IBM SoftLayer (IBM) is the latest cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) provider to make it possible for customers to open up direct VPN links to its data centers for a private and secure link to the cloud. This follows the likes of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure (MSFT), which both have been sporting their own Direct Connect and ExpressRoute services.

Direct Link is a comparable offering that is intending to reduce customer costs, extend their IT infrastructures, deliver greater consistency in performance and provide a secure hybrid cloud platform. Essentially, it creates a direct link between the customer’s IT environment and the IBM SoftLayer cloud, making it easier and faster to connect and transfer data to the cloud data center.

“Direct Link is a service designed to give users more flexibility in the way they build out their cloud infrastructures,” said Matt Chilek, CTO of IBM SoftLayer, in a prepared statement. “It helps create a VPN (virtual private network) to the cloud, whereby customers can send workloads and data directly to one of our global data centers, rather than using the public Internet. It extends infrastructure investments by allowing users to move into the cloud on their terms.”

According to IBM, a high-speed connection directly into SoftLayer’s platform from a data center, office or colocation facility provides customers with more options when building out cloud environments. The goal is to offer customers the ability to use the SoftLayer cloud as if it was on the local area network, allowing for full integration of cloud services and internal applications. Additionally, Direct Link provides faster network speeds, lower latencies and higher security, Big Blue noted in its announcement.

The launch of Direct Link is not an unexpected move from IBM SoftLayer. Its competitors have already claimed their stake in the direct connection arena, so it seemed likely IBM would eventually follow suit. Other IaaS providers will likely come up with their own direct connection offerings over time, as they seem to be in demand.