Cloudbrink uses an advanced technology stack based on Personal SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and zero trust principles, optimized with AI and extensive automation. Its solution is engineered for high-performance, secure connectivity across multi-cloud and hybrid environments, targeting remote, office, and mobile workforces with a software-only model.
Core Technologies
- Personal SASE: Shifts SASE and SD-WAN functions to the endpoint (user/device) rather than relying on centralized infrastructure. Security enforcement and policy engines are delivered via the Brink App, managed centrally but running locally.
- Zero Trust Architecture: Implements mutual TLS 1.3, continuous posture validation, dynamic invisible networks, and least-privilege access enforced at the edge. This model validates every access request, reducing vulnerabilities.
- FAST Edges: Thousands of dynamic, software-defined Points of Presence (FAST: Flexible, Autonomous, Smart, Temporary) are spun up near users on-demand. These software-defined edges leverage multi-cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP, IBM Cloud, DigitalOcean, and others), delivering LAN-like performance.
- AI & ML Optimization: Uses AI and machine learning (Brink Protocol) for proactive packet recovery, routing optimization, and accelerating application access. Built-in automated moving target defense (AMTD) shifts network configurations to deter attacks.
- Performance: Users typically see 40-400% app performance increase with power users seeing up to 30x faster file transfers compared to traditional VPN or ZTNA by optimizing last-mile connectivity and reducing latency using AI-powered SD-WAN.
Evaluating Cloudbrinks Features
Cloudbrink's technology is designed to address the challenges of performance and security for a modern, hybrid workforce. The company's solution, known as Personal SASE, is built upon several key concepts:
1. Personal SASE
This is Cloudbrink's overarching solution, which aims to provide a secure and high-performance "in-office" experience for remote and hybrid workers. It's a software-only service that integrates various networking and security technologies into a single platform. Personal SASE is designed to replace or work in conjunction with traditional VPNs and SD-WAN architectures.
2. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Cloudbrink operates on a robust zero trust model. This means that no user, device, or application is trusted by default, and access is granted based on strict policies and continuous verification. Key aspects of their ZTNA implementation include:
- Mutual TLS 1.3: This is an authentication protocol where both the client and server must present valid digital certificates during the TLS handshake, ensuring both sides are who they say they are. Unlike traditional single-sided TLS (where only the server is authenticated), mTLS 1.3 verifies the identities of both parties for every session, making man-in-the-middle attacks, credential theft, and impersonation far more difficult.
- Frequent Certificate Rotation: Security certificates are automatically rotated frequently (by default, every 8 hours by defualt) to neutralize stolen credentials and reduce the time attackers have to exploit them.
- Dynamic Invisible Networks: Cloudbrink creates a "dark network" that is not visible to unauthorized users, adding a layer of security by making it harder for attackers to even find the network.
- Least-Privilege Access: The system enforces a deny-all firewall by default, only allowing traffic for specific applications and services based on user, device, and application policies.
3. Edge-Native and AI-Driven Architecture
Cloudbrink leverages an edge-native architecture to bring computing power and security enforcement closer to the end-user, thereby minimizing latency and improving performance. This is achieved through:
- FAST Edges (Flexible, Autonomous, Smart, Temporary): These are dynamic, software-defined Points of Presence (PoPs) that are spun up on demand close to users. Unlike traditional, fixed PoPs, FAST Edges are temporary and can be deployed in thousands of locations globally across major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.). This flexibility and scalability allow the system to adapt in real-time to user demand and network conditions.
- AI and Machine Learning (AI/ML): AI and ML are used to optimize network performance. They proactively provision and deprovision FAST Edges based on predicted usage, and a proprietary algorithm helps compensate for packet loss on the "last mile" of the network, which is often the source of performance issues.
4. Proprietary Protocols and Performance Optimization
To deliver high-performance connectivity, Cloudbrink has developed its own patented technology:
- Brink Protocol: This is a proprietary, programmable protocol that integrates performance acceleration, end-to-end security, and intelligent network control. It is designed to overcome application slowdowns caused by issues like packet loss, jitter, and latency, which are common in last-mile networks.
- Last-Mile Acceleration: By using its AI-driven protocols and FAST Edges, Cloudbrink claims to significantly reduce latency and improve application performance. The company has reported performance increases of up to 30x for various applications.
5. Personal SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)
Cloudbrink introduces the concept of "Personal SASE," which is a variation of the SASE framework left shifted to users rather than through PoPs or data centers. It combines their high-performance ZTNA with other security features like an Internet Security module, offering a unified policy for both networking and security. This is designed to provide a secure and consistent experience for a single user, no matter their location.
In summary, Cloudbrink's core technological concepts revolve around a software-only, AI-driven, and edge-native architecture that delivers a high-performance, secure, and scalable solution for the modern hybrid workforce. The combination of ZTNA, dynamic PoPs, and a proprietary protocol aims to solve the twin problems of security and performance in a work-from-anywhere world.
Technology Evaluation Summary
Cloudbrink's stack is designed to outperform legacy VPNs, static SASE, and classic ZTNA vendors by decentralizing security, leveraging AI, and automating network routing for the modern distributed enterprise
