Why Direct Connect is faster than VPN
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AWS Direct Connect (DX) provides a dedicated private network connection between your on-premises network and AWS.
- Lower latency
- More consistent performance
- Higher bandwidth (1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, even 100 Gbps options)
- No reliance on the public internet
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VPN connection uses the public internet and is encrypted, which means:
- Higher latency
- Less predictable performance
- Lower throughput (limited by internet connection speed)
So yes — DX is faster, more stable, and more reliable than VPN.
Cost Comparison
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Connect | High throughput, low latency, stable performance | Monthly port fees, per-GB charges, setup cost |
| VPN | Low setup cost, flexible | Higher latency, lower performance, less predictable |
Example cost scenario:
- DX has a fixed monthly port fee (e.g., $0.30–$0.25 per hour depending on speed) plus data transfer rates.
- VPN has no monthly port fee, but charges for data transfer and uses your internet connection — so it’s cheaper for low volume traffic but not for high-performance, high-volume workloads.
Why use both
- Direct Connect → primary for performance and reliability
- VPN → backup for redundancy (failover) and lower cost if DX fails
This setup is called a hybrid architecture with redundancy and is a best practice for mission-critical workloads.
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