Simplifying Network Management with Microsoft Azure Peering Services

Enterprises are shifting from on-premises IT systems to a hybrid (mix of on-premises and one or more public clouds) or multicloud (multiple public clouds) approach. Maintaining an optimised interconnection strategy can be overwhelming as you also need to focus on critical tasks like monitoring the network and identifying potential security threats.

If your company uses Microsoft cloud apps such as O365, Dynamics, Outlook, and Azure, you can consider adopting Microsoft Azure Peering Services (MAPS). MAPS was launched a while ago and it was designed to optimise internet traffic for cloud-based SaaS applications, thus it assists the network team in their efforts to manage and maintain and optimal network performance.

Microsoft is always enhancing customer traffic within our network, from ingestion close to the user and carrying it as far as possible to its destination, avoiding the public Internet, to returning it the same way. Peering Service extends the optimised path to your doorstep or, in industry terms, to the last mile.

They have partnered with internet exchange providers (IXPs), such as AMS-IX to provide reliable and performant public connectivity via MAPS. Your business will get the advantage of business-class internet connectivity with high availability and low latency. Using the optimal path and least amount of network hops, Peering Service improves the user experience in Microsoft apps.

• An IP service that uses the public internet.
• A collaboration platform with service providers
• A value-added service that's intended to offer optimal and reliable routing via service provider partners to the Microsoft cloud over the public network.

Enterprises looking for internet-first access to the cloud or considering SD-WAN architecture or with high usage of Microsoft SaaS services need robust and high-performing internet connectivity. Customers can make that transition happen by using Peering Service. Microsoft and service providers have partnered to deliver reliable and performance-centric public connectivity to the Microsoft cloud.

Some of the key customer features are listed here:

• Best public routing over the internet to Microsoft Azure Cloud Services for optimal performance and reliability.
• Ability to select the preferred service provider to connect to the Microsoft cloud.
• Traffic insights such as latency reporting and prefix monitoring.
• Optimum network hops (AS hops) from the Microsoft cloud.
• Route analytics and statistics: events for BGP route anomalies (leak or hijack detection) and suboptimal routing.

Microsoft Azure Peering Services (MAPS) has many features that can help safeguarding business continuity and ensure uninterrupted operation of business-critical applications from Microsoft.

MAPS simplifies part of your workload as you will have a reliable, controlled, and high-performance connectivity with their apps.