Table of Contents
Overview of Cloud Networking
Cloud networking is the use of network resources and services that are hosted in the cloud. It allows businesses to deploy, manage, and scale networks using virtual infrastructure, providing flexible and efficient connectivity across geographically distributed environments.
Virtual Networks (VNet/VPC)
A Virtual Network (VNet in Azure, VPC in AWS) is a logically isolated network within the cloud that allows you to launch and manage resources like virtual machines (VMs) and databases. These networks replicate traditional on-premise networks and support subnets, routing, firewalls, and IP address assignments.
Cloud Routers
Cloud routers handle dynamic routing between your cloud networks and on-premises systems. They enable communication between different cloud networks or between cloud and local networks, often using Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to dynamically update routing information.
Cloud Load Balancers
Cloud-based load balancers distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers to ensure reliability and performance. They can handle layer 4 (transport) or layer 7 (application) traffic and are essential for high availability and scaling web applications in the cloud.
Cloud Firewalls
Cloud firewalls control inbound and outbound traffic to cloud resources. These firewalls can be network-based or host-based and often include advanced threat detection, logging, and integration with security policies to protect virtual assets from cyberattacks.
Gateways and VPNs
Cloud gateways enable connectivity between on-premises networks and the cloud. VPN (Virtual Private Network) gateways provide encrypted tunnels, ensuring secure communication across public infrastructure. They are crucial for hybrid cloud architectures and secure remote access.
Cloud DNS Services
Cloud DNS services offer scalable, reliable domain name resolution. These services translate domain names to IP addresses and often come with features like global traffic distribution, DDoS protection, and latency-based routing to enhance performance and availability.
Monitoring and Management Tools
Cloud platforms offer built-in tools to monitor network performance, detect anomalies, and manage configurations. Examples include AWS CloudWatch, Azure Network Watcher, and Google Cloud Operations Suite. These tools help optimize resources, detect issues, and ensure network health.