on application performance, enabling organizations to meet their business objectives more efficiently.

These real-world use cases and success stories demonstrate the practical benefits of implementing FastConnect in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Whether it's facilitating hybrid cloud deployments or improving application performance, FastConnect offers organizations the tools they need to enhance connectivity, security, and overall operational efficiency.

Making an Informed Decision

In conclusion, FastConnect in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure offers enhanced performance, improved security, and control over data transfer. By comparing FastConnect with other connectivity options like VPN and internet peering, organizations can make informed decisions based on their specific requirements. Real-world use cases and success stories further highlight the practical benefits of implementing FastConnect for seamless connectivity and improved application performance. With its high-bandwidth, low-latency connections and dedicated private connection, FastConnect provides organizations with the tools they need to optimize their cloud networking capabilities while ensuring the security and reliability of their critical workloads.