Cradlepoint has announced NetCloud Exchange: a cloud-native solution built on policy-driven Zero Trust principles, delivering multiple SD-WAN and security services.
The expansion of the NetCloud management software enables companies with private or cloud-based data centers - thanks to more IT security - to increase the possibilities of their 5G installations, thereby offering new services and at the same time digitally transforming their business processes.
Cloud Computing and Mobility
The digital transformation of companies requires the increasing use of cloud computing and mobility as well as the Internet of Things. However, WAN architectures have proven to be too limited and inflexible to securely connect distributed enterprise sites, vehicles, devices and remote workers. The 5G standard is rapidly developing into an essential part of the infrastructure in wide area networks (WAN) and will expand and further develop the wide area networks. However, these trends can result in specific cloud-driven paths in network traffic, as well as a greater number of connected endpoints—and widening the attack surface.
"Most networking solutions today are designed for wired-only deployments," commented Todd Krautkremer, Cradlepoint's chief marketing officer. “With the NetCloud Exchange expansion, the NetCloud platform now offers 5G services to support enterprise WAN transformation, with a targeted focus on security. This includes secure end-to-end connectivity, hybrid SD-WAN and Zero Trust Networking – all managed from a single pane of glass throughout the product lifecycle.”
Simpler, safer, more scalable
The following NetCloud services will be provided based on the intuitive NetCloud Exchange solution:
- Secure Connect: The flexible VPN-like service enables 4G LTE and 5G to set up secure end-to-end connections for thousands of locations in just three simple configuration steps. It also eliminates the operational complexity associated with traditional VPNs through automated tunnel orchestration, efficient encryption, name-based routing, and simplified IP address management. The new solution uses Zero Trust principles. This includes, on the one hand, masking (cloaking) of the IP addresses and, on the other hand, the fact that no network access is configured with the standard pre-setting. While traditional VPN connections first create a connection and then secure it, Secure Connect first secures the gateways through which a connection can be made - changing the traditional VPN paradigm from "connect first and then secure" to "first secure and then". then connect”, taking into account the principle of least privilege.
- Advanced SD WAN: The service extends Cradlepoint's current SD-WAN capabilities with end-to-end support and advanced application optimization. This advanced service enables functions such as 5G network slicing, even large-scale configurations can be carried out easily and with extensive integration in the cloud. In addition, network traffic can be controlled in a resilient and flexible manner. Finally, the connection endpoints are scalable and resilient in both private and cloud-based data centers.
- Zero Trust Network Access: This easy-to-deploy service leverages flexible, fine-grained policies based on user, location, application, and resource categories. These policies use identity, context and 5G attributes to control network access.
The services mentioned are provided via the "NetCloud Exchange Service Gateway". It is a scalable and robust, software-based solution for private and cloud-based data centers. It aggregates remote connections, provides traffic-level visibility, and enforces policies on the services it supports.
More at Cradlepoint.com
About Cradlepoint
Cradlepoint connects people, places and things. The company, founded in 2006, is a pioneer in the field of wireless WAN: It offers advanced routers and adapters for the 4G LTE and 5G mobile communication standards, controlled via the NetCloud management software. This is an SD-WAN solution that administrators use in the cloud and that companies operate on a subscription model.