Google Cloud Launches Cloud WAN for Business Clients

Google Cloud, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has recently introduced a new initiative called Cloud Wide Area Network (Cloud WAN) during its annual event, Google Cloud Next, held in Las Vegas. This initiative allows enterprise customers to leverage Google's extensive network infrastructure, enhancing their connectivity capabilities.

The Cloud WAN provides users with direct access to Google's backbone network, which underpins popular services like Gmail and Google Photos. This networking technology aims to improve site-to-site traffic connections and facilitate access to cloud infrastructure hosted on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Currently, a select group of clients is testing this new service.

According to Google, the Cloud WAN offers a high-speed, low-latency network that is available for businesses worldwide. The core feature of this service is the Cross-Site Interconnect, which is currently in a preview phase. This feature provides Layer-2 connectivity, essential for various sectors, including government and telecommunications, with dedicated 10G and 100G connections.

The network utilizes Google's premium tier, which includes numerous Points of Presence (PoPs) in major cities around the globe. Furthermore, companies can integrate security solutions from partners such as Menlo Security and Palo Alto Networks. Through collaborations with connectivity providers like Fortinet, BT, and Cisco, Google Cloud claims that businesses can achieve a reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) by up to 40% compared to self-managed corporate WANs, all while experiencing 40% faster performance compared to using the public internet. The service is fully managed, minimizing the need for companies to manage their own infrastructure.

Google's network is extensive, featuring approximately 3.2 million kilometers of fiber optic cables and 33 submarine connections, along with 202 global PoPs. The service level agreement (SLA) guarantees 99.99% availability. Google Cloud differentiates its services across 42 regions worldwide, with dedicated Network Connectivity Centers in 20 countries functioning as hubs.

This initiative reflects Google Cloud's overarching strategy of transforming internal tools into offerings for enterprise clients. The philosophy is to adapt solutions originally designed for Google's own operational demands to meet the needs of other corporations, similar to what competitors like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure are doing.

The Cloud WAN also features a Cross-Cloud Interconnect functionality, enabling integration with other cloud services such as AWS, Azure, and Oracle Cloud. This positions Google Cloud as a competitive player in the increasingly interconnected cloud market.

While pricing details for Cloud WAN have yet to be disclosed, Google Cloud has indicated that both usage-based and fixed pricing models will be available. These options may be particularly appealing to companies with significant data transfer needs. Initial partnerships for the Cloud WAN initiative include Juniper Networks, whose offerings will be accessible through the Google Cloud Marketplace, incorporating advanced solutions like the AI-driven Mist network platform.

Google emphasizes the security of data traffic within the Cloud WAN, assuring customers that their information remains confidential and inaccessible to Google. This assurance is particularly relevant for international clients concerned about data sovereignty and security, especially in light of ongoing discussions about the practices of major U.S.-based cloud providers.

At the Google Cloud Next event, the company aimed to establish itself as a global entity with numerous development and research locations across Europe.