Short answer
FirstNet direct cloud peering gives your traffic a path into Microsoft and AWS that skips the public internet, so latency is lower and performance steadier. A VPN is an encrypted tunnel that still runs over the public internet, so it suffers the internet's ups and downs.
In detail
The practical differences:
- Path: FirstNet peering links its network straight to Microsoft (including Azure and Microsoft 365), AWS, Google Cloud and major content delivery networks. A VPN takes whatever internet route it can get.
- Performance: peering uses dedicated routes with built-in headroom that avoid internet congestion. VPN performance varies with congestion and route changes.
- Security: peering cuts exposure and supports policy-based access to cloud resources. A VPN relies on encryption to protect traffic on a shared network.
- Control: peering plugs into FirstNet's private connectivity and security services, for a design you control from end to end.
You can use both. Encryption still works over a peered path, and a VPN remains useful for remote users. Direct peering suits real-time apps, data replication and latency-sensitive services, where predictable performance matters most. FirstNet starts with an assessment that sets a baseline of your current latency and traffic patterns.
Source: FirstNet Direct Peering with Microsoft & AWS service page →
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