Cloud networking refers to the process of connecting and managing network resources in a cloud environment. In a cloud environment, networking is delivered as a service, allowing organizations to provision and manage their networks using cloud-based tools and services.

Cloud networking works by providing a virtualized network infrastructure that enables organizations to connect their cloud-based resources such as virtual machines, containers, and applications. The virtualized network infrastructure is delivered through software-defined networking (SDN) technology, which separates the network control plane from the data plane.

In cloud networking, the network control plane is managed by cloud-based software that provides a centralized view of the network, enabling administrators to configure and manage network policies, security rules, and other network settings. The data plane, on the other hand, is managed by the cloud infrastructure, which provides network connectivity between resources in the cloud.

Cloud networking can be delivered through various cloud-based networking services, such as:

1. Virtual Private Cloud (VPC): VPC is a service that enables organizations to create a logically isolated network within a public cloud environment. VPC provides network segmentation and isolation, enabling organizations to enforce security policies and control access to resources.
2. Load Balancing: Load balancing is a service that distributes network traffic across multiple instances of an application or service to ensure high availability and performance.
3. Virtual Private Network (VPN): VPN is a service that provides secure connectivity between an organization’s on-premises network and its cloud-based resources.
4. Content Delivery Network (CDN): CDN is a service that caches content at edge locations, enabling faster delivery of content to users.
5. Network Security: Cloud providers also offer various network security services, such as firewall, intrusion detection, and prevention, to protect cloud-based resources from network-based attacks.

Overall, cloud networking enables organizations to create and manage virtualized network infrastructure in the cloud, providing flexibility, scalability, and agility to meet the changing needs of their business. It also enables organizations to enforce security policies, control access to resources, and optimize network performance and availability.

Networking is one of the main categories of the Cloud Native Landscape.

There are many cloud networking tools available in the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the most popular cloud networking tools and how they compare:

1. Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC): Amazon VPC is a service that enables organizations to create a logically isolated network within a public cloud environment. It provides network segmentation and isolation, enabling organizations to enforce security policies and control access to resources. Amazon VPC is well-suited for organizations that rely heavily on Amazon Web Services (AWS).
2. Google Cloud Virtual Private Cloud (VPC): Google Cloud VPC is a service that provides a private, isolated network environment within Google Cloud Platform. It provides network segmentation and isolation, enabling organizations to enforce security policies and control access to resources. Google Cloud VPC is well-suited for organizations that use Google Cloud Platform.
3. Microsoft Azure Virtual Network (VNet): Microsoft Azure VNet is a service that provides a private, isolated network environment within Microsoft Azure. It provides network segmentation and isolation, enabling organizations to enforce security policies and control access to resources. Azure VNet is well-suited for organizations that use Microsoft Azure.
4. Kubernetes: Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that provides networking capabilities for container-based applications. It provides built-in load balancing, service discovery, and network policies for containers, enabling organizations to manage network traffic and security for container-based applications.
5. Istio: Istio is an open-source service mesh platform that provides advanced networking and security capabilities for microservices-based applications. It provides traffic management, load balancing, service discovery, and security features such as mutual TLS encryption and authorization policies for microservices-based applications.

When comparing these tools, organizations should consider factors such as ease of use, pricing, scalability, and integrations with other tools and services. It is also important to choose a tool that is well-suited to the specific cloud environment and applications being deployed. Ultimately, the best cloud networking tool depends on the unique needs and requirements of the organization.