Peering is the interconnection between Microsoft’s global network (AS8075) and your network for the purpose of exchanging internet traffic from/to Microsoft online services and Microsoft Azure Services.

• An IP service that uses the public internet.
• A collaboration platform with service providers
• A value-added service that's intended to offer optimal and reliable routing via service provider partners to the Microsoft cloud over the public network.

You may request for peering with Microsoft using Azure PowerShell or portal. Peering set up in this manner is managed as an Azure resource and provides the following benefits:

• Simplified and automatable steps to set up and manage peering with Microsoft.
• Quick and easy way to view and manage all your peering sessions in one place.
• Track status and bandwidth data for all your connections.
• You can use the same subscription to access your Azure Cloud Services.

Enterprises need to own a public ASN (Autonomous System Number) in order to be able to use MAPS service. AMS-IX can support you in this process of getting an ASN or you can reach out to RIPE.

Azure ExpressRoute is a private, dedicated connection from one or multiple customer locations. While Peering Service offers optimised public connectivity and doesn't support any private connectivity, it also offers optimised connectivity for local internet breakouts.