AWS Direct Connect Connectivity and AWS VPN Connection Connectivity differ in terms of the underlying network architecture and connectivity options. Here is a deep detail comparison of the connectivity aspects of AWS Direct Connect and AWS VPN Connection:

AWS Direct Connect Connectivity:

1. Connection Type: AWS Direct Connect establishes a physical, dedicated connection between the customer’s network and AWS. It involves the use of direct physical links provided by Direct Connect partners or colocation facilities.
2. Private Network Connection: Direct Connect provides a private network connection that bypasses the public internet. It ensures a dedicated, isolated network path between the customer’s network and the AWS services.
3. Connectivity Options: AWS Direct Connect offers multiple connectivity options:
   • Dedicated Connections: Customers can establish dedicated connections from their on-premises environment to AWS Direct Connect locations using physical cross-connects or dark fiber.
   • Hosted Connections: Customers can connect to AWS Direct Connect using network service providers or colocation facilities that offer hosted connections.
   • Global Reach: AWS Direct Connect Global Reach allows customers to establish connectivity between multiple geographically distributed on-premises environments and AWS Regions.
4. Direct Connect Gateway: The Direct Connect Gateway allows customers to establish connectivity between multiple Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs) within the same AWS Region or across different AWS Regions.
5. Virtual Interfaces: AWS Direct Connect supports the creation of multiple virtual interfaces on a single physical connection. Customers can partition their Direct Connect connection into multiple logical connections for different purposes or VPCs.
6. Direct Peering with AWS Services: Direct Connect enables customers to establish direct peering connections with specific AWS services, bypassing the public internet and utilizing a private connection.

AWS VPN Connection Connectivity:

1. Connection Type: AWS VPN Connection establishes a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel over the public internet between the customer’s network and the AWS VPC.
2. Internet-Based Connectivity: VPN Connection utilizes the existing internet connectivity of the customer’s network to establish the VPN tunnel. It relies on the public internet infrastructure for transmitting data between the customer’s network and the AWS VPC.
3. VPN Gateway: AWS VPN Connection utilizes AWS VPN Gateways, which act as the endpoint for the VPN tunnels on the AWS side. VPN Gateways are highly available and scalable components provided by AWS.
4. VPN Protocols and Encryption: VPN Connection supports industry-standard VPN protocols, such as IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) or OpenVPN. These protocols ensure secure communication over the public internet by encrypting the data within the VPN tunnel.
5. Multiple VPN Connections: VPN Connection allows the establishment of multiple VPN connections to the same VPC or different VPCs. This flexibility enables connectivity for multiple on-premises networks or remote users simultaneously.
6. Customer Gateway: A Customer Gateway is a physical device or software application on the customer’s side that acts as the endpoint for the VPN tunnels. It is responsible for establishing the VPN connection with the AWS VPN Gateway.

Conclusion:

In summary, AWS Direct Connect Connectivity involves establishing a dedicated physical connection that provides private, high-speed, and low-latency connectivity between the customer’s network and AWS. On the other hand, AWS VPN Connection Connectivity relies on virtual private network (VPN) tunnels over the public internet, providing secure connectivity between the customer’s network and the AWS VPC. Direct Connect offers dedicated, isolated connectivity options, while VPN Connection utilizes the existing internet connectivity and offers more flexibility in terms of multiple connections and remote access.