5G WAN · Wireless-First SASE · Ericsson
Cradlepoint NetCloud SASE Review
Cradlepoint is the global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G Wireless WAN (WWAN) solutions, headquartered in Boise, Idaho. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERIC), having been acquired for $1.1 billion in September 2020, and operates as part of Ericsson's Enterprise Wireless Solutions business area. Cradlepoint was recognised as a Niche Player in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN. Its NetCloud platform delivers SD-WAN, SASE, and Zero Trust security through a unified cloud-managed architecture purpose-built for Wireless WANs — uniquely optimised for cellular, LTE, and 5G connectivity including 5G Standalone (SA) network slicing. In April 2023, Cradlepoint acquired Ericom Software to add cloud-based SSE capabilities (SWG, CASB, ZTNA, RBI, DLP) to its wireless-first SASE platform.
Quick Facts — Cradlepoint
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full company name | Cradlepoint, Inc. (subsidiary of Ericsson, Nasdaq: ERIC) |
| Headquarters | Boise, Idaho, USA |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Parent company | Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERIC) — acquired 2020 for $1.1 billion |
| Primary products | NetCloud Manager; NetCloud SASE; NetCloud Exchange (on-premises); Ericsson Cradlepoint E400 (5G SA appliance); 4G/5G routers and adapters |
| Architecture | Wireless-first; cloud-managed; zero trust foundation; 5G SA network slicing support; in-line traffic for WAN measurements (not synthetic); SSE via Ericom (acquired April 2023) |
| SASE capability | Full — NetCloud SASE integrates SD-WAN, ZTNA, SWG, CASB, RBI, DLP; purpose-built for wireless WAN environments |
| SD-WAN capability | Full — NetCloud SD-WAN; zero trust foundation; dynamic path selection; 5G SA network slicing; cellular-centric metrics for traffic steering |
| Target market | Enterprises with distributed sites, vehicles, IoT, temporary locations; emergency services; retail; healthcare; public safety; organisations deploying 5G SA |
| UK presence | UK operations through Ericsson UK channel; UK enterprise and public safety deployments |
| Gartner position | Niche Player — 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN |
What Netify Thinks
Cradlepoint holds a genuinely unique position in the SD-WAN and SASE market: it is the only vendor to have demonstrated 5G Standalone (SA) network slicing capability for SD-WAN traffic steering in a site-to-site implementation, and it preserves customers' cellular data plans by using in-line traffic measurement rather than synthetic probes. For any organisation deploying 5G-primary WAN connectivity — fixed sites, vehicles, IoT devices, or temporary locations — Cradlepoint's cellular-native optimisations are unmatched.
Strengths
- Only SASE/SD-WAN vendor with 5G SA network slicing support: Cradlepoint is the only SASE/SD-WAN vendor to have demonstrated traffic steering across multiple 5G Standalone network slices in a site-to-site implementation. As 5G SA networks become mainstream, this capability enables priority-based, isolated connectivity for different application categories — a fundamental capability advantage for 5G-first deployments.
- Cellular-native WAN optimisation: Unlike traditional SD-WAN vendors that apply the same metrics to all WAN links, Cradlepoint measures cellular-specific parameters (signal strength, data plan usage, available bandwidth) for traffic steering decisions. This preserves cellular data plans and provides more accurate performance measurement than synthetic probing approaches.
- Ericsson backing and 5G ecosystem integration: As an Ericsson subsidiary, Cradlepoint benefits from direct access to Ericsson's global 5G network operator relationships, R&D resources, and enterprise wireless market positioning. Ericsson manages 50% of the world's mobile traffic outside China, providing unique insights into 5G network capabilities.
- Zero trust foundation built in — not bolted on: NetCloud SD-WAN uses a zero trust foundation by default — all devices are dark to the outside world upon connection, with explicit access policies required. This deny-all default architecture reduces the attack surface more fundamentally than traditional SD-WAN approaches that apply security as an overlay.
- Ericom SSE integration (April 2023): The acquisition of Ericom added cloud-based SSE capabilities (SWG, CASB, ZTNA, RBI, DLP) to Cradlepoint's wireless-first SASE platform, closing the gap toward full single-vendor SASE for wireless environments.
Weaknesses
- Niche Player in 2024 Gartner SD-WAN MQ: Cradlepoint is positioned as a Niche Player (not a Leader) in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN, reflecting its specialised focus on wireless WAN rather than the broad enterprise fixed-line SD-WAN market.
- Wireless-first positioning limits wired enterprise appeal: Cradlepoint's strength is cellular/5G connectivity. Organisations with primarily wired enterprise WAN requirements (MPLS + fibre broadband) are better served by dedicated fixed-line SD-WAN vendors (Fortinet, Cisco, HPE Aruba, Versa Networks).
- Ericom SSE integration still maturing: The SSE capabilities (from the April 2023 Ericom acquisition) are newer to the Cradlepoint platform than its core wireless WAN capabilities. Enterprise buyers requiring mature SSE with extensive SaaS integrations should evaluate SSE maturity carefully.
- Primarily US and enterprise market focus: While Cradlepoint operates internationally through Ericsson's global channel, its primary deployment track record and case studies are concentrated in North American enterprise, retail, and public safety markets.
Verdict: Cradlepoint is best suited to enterprises deploying 5G-primary or cellular-primary WAN connectivity — particularly retail chains, emergency services, mobile operations (vehicles, first responders), IoT-intensive environments, temporary sites, and healthcare. It is the unambiguous choice for any organisation serious about 5G SA deployment for enterprise WAN. It is less appropriate for organisations with primarily fixed-line WAN requirements.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Only SD-WAN/SASE vendor with 5G Standalone (SA) network slicing support
- Cellular-native WAN optimisation — preserves data plans, more accurate than synthetic probing
- Zero trust foundation built in — deny-all default for all connected devices
- Ericsson backing — 5G ecosystem access, global operator relationships
- NetCloud SASE — full SSE (SWG, CASB, ZTNA, RBI, DLP) from Ericom acquisition
- Supports fixed sites, vehicles, IoT, temporary locations in single platform
Cons
- Niche Player in 2024 Gartner SD-WAN MQ
- Wireless-first positioning — less suitable for primarily wired enterprise WAN
- Ericom SSE integration still maturing (acquired April 2023)
- Primarily North American deployment track record
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cradlepoint NetCloud SASE?
Cradlepoint NetCloud SASE is a cloud-managed SASE platform purpose-built for Wireless WAN environments. It integrates SD-WAN, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Remote Browser Isolation (RBI), and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) in a unified platform managed through NetCloud Manager. Unlike traditional SASE platforms optimised for fixed-line broadband, NetCloud SASE is specifically designed for cellular and 5G WAN connectivity, with features including cellular-centric traffic steering metrics, 5G SA network slicing support, and in-line traffic measurement that preserves data plan budgets.
Is Cradlepoint part of Ericsson?
Yes. Cradlepoint is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERIC), acquired in September 2020 for approximately $1.1 billion. Cradlepoint operates as part of Ericsson's Business Area Enterprise Wireless Solutions. This relationship gives Cradlepoint access to Ericsson's 5G R&D, global operator relationships, and enterprise channel — and results in the joint Ericsson Cradlepoint product branding visible on newer appliances such as the E400.
Is Cradlepoint suitable for UK deployments?
Yes. Cradlepoint operates through Ericsson's UK channel and has UK enterprise and public safety deployments. UK organisations deploying 5G WAN connectivity — particularly in retail, public safety, healthcare, or emergency services — should strongly consider Cradlepoint given its unique 5G SA capabilities. UK public sector organisations using 5G for emergency communications or mission-critical applications should evaluate Cradlepoint's zero trust foundation and SIM-based security for device authentication.
How does Cradlepoint compare to Cisco Meraki for branch SD-WAN?
Both Cradlepoint and Cisco Meraki target branch and distributed site SD-WAN deployments with cloud-managed architectures. Cisco Meraki's strength is in fixed-site wired and wireless branch environments with tight integration into Cisco's broader security ecosystem. Cradlepoint's strength is specifically in wireless-first and 5G-primary deployments, vehicle connectivity, IoT, and temporary sites. For a retail chain with primarily wired broadband branches, Cisco Meraki is typically the stronger fit. For the same chain with drive-through kiosks, delivery vehicles, or 5G-primary pop-up stores, Cradlepoint provides unique capabilities that Meraki cannot match.
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