27th March, 2022
•8 mins
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Zscaler's two most popular products are ZPA (Zscaler Private Access and ZIA (Zscaler Internet Access).
ZPA enables businesses to create a virtual wide area network (WAN), connecting users to an enterprise's internal applications. In contrast, ZIA secures connections to SaaS services and is used for connecting users to public applications on the internet.
In this article, we will look at key Zscaler alternatives.
Security-as-a-service provider "Zscaler" enables users to access cloud resources through a secure network. It does not matter what device the user has, where the user is located, or what network they're on; Zscaler ensures a fast and secure connection to applications and cloud services.
Zscaler is a cloud-based information security technology available across over 100 data centers worldwide.
Zscaler keeps an eye on internal data center communications. It operates as a proxy and firewall in the cloud, routing all internet traffic from fixed locations through its points of presence to enforce business and security standards.
With a Zero Trust cloud-based secure access solution, Zscaler connects its users directly to cloud apps by eliminating the requirement for traditional perimeter-based protection.
Zscaler is one of the examples of the emerging SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) market. It combines software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) with access control and security.
Zscaler promises that its platform is significantly more flexible, scalable, and manageable than standard VPNs and other networking approaches.
Zscaler Internet Access provides a security stack as a cloud service, removing the expense and complexity associated with traditional secure online gateway solutions.
When a user connects to the internet, Zscaler's Internet Access service examines data across a variety of security protocols, including SSL, and provides actionable information. It gives protection against web-based and internet-based attacks. Zscaler Internet access allows you to scale, so you can choose the services you need now and add more as your business expands.
Provides a secure web gateway to access cloud
Acts as a cloud access security broker (CASB)
Offers cloud sandboxing
Ensures cloud data loss prevention (DLP) and data security
Offers cloud firewall
Provides zero-trust network access
Ensures bandwidth control
Provides website filtration
Encryption of end to end traffic
DNS protection
Provides endpoint network protection
Ease of scaling, deployment, and management
Provides real-time threat recognition and information transmission
Pricing is high
Not suitable for small companies
Supporting is based on a ticket system, does not offer chat and email support.
Quotation based plan (Free trial is not available)
Kaspersky security for internet gateway helps to limit the risk of being exposed to threats and allows managing various workstations. It protects against modern web threats by automatically responding to threats and blocking the danger or malware before it has the chance to cause harm.
Kaspersky provides the capabilities of scanning all VPN servers, email traffic protection, and browsing HTTP and FTP traffic, among other things. Its capacity to accommodate the most recent technologies, as well as its scalability and optimization technology, makes it the ideal solution for large enterprises.
Protection from new and known malware threats
Malware detection
Real-time scanning of HTTP. HTTPS and FTP traffic
Scans suspicious activity
Incident response
Scalability and fault tolerance
Available on request (Offers free trial)
Netskope Security Cloud gives you visibility and protection for cloud services, websites, and private apps from anywhere, on any device. It takes a data-centric approach that gives security teams the right balance of protection and speed they need to keep their digital transformation journey safe and sound.
Netskope threat protection leverages CASB, secure web gateway, and multiple layer threat detection and remediation to give full cloud and web service protection.
Malware Prevention
Advanced Threat Protection
Behaviour Analytics
Prevent Cloud Phishing
Prevent threats and data exfiltration
Control Data exposure in cloud
Protect against cloud and web-based threats
Available on request (Offers free trial)
Cisco Umbrella is a part of Cisco's SASE architecture that provides defense against internet threats. It allows enterprises to remotely manage the use of cloud-based apps via the internet, ensuring that the company's assets are safe.
Cisco Umbrella integrates numerous security services into a single, centrally managed, cloud-native solution to protect internet access and govern cloud app usage. It integrates security components like a secure web gateway, firewall, DNS-layer protection, and threat intelligence into a single platform.
Secure gateway
CASB
DNS layer security
Interactive threat intelligence
Off network protection
Continuous monitoring
BYOD (bring your own device) protection
Multi-cloud visibility
Available on request (free trial available)
Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway provides real-time protection against online security threats by enforcing enterprise security policies and screening malicious internet traffic. It provides URL filtering, application controls for web-based applications, and the detection and filtering of dangerous code, to name a few essential features. Additionally, it also protects against data leaks.
Real-time traffic inspection
Secure remote workers
Data Protection
Allow access to applications with limited features
Antiviral sandboxing
Available on request
Menlo Security offers a cloud-based internet isolation platform that works on a 'Zero-Trust' model to safeguard from web-based threats. It provides protection against credential theft and keeps threats away from endpoints and business networks to eradicate malware and phishing.
Menlo Security's Isolation Platform mimics the user experience by removing vulnerabilities and sending clean data to the user. To function, the platform just requires a browser that is compatible with it.
It not only removes malware from web browsing and email but also prevents users from leaking critical information or responding to fraudulent messages.
By delivering clean, non-executable content to users' devices, provides a safe and seamless experience.
Remove phishing and ransomware.
Data loss visibility and control
Secure Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
Control SaaS application access
Safeguard remote users
Per user-based pricing
Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) allows effortless zero-trust access to internal company applications, whether hosted on-premises or in the cloud. In addition, by mandating authentication prior to access, ZPA renders apps invisible to the internet.
Through the use of ZPA, organizations can provide employees with secure access to company-wide apps and services. While VPNs provide users access to everything on the network, ZPA restricts their use only to those applications they actually require for their work.
Users don't need to be connected to an enterprise network in order to use the applications, unlike VPNs, and don't need network access; this would mean- resources are never exposed to the internet.
ZPA leverages distributed architecture to facilitate rapid and secure access to private applications that are running on-premises or in the cloud.
Deployment is quick, for which no additional hardware is required
Allows instant application discovery of apps
Offers Single Sign-On (SSO) to reduce complexity
Offers real-time visibility of users and applications
Ensures applications and server's health are not compromised
Suitable for both on-premise and remote (WFH) users
Offers company-wide network protection
Free trial is not available
Does not offer free/freemium version
Expensive
Compliance standard needs to be improved
Lacks robust ransomware protection mechanisms
Some users experience a drop in internet speed after logging into ZPA
Quotation based plan (Free trial is not available)
Cato SASE cloud is an SD-WAN and network security cloud platform from Cato Networks, powered by the cloud's scalability, self-service, and agility. It integrates all data centers, branch offices, mobile users, and cloud resources into a single, integrated system.
Cato gives you the ability to connect, secure, and operate your network on your own while also giving the option of utilizing professional managed services as per your requirement.
Cato inspects all WAN and Internet traffic using an enterprise-grade network security stack that is fully incorporated into the Cato SASE Cloud.
Access Controls/Permissions
Activity Monitoring
Intrusion Detection System
Remote Access/Control
Reporting/Analytics
Threat Response
Secure branch internet access
Cloud acceleration and control
Remote access security and optimization
VPN
Pricing: Starts with $30/year/user (Free trial available)
Okta is an on-demand cloud-based identity and access management solution that helps businesses to secure web application adoption, both in the cloud and behind the firewall.
Businesses moving to the cloud require a system that will assist them in adopting, deploying, securing, and managing cloud resources.
Okta provides a comprehensive solution that meets the needs of IT, end-users, and business leaders without requiring customization or lengthy service engagements.
That solution is on-demand, dependable, scalable, and secure.
Access Management
Behavioral Analytics
Multi-Factor Authentication
Privileged Account Management
Single Sign-on
Data Security
Remote Access
Endpoint Access
Pricing: Starts with $2/user/month (Free trial available)
Citrix Gateway provides single sign-on across all applications, whether they are hosted in a data center or as SaaS apps. Apps can be accessed from a single URL on every device, regardless of the platform. Citrix Gateway is straightforward to set up and manage, making it an excellent choice for small businesses.
Using Citrix Gateway, users can connect to a variety of virtual desktops, SaaS apps, and other types of heterogeneous computing environments with a single, unified user interface.
Diagnostics
Unattended access
Cross-platform access
Remote device control
Remote-wipe
Perpetual license costs $995
Illumio helps businesses today decrease risk and boost cyber resiliency by offering visibility and security for important apps and data. Illumio is purpose-built for the Zero Trust security model. It helps enterprises to better understand their risk, isolate breaches, and safeguard their data using this platform.
Advance security filter options
Activity dashboard
Alerts/notifications
Data visualization
Audit trail
Traffic based mapping
Incident management
Based on per feature (Free trial available)
Cisco Anyconnect enables remote staff with secure enterprise-wide network access across different locations and devices. Cisco AnyConnect is a VPN software solution that can be used to discover network usage facts and automatically perform endpoint posture evaluations in order to assure data security. It can be used to validate user devices using multi-factor authentication and block threats across endpoints. It provides visibility into the network's blind spots and vulnerabilities, generates actionable reports, and responds to malware assaults, data exfiltration, and potentially dangerous user behavior. Cisco AnyConnect also provides encrypted network access through smartphones or tablets.
API
Multi-Language
Multi-location
Remote access/control
Remote monitoring and management
SSL security
Web inspection
Available on request
FEATURED BLOGS
When an organization has a large number of SaaS applications in its SaaS stack, it gives rise to SaaS Sprawl.
Though with all its goodness, SaaS brings financial, security, and compliance risks to organizations. For IT teams, issues like providing and revoking access to employees during onboarding and offboarding or when their role changes are very time-consuming.
In this post, we've discussed 7 symptoms of an unoptimized SaaS stack and solutions to optimize the same.
An obese SaaS stack leads to SaaS wastage. It's a disease! It not only causes financial issues but also gives you security and compliance problems. That's why you must keep tight control on your SaaS stack. And it begins with managing your SaaS vendors.
In this post, you'll learn about shadow IT due to SaaS apps. You'll also learn the most common types of shadow apps categories, shadow IT risks, and shadow IT benefits.