AWS Outposts: Extending Cloud Infrastructure to On-Premises Environments

AWS Outposts is an extension of Amazon Web Services (AWS) that brings native AWS services, infrastructure, and operating models to virtually any data center, co-location space, or on-premises facility. The diagram illustrates how AWS Outposts integrates with both the AWS cloud and on-premises networks.

AWS Outposts Architecture

Cloud Region and VPC
The left side of the diagram shows a typical AWS cloud setup, with a Region containing Availability Zones and a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). Within the VPC, there are subnets in different Availability Zones, connected via an Internet gateway for external access.

On-Premises Network
The right side represents the on-premises network, which includes a local network and internet connectivity. The key component here is the "Outposts" section, which is essentially an extension of the AWS cloud environment into the local data center.

Outposts Integration
AWS Outposts is depicted as a subnet within the VPC that extends into the on-premises network. This integration allows for seamless connectivity between the cloud and local resources:

1. The Outposts rack is connected to the local network through a local gateway or LNI (Local Network Interface).

2. It's also linked to the AWS Region, allowing it to be managed as part of the overall AWS infrastructure.

Source: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/outposts/latest/userguide/how-outposts-works.html

How AWS Outposts Works

1. Consistent Infrastructure: Outposts uses the same hardware and software stack as AWS data centers, ensuring consistency with cloud-based services.

2. Local Processing: It enables running AWS compute, storage, database, and other services locally, reducing latency for on-premises applications.

3. Hybrid Connectivity: The diagram shows how Outposts connects to both the local network and the AWS cloud, facilitating hybrid cloud architectures.

4. Managed Service: AWS manages and maintains the Outposts infrastructure, allowing customers to use familiar AWS APIs and tools for both cloud and on-premises resources.

5. Seamless Integration: Applications can span both Outposts and AWS Regions, as illustrated by the subnet extending from the VPC to the on-premises network.

By leveraging AWS Outposts, organizations can maintain local data processing and low-latency access while still benefiting from the scalability and services of the AWS cloud, creating a truly hybrid environment that bridges on-premises and cloud infrastructures.