AWS and Google Cloud Just Made Multicloud Actually Practical

AWS and Google Cloud have launched a joint multicloud collaboration, currently in preview, that lets customers connect the two platforms directly using AWS Interconnect and Google Cloud's Cross-Cloud Interconnect — with Microsoft Azure reportedly planning to join the arrangement later in 2026.

Why Two Rival Clouds Are Cooperating

Most large enterprises already run workloads across more than one cloud — not by original design, usually, but through acquisitions, shadow IT, and vendor-specific tooling. Connecting those environments has historically meant routing traffic back through the public internet or building custom VPN infrastructure, adding latency and cost. A direct interconnect between two hyperscalers is a tacit admission that customers were going to demand this regardless of whether the vendors wanted to make multicloud easy.

What Actually Changes for a Multicloud Architecture

• Lower latency between workloads split across AWS and Google Cloud, since traffic no longer transits the public internet
• Simplified network architecture — one direct connection instead of custom VPN tunnels or third-party network-as-a-service providers
• Real leverage in vendor negotiations — a credible, low-friction path to running workloads on either cloud reduces lock-in risk

What to Watch Before Relying On It

This is in preview, not general availability — pricing, SLAs, and regional coverage are still likely to change. Azure's participation is reported but not yet live. Worth tracking for planning purposes, not worth re-architecting around yet if your workloads are stable on their current path.