This VPN alternative could finally solve a major remote working problem by offering faster and more secure connections
- Cloudbrink’s hotspot service aims to provide an alternative to VPN tools
- The service claims to improve application performance by 30 times
- Can also reportedly reduce tethering in warehouse environments
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have long been the standard for secure internet access in the remote and hybrid work landscape.
While VPNs provide essential encryption, they often have drawbacks. Workers who rely on fixed connections in challenging environments such as warehouses or remote manufacturing facilities can face a frustrating trade-off between security and speed when relying on mobile hotspots.
Now Cloudbrink wants to improve hotspot performance as an alternative to VPNs, offering a solution that not only ensures security but also improves connectivity without the typical bandwidth sacrifices.
Beyond traditional VPNs
Hotspots can often suffer from reduced performance due to the nature of their connection (combining two wireless connections: one from the device to the mobile phone and one from the phone to the carrier’s network). This dual-link arrangement increases the potential for performance issues, especially when signal strength is poor or packet loss occurs.
While the rollout of 5G networks promises to alleviate some of the performance issues associated with mobile hotspots, widespread adoption remains a distant goal. Currently, only 32% of mobile connections in the United States are 5G, and penetration is significantly lower in many other regions. Additionally, 5G coverage is often concentrated in metropolitan areas, leaving many remote and hybrid workers unable to take advantage of the technology.
Cloudbrink’s service is designed as a powerful alternative to VPNs, with independent testing conducted by Broadband testing showing that the new service improves application performance over WiFi, 4G/5G and broadband connections by more than 30 times.
The company says it uses techniques such as accelerated preemptive packet recovery and dynamic virtual access points, known as FAST Edges, that minimize latency and maximize throughput even over unreliable and congested networks.
Intelligent packet optimization allows the service to adjust performance based on signal strength and other variables, ensuring the best possible connection at all times, as Cloudbrink combines these technologies with an AI-enabled network.
“Cloudbrink was already an order of magnitude faster than a VPN or other ZTNA over any remote connection,” said Manohar Reddy, head of products at Cloudbrink. “Now that we’ve tuned the service to optimize mobile hotspots, we’re seeing better results. than twice the performance we previously achieved on paired devices.”
