What is AWS Direct Connect primarily used for?

AWS Direct Connect is primarily used to establish a dedicated network connection from the user's premises to Amazon Web Services (AWS). This service provides a private, high-bandwidth link that offers more consistent network performance compared to standard Internet connections.

Using AWS Direct Connect allows organizations to connect their on-premises data centers directly to AWS services, bypassing the public Internet. This can be crucial for scenarios that require improved performance, as it minimizes latency and enhances the reliability of the connection for transferring large volumes of data. It can support hybrid cloud architectures by allowing for seamless integration between on-premises environments and AWS, making it a favored choice for enterprises looking to migrate workloads to the cloud without sacrificing network quality.

While connecting on-premises data centers to cloud storage can be a part of this service's functionality, the core feature of AWS Direct Connect revolves around creating a dedicated, stable connection to AWS.