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AWS and Google Cloud Break New Ground with Joint Multicloud Networking Solution




In a surprising collaboration between two cloud giants typically seen as fierce competitors, AWS and Google Cloud have announced a jointly engineered multicloud networking solution that fundamentally transforms how organizations connect across cloud platforms.

The Challenge

For years, enterprises adopting multicloud strategies have faced significant hurdles. Connecting cloud environments required manually setting up complex networking components including physical connections and equipment, a process that could take weeks or even months. According to AWS, "Customers no longer have to manually set up complex networks including physical connections and routing protocols."

The Solution: AWS Interconnect and Cross-Cloud Interconnect

The new offering combines two key technologies:

  • AWS Interconnect - multicloud: AWS's first purpose-built multicloud connectivity service
  • Google Cloud Cross-Cloud Interconnect: Google's cross-cloud networking architecture

This integration represents a shift from physical infrastructure management to a managed, cloud-native experience. As Google Cloud explains, "Customers no longer need to wait weeks for circuit provisioning: they can now provision dedicated bandwidth on demand and establish connectivity in minutes through their preferred cloud console or API."

Key Features

Simplified Setup: In the AWS Console or CLI, customers complete multicloud connectivity in three simple steps: specify target cloud providers, select the destination region, and pick required bandwidth.

High Security: The solution utilizes MACsec encryption between Google Cloud and AWS edge routers, ensuring private, secure connections.

Enhanced Reliability: According to the announcement, "This solution delivers the highest resiliency by leveraging quad-redundancy across physically redundant interconnect facilities and routers. Both providers engage in continuous monitoring to proactively detect and resolve issues."

Flexible Bandwidth: Starting at 1 Gbps during preview, scaling up to 100 Gbps at general availability.

An Open Specification and Microsoft Azure

Perhaps the most significant aspect is the open interoperability specification that accompanies this launch. AWS and Google Cloud are publishing the API specifications for other cloud providers to adopt, creating a potential industry standard for multicloud connectivity.

According to reporting on the announcement, Microsoft Azure is expected to join the program "later in 2026," which will expand cross-cloud connectivity to include the three major hyperscalers.

Rob Enns, Vice President and General Manager of Cloud Networking at Google Cloud, stated, "We are excited about this collaboration which enables our customers to move their data and applications between clouds with simplified global connectivity and enhanced operational effectiveness."

Early Adoption

Salesforce is already leveraging the service to support its Data 360 platform. Jim Ostrognai, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Salesforce, explained, "AWS Interconnect - multicloud allows us to establish these critical bridges to Google Cloud with the same ease as deploying internal AWS resources, utilizing pre-built capacity pools and the tools our teams already know and love."

The AI Factor

The timing of this collaboration is particularly relevant given the rise of AI applications. Research from Futuriom indicates that 82% of enterprises anticipate the expansion of AI applications will drive increased demand for multicloud deployment. This makes sense given the scarcity of specialized accelerator resources and the availability of diverse AI services across different cloud providers.

Robert Kennedy, Vice President of Network Services at AWS, characterized this partnership as "a fundamental shift in multicloud connectivity," noting that "customers no longer need to worry about any heavy lifting to create their desired connectivity."

A Fundamental Shift

This collaboration marks a departure from both companies' previous positions. As The Register noted, when the UK's Competition and Markets Authority investigated barriers to cloud switching, AWS insisted "there is no interoperability problem in cloud services," while Google stated that customers experience "minimal barriers to integration across multiple public clouds." Now, they're actively addressing those very challenges with a purpose-built solution.

The partnership demonstrates that even the largest cloud competitors recognize the value of collaboration in meeting customer needs for seamless multicloud operations. For enterprises, this means less time managing infrastructure and more time focusing on building applications that span the best capabilities of both platforms.

The AWS Interconnect - multicloud preview is currently available, with broader rollout planned across multiple AWS regions. Organizations interested in simplified multicloud connectivity can explore the offering through AWS and Google Cloud product pages.

Sources

Shashi Bellamkonda
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Shashi Bellamkonda

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Disclaimer: This blog post reflects my personal views only. AI tools may have been used for brevity, structure, or research support. Please independently verify any information before relying on it. This content does not represent the views of my employer, Infotech.com.

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