Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud have announced an unprecedented collaboration in cloud networking. Both companies have unveiled a joint multicloud connectivity solution, designed to enable businesses to connect their AWS and Google Cloud environments privately, automatically, and within minutes—without dealing with the traditional complexity of “DIY” setups.
The announcement comes at a time when more organizations are adopting multicloud architectures but still face a longstanding challenge: securely and efficiently connecting infrastructures that, by design, were created to compete rather than cooperate.
From Physical Circuits to the “Cloud-Native” Network Model
Until now, any company wishing to interconnect multiple clouds at the network level had to coordinate multiple components: physical links, telecom equipment, IP addresses, routing, security… all with deployment times that could extend weeks or even months.
With this new solution, AWS and Google Cloud propose a radically different approach:
- It leverages AWS Interconnect – Multicloud and Google Cloud Cross-Cloud Interconnect.
- Provides private, high-speed connectivity between both clouds.
- Provisioning is managed directly from the AWS or Google Cloud consoles, or via API—just like any other cloud resource.
Practically, physical infrastructure moves to the background. The idea is that network and platform teams no longer need to negotiate with multiple telecom providers or worry about low-level details: connectivity becomes a managed service, aligned with the typical cloud resource model.
An Open Standard for Broad Adoption
Beyond the product itself, one of the most striking aspects of the announcement is the introduction of an open network interoperability specification. In other words, AWS and Google Cloud aren’t just creating a one-off integration—they’re defining a standard that other providers and partners can adopt.
The declared goal is to foster a more open cloud environment, where clients can:
- Define multicloud private connections following a common model,
- Automate deployment of those connections via code or orchestration tools,
- And avoid fragile architectures based on manual configurations and each operator’s specific setup.
If other cloud and network ecosystem players embrace this standard, it could result in a “common language” for multicloud networking, something that has not been clearly established until now.
Connecting in Minutes, Not Weeks
The most tangible change for clients lies in speed and user experience. Instead of forms, tickets, and waiting, the new solution allows you to:
- Request dedicated bandwidth on demand,
- Establish connectivity between AWS and Google Cloud in just minutes,
- And do so directly from the console or API, as if creating a VPC or a new cluster.
This capability is especially relevant for use cases where data and applications are spread across multiple clouds: advanced analytics, data platforms, AI applications consuming services from multiple providers, or complex integrations like Salesforce Data 360—one of the first to publicly highlight the advantages of this model.
High Availability and Link-Level Encryption
The partnership not only simplifies the experience but also emphasizes resilience and security at the interconnection level.
According to the companies, the solution relies on:
- Quadruple redundancy: multiple redundant physical links across interconnection points and involved routers, designed to maintain service even during simultaneous failures.
- Continuous monitoring: proactive oversight by both providers to detect issues and act before clients experience critical disruptions.
- MACsec encryption between AWS and Google Cloud edge routers, ensuring traffic between clouds is protected at the link layer.
With this foundation, the message to companies is that they gain not only convenience but also a level of service continuity and security that meets the demands of critical workloads.
A Political Signal in the Cloud (and Cooperation) War
While technically this is “just” a new network component, the broader significance is that two major direct competitors are collaborating to make life easier for their shared clients.
For AWS, this move reinforces its message that it intends to lead a more open connectivity model—where multicloud stops being a patch and becomes a first-class design option.
For Google Cloud, the integration aligns with its Cross-Cloud Network strategy, aiming to provide a unified and open experience for clients unwilling to be tied to a single provider, moving data and applications across different environments.
In the medium term, if the API standard they’ve defined becomes de facto and others adopt it, we could see the emergence of a “common overlay network” across clouds. This would significantly shift the power balance: clients would have true flexibility to move workloads without rewriting their entire connectivity architecture.
Implications for Businesses
For many organizations already living in a multicloud world—or migrating towards it—the impact can be summarized in three key points:
- Reduced operational complexity
Eliminates the need to build own global networks to connect clouds. Network teams can focus on policies, segmentation, and security, delegating parts of the physical layer to providers. - Increased agility
Testing new deployment patterns, moving applications, or replicating data between AWS and Google Cloud no longer takes months. Connectivity is no longer a bottleneck. - Enhanced resilience and security built-in
High availability and encryption come standard with the solution, simplifying design, audit, and compliance processes.
For the entire market, this agreement is also a barometer: if two giants like AWS and Google Cloud can cooperate on such a sensitive area as networking, it’s likely that client pressure for a more open, simple, and secure multicloud will continue pushing similar innovations across the infrastructure landscape.
via: cloud.google