Runbeam vs MuleSoft
Comparing MuleSoft's enterprise integration approach with Runbeam's distributed proxy architecture for secure data exchange
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Runbeam | MuleSoft |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Healthcare interoperability | Enterprise-wide integration |
| Healthcare Protocols | ✓ FHIR, DICOM (HL7 v2 coming soon) | Accelerator + Custom DataWeave |
| Protocol transforms | ✓ Native (e.g. FHIR ↔ DICOM) | Supported (DataWeave) |
| Architecture | Distributed proxies + centralised orchestration | Centralised runtime/ESB |
| Data Sovereignty | ✓ Built-in | Custom implementation |
| Setup Time | Hours (typical) | Varies |
| Pre-built Connectors | Healthcare-focused | 300+ enterprise/SaaS |
| Licensing | Open-source core | Premium enterprise |
| Development | Declarative JSON | Anypoint Studio |
| Learning Curve | Standard REST APIs | MuleSoft certification |
| Deployment | Docker anywhere | CloudHub/Runtime Fabric |
| HTTP/3 (QUIC) Support | ✓ Supported (HTTP/3 + TLS 1.3) | Not provided as a core transport feature |
| Cross-site connectivity | ✓ JWT-based Data Mesh authentication | Typically handled outside the runtime (network/VPN) |
| Federated data meshes | ✓ Supported | Not supported |
Choose Runbeam For
Healthcare Protocol Integration
Healthcare-first protocol support for FHIR and DICOM with declarative transformations (HL7 v2 coming soon)
- FHIR resource transformation without custom code
- DICOM imaging workflows with clinical context
- HL7 v2 to FHIR conversion (coming soon)
- Version-controlled, auditable transformation rules
Distributed Proxy Architecture
Each facility deploys local proxies behind their firewall with authenticated cross-site connectivity and centralised orchestration
- Data sovereignty and residency compliance
- No centralised data bottlenecks
- JWT-based mutual authentication for cross-site connectivity (Data Mesh)
- Federated Data Mesh support for partner and cross-team topologies
- Optional HTTP/3 (QUIC) endpoints for modern transport
- Designed for regulated environments
Cost Efficiency
Open-source foundation with commercial orchestration priced for healthcare organisations
- No core platform licensing fees
- Container-native architecture
- Standard technologies reduce training costs
- Predictable pricing model
Rapid Deployment
Deploy and configure in hours, not weeks, with minimal specialised training required
- Deploy proxy in under 1 hour
- Configure first route in minutes
- No proprietary tooling required
- Local development with Docker
Choose MuleSoft For
Enterprise SaaS Integration
Extensive connector library for commercial platforms like Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Workday
- 300+ pre-built connectors
- Anypoint Studio visual development
- DataWeave transformation language
- CloudHub managed deployment
Comprehensive API Governance
Enterprise-grade API management with policies, rate limiting, and centralised control
- API design and lifecycle management
- Policy enforcement and governance
- Centralised monitoring and analytics
- Enterprise service mesh capabilities
Large Integration Teams
Mature tooling and extensive training resources for dedicated integration specialists
- MuleSoft University training program
- Large community of certified developers
- Enterprise support and TAM
- Extensive documentation
Existing MuleSoft Investment
Organisation already has MuleSoft infrastructure, expertise, and licensing
- Leverage existing skills and infrastructure
- Reuse existing connectors and integrations
- Established governance processes
- Note: Healthcare protocols still require custom development
Use Case Comparison
Multi-Hospital EMR Integration
Healthcare network with 5 hospitals running Epic, Cerner, and Meditech, needing secure FHIR-based patient data sharing
Deploy Harmony proxy at each hospital behind firewall, configure FHIR endpoints with declarative transforms, and connect sites using Data Mesh authentication
Deploy MuleSoft runtimes, develop custom DataWeave transformations for each EMR, implement FHIR handling in Java/DataWeave, configure ESB routing
PACS Integration for AI Analysis
Medical imaging department sending DICOM studies to a cloud AI platform while maintaining privacy and governance requirements
Route DICOM studies with metadata filtering and policy controls, and connect to cloud targets using authenticated connectivity
Build custom DICOM handler, implement PHI stripping logic in DataWeave/Java, configure compliance controls, setup audit logging
Cross-Jurisdiction Research Network
Research institutions across Australia, EU, and Canada sharing de-identified patient data with strict residency requirements
Local proxies in each jurisdiction process data locally, de-identification happens at source, secure mesh topology, centralised governance without data centralisation
Design custom data sovereignty architecture, implement distributed runtimes, build de-identification logic, configure compliance controls per jurisdiction
Pricing Comparison
Runbeam
- Harmony proxy core: Open-source (free)
- Commercial orchestration options
- Container deployment on existing infrastructure
MuleSoft
- Licensing and runtime fees
- Training and enablement costs
- Professional services for complex implementations
MuleSoft is a broad enterprise platform; Runbeam is optimised for healthcare interoperability and behind-the-firewall deployments.
Ready to simplify healthcare integration?
See how Runbeam's distributed proxy architecture can reduce operational complexity compared to traditional ESB platforms