Equinix, the global interconnection and data center company, will bring Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute to 16 global markets inside Equinix colocation facilities. The Microsoft Azure service will enable customers to directly connect to Azure in Equinix IBX data centers across five continents, including: North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute is a Windows Azure service that enables organizations to create private connections between Azure data centers and IT infrastructure that’s on-premises or in a colocation environment like Equinix. ExpressRoute connections do not go over the public Internet, which would offer higher security and reliability, faster speeds and lower latency levels.
As a result, Equinix would be enabling colocation customers inside its International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers to seamlessly deploy hybrid cloud environments that extend their networks.
Rolled out throughout 2014
Microsoft’s physical infrastructure for Azure ExpressRoute inside Equinix colocation facilities is available via an Equinix switching fabric that provides secure connectivity and real-time provisioning. By connecting to ExpressRoute across Platform Equinix, companies are able to bridge their cloud and data center strategies. Microsoft Azure is commonly leveraged for key workloads that include Big Data, storage, backup & recovery, hybrid applications, productivity applications and media.
Azure ExpressRoute is currently available as a “public preview” offering in Equinix IBX colocation facilities in Silicon Valley, Washington, D.C. and London, and will become generally available in those markets later this spring. The service will be rolled out in multiple metro areas in Europe, Asia-Pacific and South America throughout 2014.
