Google Cloud is leveraging its expanding ecosystem of channel partners to provide an on ramp to the cloud for enterprise customers, through the newly launched Partner Interconnect.
The rollout is designed to offer large-scale organisations high-speed connections from data centres to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) regions, leveraging 23 partners worldwide.
Similar to Dedicated Interconnect - which was rolled out in September 2017 - Partner Interconnect offers private connectivity to GCP to organisations that don't require the full 10Gbps of a dedicated circuit.
The offering also allows organisations whose data centres are geographically distant from a Google Cloud region or Point of Presence (POP) to connect to GCP, using third-party partner connections.
Key partners include Macquarie Cloud Services; Megaport; Equinix; NTT Communications; Tata Communications and Verizon.
Furthermore, other providers include AT&T Business; BT; CenturyLink; Cologix; Colt; DE-CIX; Digital Realty; Internet2; IX Reach; KDDI; NRI; Orange Business Services; SoftBank; Tamares Telecom; Telia Carrier; @Tokyo and Zayo.
“If you’re building a link between your data centre and Google Cloud, we have three ways to get you there,” wrote Google Cloud product manager, John Veizades, via a blog post.
“Cloud VPN over the public internet, Dedicated Interconnect, and now, Partner Interconnect—high-bandwidth connectivity to the nearest GCP region through our many partners.”
Specifically, Veizades said Partner Interconnect allows businesses to connect to GCP from a “convenient location”, at a data rate tailored to meet specific end-user requirements.
“Partner Interconnect lets you purchase a partial circuit, from 50Mbps to 10Gbps,” Veizades explained. “In contrast, Dedicated Interconnect offers full circuits that are 10Gbps links.
“Partner Interconnect also lets you pick from a list of providers to connect from your facility to the nearest Google Cloud POP.”
With general availability due within the coming weeks, the service will be available from partners across the world from day one, in a bid to provide expanded coverage to GCP.
“Getting up and running with Partner Interconnect is easy, as our partners have already set up and certified the infrastructure with Google Cloud,” Veizades added.
“This provides a turnkey solution that minimises the effort needed to bring up network connectivity from your data centre to GCP.”
Through Partner Interconnect, Veizades said customers also receive access to the GCP network and the global infrastructure that it connects to.
“We’ve built the GCP network over the last decade, it supports many POPs around the globe and we continue to invest in it to meet the growing needs of our customers,” Veizades added.
“Once connected to the GCP network, you have access to advanced networking technologies like GCP VPC, which seamlessly gives you a global reach to our distributed data centres across our backbone.
“No need to have distinct connections to each GCP region—just connect to one of our many partners and we take care of the rest behind the scenes.”
