Cradlepoint SD-WAN vs Open Systems SD-WAN

Cradlepoint SD-WAN provides cellular-optimized traffic management on Cradlepoint branch routers and through NetCloud Exchange. It can use LTE, 5G standalone and nonstandalone networks, wired links, and Wi-Fi as WAN. Administrators steer application traffic to selected cellular providers, WAN interfaces, or interface groups with application-based policies. NetCloud Exchange recognizes and classifies more than 3,500 applications, while edge routers classify more than 1,000. Routers assess link health and can fail over automatically when links are down or degraded under configured policies. Administrators can view cellular usage by provider, account, router, or modem and steer traffic away from links nearing thresholds. NetCloud Exchange can align modem WAN interfaces with 5G standalone network slices. Its SD-WAN uses a zero-trust foundation and requires Secure Connect. Service Gateway deployment supports Azure, AWS, KVM, and VMware. Requirements include Secure Connect, router licenses, and NetCloud OS 7.22.110 or newer. Pricing is on request, with a 90-day trial listed.

Open Systems SD-WAN is a cloud service for enterprises with global operations that depend on cloud and mobile connectivity. It prioritizes business-critical applications and uses available bandwidth. Application-level policies select network paths, balance traffic, and define fallback order when connections degrade or fail. Administrators can control bandwidth by application, location, and connection. Application Optimization uses caching, compression, and protocol optimization to reduce bandwidth use and improve application performance. Traffic between sites is automatically encrypted and authenticated across public or private networks, including internet and MPLS. A single-pass architecture decrypts and analyzes VPN traffic for per-application visibility and consumption trends. Open Systems describes AI-run automation and Level-3 engineers operating network and security operations. Access is through web and API, with integrated security and cloud on-ramps. Pricing is on request. The service was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Zürich.