Solution Variants: Multi Cloud Connect Direct and Flex
IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect is available in two variants - IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Direct (private, dedicated interconnects) and IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Flex (VNF-based connectivity over an internet underlay). This page helps you choose, or combine, the one that fits your connectivity, security, and architectural requirements.
The two variants at a glance
|
Variant |
What it delivers |
When to choose it |
|
IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Direct |
Private cloud connectivity over Tata Communications-managed dedicated interconnects to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle, and IBM |
Most production workloads needing predictable, SLA-backed cloud connectivity |
|
IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Flex |
NFV-based connectivity using Virtualised Network Functions (router, firewall, SD-WAN) deployed within the Tata Communications network |
Sites that connect over the public internet (IPsec underlay), workloads requiring SD-WAN integration, or scenarios needing rapid service-chain changes |
When to choose IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Direct
IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Direct is the right choice for the majority of enterprise cloud-connectivity requirements. It delivers a dedicated, logically-partitioned interconnect to the cloud provider - AWS Direct Connect Hosted Connection, Azure ExpressRoute circuit, Google Cloud Interconnect, Oracle FastConnect, IBM Cloud Direct Link or other cloud service provider.
Choose Direct when:
-
Your sites already connect to the Tata Communications backbone over MPLS.
-
You need predictable, SLA-backed performance for production workloads.
-
You don’t need additional service chaining or inline security inspection.
-
Your security model treats the cloud provider as a trust boundary, with enforcement in your own VPC or in cloud-native security services.
-
Some of your sites connect over the public internet rather than MPLS, and you need IPsec encryption to reach the backbone securely. Flex’s Service Gateway routers terminate IPsec tunnels and bridge them into IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect.
-
You’re integrating with an SD-WAN platform and need a clean hand-off into private cloud connectivity.
-
You need rapid changes to service chains - for instance, inserting a virtual firewall between site traffic and the cloud - without procuring physical hardware.
-
Your architecture mixes managed and unmanaged sites with different security postures.
When to choose IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Flex
IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Flex uses Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) to deliver connectivity through software-defined network functions running within the Tata Communications network. Instead of - or in addition to - physical interconnects, Flex deploys Virtualised Network Functions (routers, firewalls, and SD-WAN edges) that can be configured and chained without changing the underlying hardware.
Choose Flex when:
-
Some of your sites connect over the public internet rather than MPLS, and you need IPsec encryption to reach the backbone securely. Flex’s Service Gateway routers terminate IPsec tunnels and bridge them into IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect.
-
You’re integrating with an SD-WAN platform and need a clean hand-off into private cloud connectivity.
-
You need rapid changes to service chains - for instance, inserting a virtual firewall between site traffic and the cloud - without procuring physical hardware.
-
Your architecture mixes managed and unmanaged sites with different security postures.
Can I combine variants?
Yes. A typical enterprise architecture might use IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Direct for primary MPLS-connected data centres and IZO™+ Multi Cloud Connect Flex with IPsec for branch sites on an internet underlay. The two variants share a common service backbone, so they appear under a unified contract and a unified TCx Portal view.
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