Cloud Connectivity UK 2026: Compare Business Cloud Network Options Quick answer
Cloud connectivity is the way your business connects users, offices, branches, data centres and applications to cloud services which matters if your business relies on:
Microsoft 365
Teams
SharePoint
OneDrive
Azure
AWS
Google Cloud
hosted desktops
VoIP
CRM
ERP
cloud backups
payment systems
booking systems
care systems
stock systems
SaaS applications
remote users
multi-site networks
As a simple guide:
Cloud connectivity option Best for
Business broadband / FTTP
Small offices and basic cloud apps
General SaaS, email, browsing and light cloud use
Leased line / DIA
Critical sites and heavy cloud users
Dedicated bandwidth, stronger SLA and stable upload
SD-WAN
Multi-site and cloud-first businesses
Application-aware routing, failover and local breakout
Managed WAN
Businesses wanting provider-led network support
Cloud routing, monitoring, support and supplier management
VPN
Basic secure cloud or remote access
Encrypted tunnels for smaller or simpler use cases
Azure ExpressRoute
Businesses needing private connectivity to Microsoft cloud
Private connectivity to Azure and Microsoft cloud services
AWS Direct Connect
Businesses needing dedicated connectivity to AWS
Dedicated network connection to AWS
Google Cloud Interconnect
Businesses needing dedicated Google Cloud access
Direct or partner connectivity to Google Cloud
Cloud Connect / direct cloud access
Businesses connecting WANs to cloud providers
Private or business-grade cloud connectivity
SASE / secure cloud access
Hybrid workforces and security-led cloud users
Zero trust, secure web access and cloud security
Compare Cloud Connectivity Quotes
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Compare cloud connectivity for UK businesses Use this guide if you are comparing:
cloud connectivity
cloud connectivity UK
business cloud connectivity
cloud connectivity solutions
cloud network connectivity
connect business network to cloud
cloud access for business
cloud connectivity providers UK
Microsoft 365 connectivity
Azure connectivity
Azure ExpressRoute
AWS Direct Connect
Google Cloud Interconnect
private cloud connectivity
hybrid cloud connectivity
cloud connect
SD-WAN cloud connectivity
WAN cloud connectivity
managed cloud connectivity
cloud access over leased line
cloud connectivity for multi-site businesses
cloud connectivity for remote workers
SASE cloud connectivity
secure cloud access
How do we work?
Transparent, impartial, and data‑driven reviews made by a team of expert humans, never AI generated – here’s exactly how Compare Your Business Costs helps you find the best deals from trusted UK providers: click here
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: August 2026
Key takeaways
Cloud connectivity is not the same as cloud hosting.
It is about how your users, sites and networks reach cloud services.
Microsoft 365, hosted desktops, VoIP and cloud backups can all expose weak connectivity quickly.
Business broadband or FTTP may be enough for small sites.
Leased lines or DIA are better for critical sites needing dedicated bandwidth and stronger service levels.
SD-WAN can help multi-site businesses route cloud traffic more intelligently.
Direct cloud connections such as Azure ExpressRoute, AWS Direct Connect and Google Cloud Interconnect may suit larger or data-heavy businesses.
SASE and zero trust access may be important if users connect from many locations.
Cloud performance depends on routing, latency, upload speed, security inspection, DNS, local breakout and provider design.
Compare cloud connectivity by application need, not just headline download speed.
Your estimated WAN / SD-WAN costs
SD-WAN licence£0 per month
Managed service£0 per month
Connectivity£0 per month
Backup connectivity£0 per month
Security£0 per month
Estimated monthly SD-WAN cost£0 estimated recurring cost
Estimated cost per site£0 per month
Annual recurring cost£0 per year
One-off setup / hardware£0 estimated one-off cost
Estimated first-year cost£0 including setup
Total contract cost£0 over 36 months
Potential monthly saving£0 vs current spend
Your estimate will appear here.
Your recommended network setup will appear here.
This calculator provides an estimate only. Actual SD-WAN and WAN costs vary by provider, location, site count, bandwidth, connectivity availability, leased line pricing, licence tier, hardware, security, managed support, mobile backup, installation, contract length and network complexity.
Contents
Cloud connectivity vs cloud hosting
Why cloud connectivity matters
Cloud connectivity cost guide
What is cloud connectivity? Cloud connectivity is the network path between your business and the cloud services it uses and can include connections between:
offices and Microsoft 365
branches and cloud applications
remote users and hosted desktops
data centres and Azure
warehouses and stock systems
shops and cloud EPOS
care homes and cloud care records
hotels and booking platforms
call centres and VoIP platforms
colocation racks and AWS
business WANs and Google Cloud
users and SaaS tools
A cloud connectivity solution may use the public internet, a private connection, SD-WAN, VPN, leased lines, DIA, cloud exchanges, SASE or managed WAN – the goal is to make cloud applications reliable, secure and usable for the people who depend on them.
Cloud connectivity vs cloud hosting
Cloud connectivity and cloud hosting are related, but they are not the same thing.
Feature Cloud connectivity Cloud hosting
Main role
Connects users and networks to cloud services
Hosts applications, servers, storage or workloads
Example
Leased line, SD-WAN or ExpressRoute to Azure
Azure virtual machines or cloud databases
Buyer question
“How do we connect reliably to cloud apps?”
“Where should our workloads run?”
Main issue
Routing, latency, security, uptime and bandwidth
Compute, storage, scaling and platform choice
Best page
Cloud Connectivity
Cloud and Colocation Providers
Why cloud connectivity matters Cloud software has changed business networks – older networks often sent traffic from branches back to head office or a data centre before going out to the internet.
That model can be inefficient for cloud applications, and cloud connectivity matters because poor network design can cause:
slow Microsoft 365 performance
Teams call problems
hosted desktop lag
dropped VoIP calls
slow SharePoint uploads
unreliable cloud backups
failed payment connections
slow CRM or ERP access
poor remote-worker experience
high latency
packet loss
security bottlenecks
overused central internet links
The issue is often not the cloud platform itself – it’s how your business connects to it.
Main types of cloud connectivity Business broadband or FTTP
Business broadband or FTTP may be enough for smaller businesses using common cloud tools.
Best for:
small offices
sole traders
basic Microsoft 365 use
Google Workspace
web-based CRM
cloud accounting
light file sharing
small VoIP setups
low-risk branches
Watch out for:
variable speeds
limited upload on some services
weaker repair targets
no guaranteed dedicated bandwidth
no built-in failove
limited support for critical systems
Leased line or DIA for cloud access
A leased line or DIA gives your business a dedicated internet connection and can suit:
head offices
cloud-heavy offices
call centres
hosted desktop users
data-heavy teams
businesses with large uploads
sites running cloud backups
VoIP-heavy teams
companies that cannot tolerate downtime
businesses needing stronger repair commitments
For pricing, see: Leased Line Costs UK
SD-WAN for cloud connectivity
SD-WAN can help businesses route cloud traffic more intelligently across multiple sites and connections and can use:
business broadband
leased lines
DIA
MPLS
4G/5G
cloud connectivity
SD-WAN can help with:
local breakout
application-aware routing
failover
traffic priority
branch visibility
Microsoft 365 routing
cloud app performance
backup links
multi-site consistency
lower reliance on MPLS backhaul
For the main SD-WAN page, see: SD-WAN Providers UK
Managed WAN for cloud connectivity
Managed WAN can help businesses that want a provider to design, monitor and support cloud access across sites and can include:
SD-WAN
leased lines
DIA
FTTP
MPLS
cloud connectivity
routers
firewalls
security
monitoring
supplier coordination
reporting
support desk
For the dedicated page, see: Managed WAN Services UK
VPN for cloud access
VPNs can provide secure access between users, sites and cloud environments and can suit:
smaller businesses
simple remote access
admin access
basic site-to-cloud tunnels
lower-risk workloads
temporary connectivity
Watch out for:
limited performance optimisation
manual management
VPN bottlenecks
weak user experience at scale
limited application-aware routing
complex troubleshooting
Azure ExpressRoute
Azure ExpressRoute l ets businesses extend on-premises networks into Microsoft cloud services over a private connection through a connectivity provider. Microsoft says ExpressRoute can connect to Microsoft cloud services such as Azure and Microsoft 365, great if you need:
private connectivity to Azure
predictable cloud access
hybrid cloud architecture
data centre to Azure connectivity
high-volume cloud workloads
enterprise Microsoft environments
reduced reliance on public internet paths
ExpressRoute is usually more relevant to larger, technical or cloud-heavy organisations than small businesses using basic Microsoft 365.
AWS Direct Connect
AWS Direct Connect lets businesses establish a dedicated network connection from their premises to AWS. AWS says customers can choose hosted connections from a Direct Connect Delivery Partner or dedicated connections deployed at AWS Direct Connect locations, great for:
dedicated connectivity to AWS
data centre to AWS links
hybrid AWS workloads
consistent network performance
large data transfers
lower-latency cloud access
private cloud architecture
predictable connectivity for AWS workloads
AWS Direct Connect is usually considered when AWS is central to your infrastructure, not just for occasional cloud app use.
Google Cloud Interconnect
Google Cloud Interconnec t provides connectivity between on-premises networks and Google Cloud VPC networks, with dedicated and partner options available.
It may suit businesses that need:
dedicated Google Cloud connectivity
cloud data workloads
analytics platforms
hybrid Google Cloud architecture
data centre to Google Cloud connections
predictable network performance
high-volume transfer
private cloud access
Cloud Connect and direct cloud access
Some providers offer direct cloud connectivity services that connect your WAN, data centre or colocation environment to cloud platforms – useful if you:
private WAN to cloud connectivity
cloud access from a managed network
data centre to cloud connections
predictable performance
reduced public internet dependency
multi-cloud connectivity
provider-managed access to cloud platforms
SASE and secure cloud access
SASE can include:
secure web gateway
zero trust network access
firewall-as-a-service
cloud access security broker
remote user security
branch security
SD-WAN
identity-based policies
web filtering
secure cloud access
Cloud connectivity cost guide Cloud connectivity costs depend on connection type, bandwidth, site count, provider, region, security, support and data transfer requirements.
Cloud connectivity option Typical cost pattern Best for
Business broadband / FTTP
Monthly broadband cost
Small sites and basic cloud apps
Leased line / DIA
Dedicated circuit monthly cost
Critical offices and cloud-heavy sites
SD-WAN
Per-site licence/support plus connectivity
Multi-site cloud routing and failover
Managed WAN
Per-site support plus connectivity
Outsourced cloud network support
VPN
Software/licence/support cost
Basic secure cloud access
Azure ExpressRoute
Circuit and provider pricing
Microsoft cloud-heavy businesses
AWS Direct Connect
Hosted or dedicated connection pricing
AWS-heavy workloads
Google Cloud Interconnect
Connection, attachment and data transfer pricing
Google Cloud workloads
Cloud Connect
Provider-specific pricing
WAN-to-cloud private connectivity
SASE
User/site-based pricing
Secure cloud access and hybrid work
Cloud costs and connectivity costs are separate.
For example, your business could pay:
Microsoft, AWS or Google for cloud services
a network provider for connectivity
a managed service provider for support
a security provider for SASE or zero trust access
a data centre provider for cross-connects or colocation
Ask for all costs to be separated.
Cloud connectivity by business type
Business type Best option to compare first Why
Small office
FTTP or business broadband with backup
Cost-effective cloud app access
Busy office
FTTP, leased line or DIA
Better upload, uptime and call quality
Multi-site SME
SD-WAN or managed WAN
Better cloud routing and central visibility
Retail chain
SD-WAN with 4G/5G backup
Cloud EPOS, payments and branch resilience
Hospitality group
Managed WAN or SD-WAN
Bookings, EPOS, guest Wi-Fi and cloud apps
Care home group
Managed WAN, secure SD-WAN or leased line
Cloud records, VoIP, security and uptime
Professional services
Leased line, SD-WAN or Microsoft-focused cloud connectivity
Microsoft 365, hosted desktops and file sharing
Call centre
Leased line, DIA or SD-WAN
VoIP quality, low latency and resilience
Data-heavy business
DIA, cloud interconnect or colocation cloud access
Large data transfers and predictable performance
Enterprise
Direct cloud connectivity, SD-WAN, SASE or managed WAN
Scale, security and multi-cloud needs
Cloud connectivity for Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 is often the first cloud service where businesses notice connectivity issues.
Symptoms can include:
slow Outlook
Teams call quality problems
SharePoint upload delays
OneDrive sync problems
slow file opening
poor remote user experience
Teams meeting dropouts
cloud desktop lag
Microsoft recommends allowing local branch egress of Microsoft 365 network traffic to the internet from each location where users connect to Microsoft 365, which means businesses should be careful with old WAN designs that send all branch traffic back to head office before going to the cloud.
Better options can include:
local internet breakout
SD-WAN
SASE
better DNS design
leased line at key sites
FTTP at branches
Microsoft 365 traffic prioritisation
avoiding unnecessary inspection of trusted Microsoft 365 traffic
Cloud connectivity for Azure Azure connectivity may involve:
standard internet access
VPN Gateway
ExpressRoute
private endpoints
virtual networks
hub-and-spoke architecture
firewall and security controls
managed WAN
colocation connectivity
hybrid cloud design
Cloud connectivity for AWS AWS connectivity can involve:
standard internet access
VPN
AWS Direct Connect
Transit Gateway
VPC design
security groups
firewalls
data transfer planning
colocation connectivity
hybrid cloud design
Cloud connectivity for Google Cloud Google Cloud connectivity will involve:
standard internet access
Cloud VPN
Dedicated Interconnect
Partner Interconnect
VPC design
hybrid cloud architecture
data and analytics workloads
cloud security
managed networking
Cloud connectivity for remote and hybrid workers Remote and hybrid workers may connect from:
home broadband
mobile networks
public Wi-Fi
branch offices
coworking spaces
hotels
customer sites
VPN clients
They may need access to:
Microsoft 365
hosted desktops
CRM
file storage
VoIP
Teams
business apps
admin systems
data platforms
Options include:
VPN
zero trust network access
SASE
endpoint protection
identity-based access
MFA
secure web gateway
cloud firewall
split tunnelling where appropriate
local internet breakout
Cloud connectivity and security Cloud connectivity needs security from the start.
Security will often include:
firewall
identity and access management
multi-factor authentication
VPN
ZTNA
SASE
secure web gateway
cloud access security broker
endpoint protection
DNS filtering
encryption
segmentation
logging
monitoring
data loss prevention
conditional access
privileged access controls
Avoid assuming that cloud access is secure just because the cloud platform is well known, as security depends on configuration, access policy, monitoring and user behaviour.
Cloud connectivity performance checklist Before choosing a provider, check:
download speed
upload speed
latency
jitter
packet loss
application path
local breakout
DNS resolution
security inspection path
firewall capacity
cloud region
backup connectivity
failover design
Wi-Fi quality
router performance
SLA
repair time
monitoring
support ownership
Hidden cloud connectivity costs to check Check for:
leased line installation
excess construction charges
router costs
firewall costs
SD-WAN licences
managed service fees
SASE user licences
VPN licences
cloud interconnect charges
cross-connect fees
data transfer costs
cloud egress costs
static IPs
backup connectivity
4G/5G SIMs
data overage
monitoring
support plans
professional services
migration work
contract exit fees
renewal increases
Questions to ask cloud connectivity providers Ask providers:
which cloud services do we need to connect to?
is standard internet access enough?
do we need leased line or DIA?
do we need SD-WAN?
do we need direct cloud connectivity?
do we need Azure ExpressRoute, AWS Direct Connect or Google Cloud Interconnect?
do we need SASE or zero trust access?
how will Microsoft 365 traffic be routed?
will branch traffic be backhauled?
can cloud traffic use local breakout?
how will security inspection work?
what happens if the main line fails?
do we need 4G/5G backup?
what upload speed do we need?
what latency should we expect?
what monitoring is included?
what support hours apply?
who owns troubleshooting if cloud apps are slow?
what costs are usage-based?
what is the total monthly cost?
what contract length applies?
what happens if we change cloud platforms later?
Compare Cloud Connectivity Providers
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Common cloud connectivity mistakes Avoid these mistakes:
assuming cloud performance is only the cloud provider’s fault
using old WAN backhauling for cloud-first applications
ignoring upload speed
ignoring latency, jitter and packet loss
using basic broadband for critical hosted desktops
not adding backup connectivity
ignoring Microsoft 365 network guidance
buying ExpressRoute or Direct Connect when simpler connectivity would be enough
relying on VPNs for too many users
failing to secure local breakout
forgetting cloud egress costs
not checking cross-connect fees
not monitoring cloud application performance
ignoring DNS and firewall design
not testing failover
not clarifying support ownership between cloud and network providers
When to review cloud connectivity Review your cloud connectivity if:
Microsoft 365 feels slow
Teams calls are unreliable
hosted desktops lag
cloud backups take too long
branch users complain about SaaS apps
remote workers have inconsistent access
your WAN still backhauls cloud traffic
you are moving workloads to Azure, AWS or Google Cloud
you are opening new sites
you are moving out of a data centre
you are considering SD-WAN
your leased line contract is ending
your cloud costs or data transfer costs are rising
security inspection is causing bottlenecks
you cannot tell whether the issue is cloud, network or Wi-Fi
Our Final verdict Cloud connectivity is useful for a lot of businesses, and your top choice depends on:
cloud applications
number of sites
user locations
bandwidth
upload needs
latency
security
cloud regions
backup requirements
support ownership
managed service needs
total monthly cost
Compare Cloud Connectivity Quotes
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FAQs: cloud connectivity UK What is cloud connectivity?
Cloud connectivity is the network connection between your users, sites, data centres and cloud services.
Is cloud connectivity the same as cloud hosting?
No. Cloud hosting is where applications and data are hosted. Cloud connectivity is how users and networks access those cloud services.
What is the best cloud connectivity for small businesses?
For many small businesses, FTTP or business broadband with suitable backup is enough. Businesses with critical cloud use may need a leased line or managed connectivity.
What is the best cloud connectivity for multi-site businesses?
Multi-site businesses should compare SD-WAN, managed WAN, SASE, FTTP, leased lines and backup connectivity depending on applications and uptime needs.
Do I need a leased line for cloud applications?
You may need a leased line if cloud apps are business-critical, uploads are heavy, hosted desktops are slow or downtime would affect operations.
Do I need SD-WAN for cloud connectivity?
You may need SD-WAN if you have multiple sites, use cloud apps heavily, need local breakout, want failover or need better visibility across branches.
What is Azure ExpressRoute?
Azure ExpressRoute is a Microsoft service that extends on-premises networks into Microsoft cloud services over a private connection through a connectivity provider.
What is AWS Direct Connect?
AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated network connection between your premises and AWS through hosted or dedicated connection options.
What is Google Cloud Interconnect?
Google Cloud Interconnect provides network connectivity between on-premises networks and Google Cloud VPC networks, using dedicated or partner options.
What is local internet breakout?
Local internet breakout means allowing branch cloud traffic to go directly to the internet near the user rather than routing it back through a central site first.
Is local breakout secure?
It can be secure if combined with the right firewall, SASE, zero trust, access control, DNS filtering and monitoring.
What is cloud backhauling?
Cloud backhauling means sending cloud traffic through a central office, data centre or WAN hub before it reaches the cloud. This can slow cloud applications if poorly designed.
What is SASE for cloud connectivity?
SASE combines networking and cloud security, helping users and branches access cloud apps securely from different locations.
What affects cloud connectivity cost?
Costs depend on broadband, leased lines, SD-WAN, direct cloud connections, VPNs, SASE, cloud data transfer, routers, firewalls, support and contract length.
How do I compare cloud connectivity providers?
Compare application needs, site count, upload speed, latency, security, local breakout, direct cloud options, backup, SLA, support and total monthly cost.
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Compare SD-WAN providers based on your number of sites, current connectivity, cloud applications, security needs, support requirements, failover needs and total monthly cost.
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Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.