Azure Peering Service by Microsoft is a networking service that connects services within the global Microsoft Cloud to customers on the public Internet. Some of these services include Software as a Service (SaaS), Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Azure, and all other Microsoft services accessible through the public Internet. Azure Peering Service is the connection that customers need to have the best software access experience possible but cheaper than using a private circuit like ExpressRoute.
Azure Peering Service
In short, a peering service is an IP service that connects to the public Internet. Customers use this service to safely access an SaaS via the shortest route possible. Microsoft has partnered with multiple Internet service providers, Internet exchange partners, and software-defined Cloud interconnect providers so customers around the world can have optimum connectivity.
Instead of having the customer navigate through the public Internet to the nearest point of presence (PoP) in the Microsoft Cloud to reach the SaaS, Microsoft’s peering service ensures that each customer reaches the closest PoP, enters the Microsoft Cloud, and reaches the desired service. Century Link, now Lumen, is the main Microsoft Azure peering partner in the United States, and the service is included when a Direct Internet Access (DIA) circuit is ordered.
Benefits of Peering Service
Reliable Peering
In more detail, Azure Peering Service ensures reliable peering through two main methods: local redundancy and Geo-redundancy. In local redundancy, Microsoft and Internet providers interconnect through multiple PoP locations and provide multiple peering links for customers. Meanwhile, Geo-redundancy entails rerouting customers through the nearest PoPs if one of the links degrades.
Efficient Routing
As for routing, Microsoft uses cold potato routing over hot potato routing. In the cold potato model, traffic originates from the Microsoft Cloud and stays within the peering service to reach the customer. With hot potato routing, traffic jumps to the public Internet before hitting the user.
Monitoring
Microsoft also provides a Peering Platform for monitoring BGP route anomalies, customer latency, and any other performance degradation events. One can easily see if a problem arises and catch it before it develops further.
Traffic Protection
Within the Peering Service, a customer will reach their SaaS through a preferred path, even when an anomaly or malicious threat is detected. Should any anomaly occur, it will be reported in the Azure portal.
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