Pertino

Pertino was a computer networking software company that pioneered the use of a network-as-a-service (NaaS) model to deliver cloud-based networking to businesses. Founded in 2011 by Craig Elliott, Scott Hankins, Andrew Mastracci, and Michael Cartsonis, the company was based in Los Gatos, California. The founding team comprised veterans from the networking and security sectors; CEO Craig Elliott was a former Apple executive and later CEO of Packeteer Networks, while CTO Scott Hankins previously served as Director of Engineering at Blue Coat Systems. Pertino's name was derived from Cupertino, its original city of origin.

The company's core offering was its Cloud Network Engine, a platform that combined software-defined networking (SDN) and wide-area network (WAN) virtualization. This technology allowed businesses, particularly small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) with limited IT resources, to create secure, private networks over the public internet in minutes. Users could install Pertino's software on their devices—including Windows and Mac machines, as well as Android devices—to connect people, places, and resources regardless of physical location. The business model was subscription-based, with a free tier for personal use and paid plans for businesses that scaled per user. A significant feature was AppScape, a cloud network app store that allowed IT administrators to add virtual network services to enhance security, visibility, and control.

Pertino secured substantial venture capital, raising $8.85 million in a Series A round in April 2012 from investors including Norwest Venture Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners. This was followed by a $20 million Series B round in March 2013. In December 2015, Pertino was acquired by Cradlepoint, a Boise, Idaho-based company specializing in 4G LTE network solutions. The acquisition enabled Cradlepoint to integrate Pertino's cloud platform and SDN expertise into its own offerings, strengthening its position in the emerging software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) market for enterprise clients.

Keywords: Pertino, cloud networking, network-as-a-service, NaaS, software-defined networking, SDN, SD-WAN, Cradlepoint, Craig Elliott, wide-area network virtualization, cloud network engine, private networks, secure remote access, network virtualization, AppScape, SMB networking, mobile workforce connectivity, enterprise networking, IT infrastructure, network security