As part of a hybrid cloud deployment at Contoso, you need to connect Contoso’s on-premises datacenter to Azure. The solution you choose should minimize expense during the low-scale pilot deployment. Which option will you choose?
Excellent question. For a low-scale pilot deployment where the primary goal is to minimize expense, the best option is:
An Azure VPN Gateway (creating a Site-to-Site VPN)
Why the VPN Gateway is the Right Choice:
Lowest Cost: This is the most significant factor. A Site-to-Site VPN leverages your existing public internet connection. You do not need to purchase expensive, dedicated private circuits from a telecommunications provider. The costs are primarily the hourly rate for the Azure VPN Gateway (which has low-cost SKUs like Basic and VpnGw1 perfect for pilots) and data egress charges.
Fast and Simple Deployment: You can configure a Site-to-Site VPN in a matter of hours. It is a software-defined configuration that doesn’t require physical hardware installation or coordination with third-party providers, which is ideal for getting a pilot project up and running quickly.
Sufficient for a Pilot: For a “low-scale” deployment, the performance and bandwidth provided by a VPN over the internet are almost always sufficient. You’ll be able to test connectivity, deploy virtual machines, and synchronize small amounts of data without issue.
Why Not Other Options?
Azure ExpressRoute: This is the alternative for connecting an on-premises datacenter. However, it is not suitable for this scenario.
High Cost: ExpressRoute involves a dedicated, private connection through a connectivity partner (like AT&T, Verizon, Equinix). This comes with significant monthly costs for both the provider’s circuit and the Azure ExpressRoute port, making it far more expensive.
Complex Setup: It can take weeks or even months to provision an ExpressRoute circuit, which is far too slow and involved for a pilot.
Overkill: ExpressRoute is designed for high-throughput, mission-critical production workloads that require predictable low latency and high security, none of which are priorities for an inexpensive pilot.
Comparison at a Glance
Feature
Azure VPN Gateway (Site-to-Site)
Azure ExpressRoute
Connection
Encrypted tunnel over the public internet
Private, dedicated circuit
Cost
Low (Uses existing internet)
High (Requires provider contract)
Setup Speed
Fast (Hours)
Slow (Weeks to Months)
Bandwidth
Varies, up to 10 Gbps depending on SKU
Predictable, up to 100 Gbps
Best For
Pilots, dev/test, small deployments
Production workloads, high-throughput
Conclusion:
For Contoso’s pilot deployment, choosing an Azure VPN Gateway to create a Site-to-Site VPN connection is the clear winner. It directly meets the core requirement of minimizing expense while being fast to deploy and perfectly adequate for the needs of a low-scale test.