Customers can now connect their internal data centers and branch offices directly to Amazon Web Services through AWS Direct Connect SiteLink, a new capability within AWS Direct Connect.

Announced at Amazon Web Services Inc.’s re:Invent event today, AWS Direct Connect SiteLink provides a way for AWS customers to create connections between their on-premises networks through the company’s global network backbone.

AWS Direct Connect is a service that enables companies to create a dedicated network connection to the AWS cloud that never touches the public internet, ensuring such connections are not only faster, but also far more secure. It’s a useful service for any company that values speedy and reliable connectivity and data privacy.

Now, it’s getting a big boost. Previously, the only way for companies to setup direct connectivity between their regional data centers and branch offices was by connecting to the closest AWS Region first, then managing and configuring an AWS Transit Gateway to enable site-to-site connections.

So AWS Direct Connect SiteLink looks to be a welcome alternative, at least for AWS customers. Starting now, customers will be able to setup private connections between their various regional sites via Direct Connect locations, without sending any traffic through an AWS Region first. At launch, AWS offers 108 Direct Connect locations in 32 countries across the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. With the service, traffic flows directly from one Direct Connect location to another, following the shortest possible path.

“You can take advantage of Direct Connect’s reliability and global footprint to build a network that grows with your business, with no long-term contracts, flexible pay-as-you-go pricing, and a wide range of port-speeds, from 50 Mbps to 100 Gbps,” AWS Evangelist Sébastien Stormacq said in a blog post. “SiteLink also integrates with other AWS services, letting you reach your VPCs, other AWS services, and your on-premises networks from your Direct Connect connections.”

Direct Connect SiteLink is available now in all commercial AWS Regions except China.

Image: AWS