2.3 Azure ExpressRoute
📘Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions (AZ-700)
In the Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions (AZ-700) exam, you must understand how to choose the correct ExpressRoute SKU and tier based on business, technical, and connectivity requirements.
ExpressRoute is a private, dedicated connection between your on-premises network and Microsoft’s cloud services. It does not use the public internet.
This section explains:
- ExpressRoute SKUs
- ExpressRoute tiers
- Bandwidth options
- Billing models
- Add-ons (such as Global Reach)
- Design decision factors for the exam
1️⃣ What is ExpressRoute SKU?
An ExpressRoute SKU defines:
- The tier (Standard or Premium)
- The billing model (Metered or Unlimited)
- Features available for the circuit
When you create an ExpressRoute circuit, you must choose a SKU.
There are two major components to understand:
- Tier
- Data plan (billing model)
2️⃣ ExpressRoute Tiers
Azure provides two main tiers:
- Standard
- Premium
Let’s examine both carefully.
🔹 Standard Tier
This is the default tier.
Key Features:
- Connect to Azure regions within the same geopolitical region
- Limited number of VNets per circuit
- Limited BGP routes
- No global VNet connectivity
Important Characteristics:
- Good for regional deployments
- Lower cost
- Suitable for organizations operating in one continent or region
Exam Focus:
Standard tier is suitable when:
- You only need connectivity within one geographic region
- You do not need global VNet connectivity
- You have a smaller number of VNets
- You want lower cost
🔹 Premium Tier
Premium tier extends Standard tier capabilities.
Key Features:
- Global connectivity across regions
- Larger number of VNets per circuit
- Larger number of BGP routes
- Global service access
Important Characteristics:
- Supports multinational deployments
- Required when connecting to Azure regions worldwide
- Needed when route limits exceed Standard tier
Exam Focus:
Choose Premium tier when:
- You need cross-region connectivity
- You must connect to Azure services globally
- You require higher route limits
- You have large enterprise networks
🔎 Standard vs Premium Comparison (Exam View)
| Feature | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Region scope | Same geopolitical region | Global |
| VNet limits | Lower | Higher |
| Route limits | Lower | Higher |
| Global access | No | Yes |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
For AZ-700, understand:
- If the question mentions global connectivity, the answer is Premium.
- If the question mentions large route tables or many VNets, choose Premium.
- If it mentions cost optimization with regional deployment, choose Standard.
3️⃣ ExpressRoute Billing Models (Data Plans)
Azure offers two billing models:
- Metered
- Unlimited
These apply to both Standard and Premium tiers.
🔹 Metered Data Plan
With Metered:
- You pay for inbound data (included)
- You pay separately for outbound data transfer
Use When:
- Data transfer volume is unpredictable
- Data usage is low or moderate
- You want lower base cost
🔹 Unlimited Data Plan
With Unlimited:
- You pay a higher fixed monthly fee
- No data transfer charges
Use When:
- Large volume of data transfer
- High outbound traffic
- Predictable heavy workloads
🔎 Metered vs Unlimited Comparison
| Feature | Metered | Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Lower | Higher |
| Data transfer charges | Yes | No |
| Best for | Variable traffic | Heavy traffic |
Exam Tip:
If the scenario mentions:
- High data transfer
- Large database replication
- Continuous backup
- Large-scale migration
→ Choose Unlimited.
If it mentions:
- Low usage
- Cost savings
- Limited traffic
→ Choose Metered.
4️⃣ Bandwidth Options
ExpressRoute supports multiple bandwidth levels:
- 50 Mbps
- 100 Mbps
- 200 Mbps
- 500 Mbps
- 1 Gbps
- 2 Gbps
- 5 Gbps
- 10 Gbps
You must choose bandwidth based on:
- Application requirements
- Data transfer volume
- Latency requirements
- Backup and replication traffic
Exam Consideration:
If scenario mentions:
- Large file transfers
- Database replication
- Real-time data synchronization
- High transaction systems
Choose higher bandwidth.
5️⃣ ExpressRoute Global Reach (Add-On)
ExpressRoute Global Reach allows you to connect your on-premises sites together using Microsoft’s global network.
Instead of routing traffic through your own WAN, you can use Microsoft’s backbone network.
When to Use:
- Multiple datacenters in different locations
- Need private connectivity between them
- Want to reduce latency
Exam Focus:
If question mentions:
- Connecting multiple on-premises sites
- Using Microsoft backbone for inter-site connectivity
Answer: Enable Global Reach
6️⃣ ExpressRoute Local SKU (Cost-Optimized Option)
There is also an ExpressRoute Local SKU.
Key Characteristics:
- Connectivity to specific Azure region only
- Lower cost
- No global connectivity
- Data transfer included
When to Use:
- Only one Azure region is required
- Cost reduction is priority
Exam Clue:
If scenario mentions:
- Single Azure region
- Cost-sensitive deployment
- No need for global access
→ Choose ExpressRoute Local
7️⃣ Key Design Decision Factors for the Exam
When selecting an ExpressRoute SKU and tier, analyze the scenario carefully.
Always Evaluate:
1️⃣ Geographic Scope
- One region → Standard or Local
- Multiple global regions → Premium
2️⃣ Route Scale
- Many BGP routes → Premium
3️⃣ Number of VNets
- Many VNets → Premium
4️⃣ Data Volume
- High outbound data → Unlimited
- Low traffic → Metered
5️⃣ Budget Constraints
- Lower cost → Standard + Metered or Local
6️⃣ Inter-Datacenter Connectivity
- Need Microsoft backbone between sites → Global Reach
8️⃣ Common AZ-700 Exam Scenarios
Scenario 1:
“Company operates only in one country and needs private connectivity to one Azure region.”
→ ExpressRoute Local or Standard
Scenario 2:
“Company has global offices and must access Azure regions worldwide.”
→ Premium tier
Scenario 3:
“Organization transfers large database backups daily.”
→ Unlimited data plan
Scenario 4:
“Organization wants to minimize cost and has unpredictable low traffic.”
→ Metered plan
Scenario 5:
“Need to connect multiple on-premises datacenters using Microsoft backbone.”
→ Enable Global Reach
9️⃣ Important Limits to Remember
For the exam, remember conceptually:
- Premium increases route and VNet limits.
- Standard is region-limited.
- Local is region-specific and cost-optimized.
- Unlimited removes data transfer charges.
- Metered charges for outbound data.
You are not required to memorize exact route numbers, but understand scaling differences.
🔟 Summary for Exam Success
When selecting ExpressRoute SKU and tier:
- Determine if connectivity is regional or global.
- Determine expected data volume.
- Check route and VNet scale requirements.
- Consider cost optimization.
- Check if inter-site connectivity is required.
Final Exam Strategy
In AZ-700:
- If you see “global” → think Premium
- If you see “high traffic” → think Unlimited
- If you see “cost optimization + single region” → think Local
- If you see “large enterprise + many routes” → think Premium
- If you see “connect on-prem sites together” → think Global Reach
Mastering these decision points will help you confidently answer ExpressRoute SKU and tier questions on the exam.
