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SD-WAN done right.
March 08, 2020

SD-WAN done right.

Anthony Stanley | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Cradlepoint NetCloud (formerly Pertino)

We use Cradlepoint NetCloud to provide software-defined, secure network access and firewall transversal services for diagnostic telemedicine systems. Within our own company and across the clients we serve, Cradlepoint NetCloud is our go-to platform combining SD-WAN and fault-tolerant Smart WAN management into a single, centralized pane of glass. It is our de facto standard for virtualized network applications.
  • Standardization of solution delivery and client management (SD-WAN, Failover, Management, 4G LTE/WIFI as WAN/Ethernet, access control).
  • NetCloud Manger provides simple deployment, maintenance, configuration, provisioning, and user/virtual network management in one tool.
  • Equipment is highly robust, reliable, well supported, feature rich.
  • CradlePoint engineers are highly skilled and very helpful. Top-notch NOC support.
  • Good variety of solutions for customers of most sizes. From individual to small enterprise, there is a "right-sized" product available with all the high-end features you need, at prices suitable for the audience. Even the smallest and least-expensive routers pack almost all of the enterprise features.
  • Cradlepoint NetCloud virtual backplane bandwidth is improving but could limit some very large enterprise customers without creative network segmentation.
  • Further improvements to simplify NetCloud Manager use would be appreciated.
  • User license management and compliance tools need to be clarified and simplified.
  • Cradlepoint NetCloud has done for our managed services what VMWare did for our server room.
  • Even as a small, focused company, we can deliver enterprise-class solutions to other companies of all sizes.
  • The flexibility and feature-rich ecosystem allows true, remote reconfiguration which allows us to be responsive to to the changing requirements of our clients.
  • Changes to client network configurations now take a few mouse inputs and key strokes, instead of on-site visits and console cables.
  • We can quote, configure, and drop ship solutions directly from the Cradlepoint partner with confidence without leaving our desks, knowing that the tweaks and customizations we used to have to do in-shop will be waiting on the router when it is turned on.
Before Cradlepoint NetCloud, firewall transversal was a challenge for telemedicine and required extensive and lengthy cooperation with client IT professionals. Interface selection and failover required application-level software on the host that would become inaccessible should a failover event go badly. We used several tools, each with their own management consoles, licensing plans, and learning curves to enable solutions. Much of that is a thing of the past with NetCloud.
Every time I have engaged support, it has been a satisfying experience. Because they cover such a wide range of applications, I do have to spend more time explaining our intended results and rationale than I would have to do with a more focused vendor, but it's a minor tradeoff for the value of saved time in every other aspect of the solution.

Do you think Cradlepoint NetCloud Engine delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Cradlepoint NetCloud Engine's feature set?

Yes

Did Cradlepoint NetCloud Engine live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Cradlepoint NetCloud Engine go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cradlepoint NetCloud Engine again?

Yes

The platform and product selection as a whole covers a lot of range. The pricing is low enough and the levels granular enough that even customers that only need the use of a few features of the product can buy into the ecosystem with reasonable investment and grow with confidence without having paid too much. One thing that this enterprise company gets is this:
Many small companies need enterprise-class features but don't have the user count to justify purchasing enterprise-class solutions. It is not that they don't need advanced features, it's just that enterprise vendors assume that small companies only have basic needs. It is not true, but you can't buy a solution that is only sold in hundreds of seats if you have 25 users in your company.

Cradlepoint NetCloud does a good job of getting this right. You can buy a single seat or hundreds of seats, and the price is truly commensurate with your seat count. Everyone gets the enterprise features, you only pay for the seats you need.