Enterprise network connectivity has followed a rigid model for decades: request an MPLS circuit or a dedicated fibre, wait weeks or months for provisioning, sign a multi-year contract and pay a fixed rate regardless of actual usage. In a world where workloads migrate between datacenters and public clouds in a matter of hours, this traditional model has become a bottleneck that slows business agility.
Network as a Service (NaaS) radically changes this paradigm. Instead of relying on static physical infrastructure, NaaS allows you to provision, modify and tear down network connections programmatically, on demand and with usage-based billing. It is the application of the cloud model (elasticity, APIs, self-service) to the network layer.
In this article we explore what NaaS is, how the Megaport platform works as the industry leader, what components it offers, how it compares with traditional alternatives, and why EasyDataHost integrates Megaport into its network infrastructure to deliver next-generation connectivity.
What Is Network as a Service (NaaS)
Network as a Service is a connectivity consumption model in which network services (point-to-point circuits, cloud access, datacenter interconnects) are provisioned through software, delivered instantly and billed based on actual bandwidth and duration. There is no hardware to install at the customer's premises, no mandatory long-term contracts and no weeks-long lead times to activate a link.
The fundamental principles of NaaS are three: software-defined networking (SDN), which abstracts the physical infrastructure into a programmable logical layer; on-demand provisioning, which enables connections to be created and destroyed in minutes through a portal or API; and pay-per-use, which eliminates the upfront investment (CAPEX) and turns connectivity into an operational expense (OPEX) proportional to actual consumption.
NaaS does not replace the underlying physical infrastructure (the fibre still exists) but virtualises it. NaaS providers such as Megaport deploy their own transport network over fibres and equipment in hundreds of datacenters, then offer that capacity as a consumable service via API. The result is a network that behaves like a cloud resource: elastic, programmable and commitment-free.
Megaport: The Global SDN Platform
Megaport is the world's leading NaaS provider, with an SDN network spanning more than 800 enabled datacenters across over 25 countries. Its platform allows enterprises to create private network connections between datacenters, cloud providers and partners in minutes, without requiring traditional physical cross-connects or negotiations with telecommunications operators.
Megaport's architecture is built on a proprietary fibre-optic backbone distributed globally, upon which an SDN virtualisation layer runs that enables the creation of virtual Layer 2 circuits between any of the network's points of presence (PoPs). All management is performed through a web portal, a RESTful API or integration with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform).
What sets Megaport apart from a traditional telecommunications operator is speed and flexibility: a circuit that would take weeks to become operational with a legacy carrier is provisioned in minutes with Megaport. And if requirements change, bandwidth can be adjusted up or down without changing contracts or installing equipment.
How Megaport Works: Key Components
The Megaport platform is composed of several building blocks that combine to construct complex network topologies with ease:
- settings_ethernet Port: the physical entry point to the Megaport network. It is a physical port (1 GbE, 10 GbE or 100 GbE) in a Megaport-enabled datacenter. It is the equivalent of a "network socket" in the Megaport ecosystem, from which multiple virtual connections can be created.
- cable VXC (Virtual Cross Connect): the point-to-point virtual circuit that connects two endpoints within the Megaport network. It can connect two of your own ports (DC-to-DC), a port with a cloud provider (cloud on-ramp) or a port with a platform partner. Each VXC has an assigned bandwidth that can be modified on the fly.
- router MCR (Megaport Cloud Router): a virtual Layer 3 router that enables multiple VXCs to be interconnected without physical hardware. With MCR you can establish BGP peering between multiple cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) and private networks, creating a multi-cloud architecture from a single logical point.
- security MVE (Megaport Virtual Edge): a virtualised instance of a network appliance (SD-WAN, firewall, router) that runs within the Megaport network. It allows advanced network functions (Fortinet, Versa, Cisco, Palo Alto) to be deployed directly at the Megaport edge without dedicated hardware.
Key concept:
With Megaport, the network becomes a programmable resource. A Port is your access point, VXCs are your virtual circuits, the MCR routes between clouds and the MVE runs network functions at the edge. Everything is managed via portal or API, with no hardware and no waiting.
Comparison Table: NaaS vs MPLS vs VPN vs Direct Fibre
The following table compares NaaS (Megaport) with traditional connectivity solutions across the aspects that matter most in enterprise environments:
| Criterion | NaaS (Megaport) | MPLS | IPsec VPN | Direct Fibre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latency | Low (private L2 circuit) | Low | Variable (depends on internet) | Minimal |
| Provisioning time | Minutes | Weeks to months | Hours (if internet exists) | Weeks to months |
| Cost model | Pay-per-use (OPEX) | Fixed contract (CAPEX + OPEX) | Low (internet cost) | High (installation CAPEX) |
| Flexibility | Hot-adjustable bandwidth | Rigid, changes require notice | Limited by internet access | Fixed (link capacity) |
| Scalability | Global, 800+ DCs | Limited to the carrier | Global (over internet) | Point-to-point only |
| Security | Private L2 circuits, no internet transit | Carrier's private network | Encryption over public internet | Dedicated physical link |
NaaS Use Cases with Megaport
The flexibility of NaaS unlocks a range of scenarios that with traditional connectivity would be slow, expensive or outright unfeasible:
- cloud Direct cloud on-ramp: private connection from your datacenter to AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute or Google Cloud Interconnect via a VXC. Without traversing the internet, with predictable latency and guaranteed bandwidth. Ideal for workloads requiring consistent performance towards the cloud.
- cloud_sync Multi-cloud connectivity: with an MCR (Megaport Cloud Router) you can simultaneously interconnect AWS, Azure and GCP from a single logical point, with BGP peering across all clouds. This enables true multi-cloud architectures without relying on VPNs over the internet.
- lan DC-to-DC interconnect: connect two datacenters via a private Layer 2 VXC with low latency and dedicated bandwidth. Useful for data replication, clustering between sites or extending VLANs between colocation facilities in different locations.
- swap_horiz Dynamic hybrid cloud: connect on-premise infrastructure with multiple public clouds dynamically, scaling bandwidth based on demand. It combines the security of the physical datacenter with the elasticity of the cloud, a model increasingly adopted by enterprises seeking the best of both worlds.
- speed Capacity bursting: temporarily increase a circuit's bandwidth for massive data migrations, seasonal peaks or one-off events, and reduce it afterwards. With traditional MPLS this would require renegotiating contracts; with NaaS it is done in seconds from the portal.
NaaS Advantages over Traditional Connectivity
The transition from legacy connectivity to NaaS delivers operational and financial benefits that directly impact business agility:
Provisioning in minutes, not months. The average lead time to activate an MPLS circuit is 30 to 90 days. With Megaport, a VXC is created in under 60 seconds. This transforms the network from a rigid asset into an agile resource that adapts to the pace of the business. Projects that previously stalled waiting for connectivity can now launch on the same day.
No long-term contracts. Megaport services can be contracted month-to-month or even for shorter durations. This eliminates the risk of paying for years for circuits that are no longer needed and allows the network strategy to pivot without penalties.
Immediate geographic reach. With more than 800 globally enabled datacenters, Megaport allows you to connect with partners, cloud providers and offices anywhere in the world without depending on a single local carrier. This is especially valuable for enterprises with a multi-region presence that need consistent global connectivity, such as those leveraging the advantages of a European datacenter.
MPLS cost reduction. Many enterprises are replacing expensive MPLS circuits with Megaport VXCs combined with SD-WAN for less critical traffic. Typical savings range from 30% to 60% compared to equivalent MPLS contracts, without sacrificing performance or security on the private links.
NaaS Security: Private Circuits with No Internet Transit
A common concern when discussing "as a Service" connectivity is security. The answer is clear: Megaport VXCs are private Layer 2 circuits that never traverse the internet. Traffic travels exclusively over Megaport's private backbone, isolated from other customers via dedicated VLANs.
This Layer 2 isolation provides security equivalent to or better than a traditional MPLS circuit. Additionally, for scenarios requiring extra encryption, virtualised network functions (MVE) with firewalls or VPN gateways can be deployed directly at the Megaport edge, adding end-to-end encryption on top of the private circuits.
It is important to understand that NaaS does not mean "network over the internet". Unlike an IPsec VPN that relies on the public internet for transport, Megaport's NaaS circuits are dedicated links over private infrastructure. The difference in security, latency and reliability is substantial.
NaaS for Hybrid Cloud
Hybrid cloud is the dominant enterprise architecture: combining on-premise infrastructure (for performance, regulatory compliance or cost) with public cloud (for elasticity and managed services). But hybrid cloud only works if the connectivity between both worlds is fast, reliable and secure. This is where NaaS becomes transformative.
With Megaport, an enterprise can connect its colocation infrastructure directly to AWS, Azure and GCP via private circuits, and adjust bandwidth in real time based on workload. If on a Friday night you need to migrate 50 TB to S3, you increase the VXC to 10 Gbps, run the migration and reduce the bandwidth on Monday. Without calling anyone, without support tickets, without waiting.
The MCR (Megaport Cloud Router) is especially powerful for hybrid cloud because it allows BGP peering to be established with multiple clouds and private networks from a single point, simplifying the network topology and reducing operational complexity. Instead of managing dozens of individual circuits, you manage a single virtual router that routes between all destinations.
NaaS + Colocation: Enhanced Datacenter Connectivity
The combination of colocation with NaaS multiplies the value of both services. A carrier-neutral datacenter with a Megaport presence gives its customers instant access to Megaport's entire connectivity ecosystem: more than 360 cloud providers, hundreds of ISPs, CDNs, IXPs and enterprise partners, all without the need for additional physical cross-connects.
For enterprises choosing colocation over public cloud, NaaS eliminates one of the main friction points: connectivity. There is no longer a need to wait weeks for a physical cross-connect with a new provider or to negotiate with a local carrier. With Megaport, connectivity from the colocation rack to the cloud or to another datacenter is provisioned in minutes.
Furthermore, NaaS complements the datacenter's peering strategy. Customers who need interconnection with specific networks can use Megaport VXCs to establish private peering with operators present on the network, expanding connectivity options beyond the carriers physically present at the facility.
EasyDataHost Network: Megaport-Enabled and Carrier-Neutral
EasyDataHost's network infrastructure is designed to deliver maximum quality connectivity and flexibility. Our datacenter is carrier-neutral, meaning customers can choose from multiple network operators, and is Megaport-enabled, providing direct access to Megaport's global NaaS platform.
This means that any EasyDataHost customer can provision a Megaport port and create VXCs to AWS, Azure, GCP, other datacenters or partners in a matter of minutes. Combined with our network, peering and Network as a Service offerings, we provide a complete connectivity ecosystem.
- check_circle Megaport-enabled: Megaport port available directly in our datacenter.
- check_circle Carrier-neutral: freedom to choose from multiple network operators and transit providers.
- check_circle Cloud on-ramp: direct access to AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute and GCP Interconnect.
- check_circle European datacenter: data sovereignty, low latency to European markets and GDPR compliance from our facility in Madrid.
Conclusion
Network as a Service represents the natural evolution of enterprise connectivity: moving from rigid circuits that are slow to provision and tied to long-term contracts, to a programmable, elastic and on-demand network. Megaport is the platform that makes this possible at global scale, with more than 800 enabled datacenters and direct access to the leading cloud providers.
- arrow_right NaaS turns the network into a cloud resource: programmable, elastic and pay-per-use.
- arrow_right Megaport is the leading global SDN platform with 800+ enabled DCs and API-driven provisioning.
- arrow_right VXCs are private Layer 2 circuits that never traverse the internet, with security equivalent to MPLS.
- arrow_right The MCR enables multi-cloud architectures with BGP peering to AWS, Azure and GCP from a single point.
- arrow_right EasyDataHost is Megaport-enabled and carrier-neutral, offering NaaS directly from its datacenter.
If you need on-demand connectivity for your infrastructure, direct cloud access or datacenter-to-datacenter interconnection, contact our team to design the NaaS solution that best fits your requirements.