CenturyLink Delivers Secure, Fast and Easy Self-Provisioning of Network Connections to Microsoft Azure and Azure Government

In a move that enables more customers to connect their locations and data centers to cloud environments on-demand, CenturyLink, Inc. announced it has expanded Cloud Connect Dynamic Connections to support Microsoft Azure and Azure Government. This connectivity, made possible by CenturyLink’s software-defined networking (SDN) technology, is another step in the company’s ongoing expansion of cloud networking capabilities. 

Learn how enterprises can dynamically connect to the cloud with CenturyLink: https://www.centurylink.com/business/discover/dynamic-connections.html

With new capabilities added in October 2018, CenturyLink Cloud Connect Dynamic Connections delivers IT agility by enabling customers to connect hybrid environments on-demand, across private cloud, data center locations and public cloud destinations such as Microsoft Azure. Customers can do real-time turn up and turn downs of private Ethernet connections to cloud service providers via a dynamic self-service portal or API. This usage-based model enables enterprises to consume bandwidth in the same way they are used to consuming cloud services.

“With this addition of Microsoft Azure, CenturyLink can now directly connect to approximately 70% of the desired destinations for all public cloud market users,” said Paul Savill, senior vice president of core network and technology solutions, CenturyLink. “This gives customers even more flexibility for how they leverage their cloud workloads. Our robust global network and the self-service features of Dynamic Connections combine to deliver secure, reliable and scalable connectivity so enterprises can deliver IT agility with their cloud environments.”

Resiliency is included in every Dynamic Connection using Azure via redundant virtual circuits, thanks to advanced connectivity capabilities of CenturyLink Dynamic Connections and Microsoft ExpressRoute. CenturyLink also offers Dynamic Connections in separate physical facilities for popular locations such as Washington, D.C. This allows customers to create even more resiliency while having similar latency performance for their Azure ExpressRoute connections.

Dynamic Connections offers:

• Flexible self-service options – enterprises can connect on-demand whenever they choose, and decide for themselves how long to stay connected – whether it’s for mere minutes or days at a time.
• Secure connections – as a private Layer 2 network, the connection is inherently secure and minimizes exposure to external threats.
• Pay-as-you-go billing – every dynamic connection benefits from an hourly rate with no long-term contract and no early termination fees, enabling both short-term transient connections while also ensuring long-term circuits provide predictable monthly billing.
• Easy access – this capability is available at enterprise locations including distribution centers and media venues.