Top 3 Zscaler Alternatives in 2024: User Review Based Analysis

Zscaler is a provider of cloud security solutions, specializing in enterprise-level cloud security services. The data security company has offerings on secure internet access, secure remote access, digital experience, data protection and posture control.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Zscaler internet access and its alternatives.

Top 3 alternatives to Zscaler internet access

Table 1. Zscaler alternatives comparison based on market presence

* Based on data from B2B review platforms like G2, Gartner, TrustRadius, and Capterra

** Source: LinkedIn

For more alternatives to Zscaler, check out these categories:

• Firewall audit software
• Network segmentation software
• Microsegmentation software

Table 2. Zscaler alternatives comparison based on integration platforms

Inclusion criteria:

• The table is compiled using data that is publicly accessible and can be verified for accuracy and reliability.
• Only competitors and alternatives with more than 100 total reviews across all platforms are considered for inclusion in the rankings.
• All alternative vendors included in the rankings have over 500 employees.
• The alternative vendors are ranked based on the total number of reviews they have received.

Key Criteria for selecting the right vendor

This section outlines the criteria companies can utilize to identify the most suitable firewall audit vendor for their business needs.

Market Presence Criteria

1. Number of reviews

User reviews offer insights into customer experiences and opinions, providing a gauge of a vendor’s user base. Positive reviews bolster a company’s reputation and attract new customers, while negative reviews signal areas for improvement.

2. User ratings

Quantitative measures of customer satisfaction, such as user ratings, contribute to a vendor’s market presence. Higher ratings indicate satisfied users, reflecting positively on firewall auditing tools’ efficiency in managing firewall configurations, rules compliance, and network security posture.

3. Number of employees

A vendor’s workforce size indicates financial stability, innovation capacity, and customer service effectiveness. Large enterprises typically have more resources for research, development, and support, influencing their market presence in critical network security areas.

Features & integrations

Comprehensive integration ensures seamless interoperability and strengthens an organization’s security infrastructure. A critical aspect shared among all vendors listed below is their integration with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms. This integration enhances overall security by providing timely analysis of security events. For more, see firewall audit software.

Brief summary of key integration points to consider include:

1. IP address management (IPAM) integration

Seamless integration with IPAM solutions ensures accurate IP address tracking and management, minimizing security risks associated with mismanaged IP addresses.

2. Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) integration

Integration with SOAR platforms automates incident response, enhancing security incident management efficiency.

3. Threat intelligence platform (TIP) integration

Integration with TIP provides secure access to up-to-date advanced threat intelligence, enabling proactive defense against unknown threats.

4. IT system management (ITSM) integration

Integration with ITSM systems streamlines firewall management processes within broader IT service management frameworks.

5. Deployment

Vendors should offer flexible deployment options to accommodate diverse organizational needs. Choices such as on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid deployment models allow organizations to optimize infrastructure, scalability, and accessibility according to their specific requirements.

Zscaler internet access overview

Zscaler internet access (ZIA) claims to provide secure internet and SaaS applications access through its cloud native security service edge (SSE) platform. Security service edge is a network security solution offered through a specialized cloud platform. Further insights can be found in the comprehensive SSE article. Its core services encompass secure web gateway (SWG), zero trust network access (ZTNA), cloud access security broker (CASB), and firewall as a service (FWaaS).

Features & integrations

ZIA incorporates security features, including a cloud firewall, intrusion prevention system (IPS), data loss prevention (DLP), bandwidth control, browser isolation, cloud access security broker (CASB), and sandbox capabilities.

Although Zscaler has products that provide wider integration with various platforms, Zscaler internet access is integrated only with threat intelligence platforms (TIP), making it capable of leveraging up-to-date threat intelligence for proactive defense strategies. However, it lacks integration with IPAM, SOAR, and ITSM solutions.

User reviews

Likes

• Cloud security software offers comprehensive protection with features like web filtering, antivirus, anti-malware, advanced threat protection, and data loss prevention.
• Scalability and central security policy management are key advantages, enabling quick deployment and efficient management across the organization.

Dislikes

• Subscription-based model and internet dependency may pose challenges for some organizations.
• Limited customization compared to on-premises solutions can be a drawback for specific security requirements¹.

Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud

Another Zscaler internet access alternative is Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks, positioned as a cloud native security platform (CNSP), which claims to provide comprehensive security and protection for cloud applications.

Features & integrations

Palo Alto Networks’s Prisma Cloud is integrated with SOAR capabilities. However, it lacks integrated features for IPAM and TIP, as well as ITSM functionalities. This indicates a focus on advanced security automation and response, but organizations may need to integrate additional tools for comprehensive network management and leveraging threat intelligence effectively. It is deployed in the cloud environment.

User reviews

Likes

• Prisma Cloud provides comprehensive reports on vulnerabilities and emerging threats, along with detailed remediation instructions, enhancing security management.
• It offers detailed insights into cloud applications and activities, simplifying the detection and monitoring of unknown threats.

Dislikes

• Scanning expansive cloud environments may be slow, and the platform could offer more flexibility and interoperability for diverse infrastructures.
• There are occasional concerns about the platform’s ability to handle large-scale deployments and high-volume sensitive data processing without compromising performance or reliability².

Cisco Umbrella

Umbrella is a cloud security service that forms the foundation of SASE architecture. It integrates various security functions such as firewall, secure web gateway, DNS-layer security, cloud access security broker (CASB), and threat intelligence solutions into a unified cloud service.

Features & integrations

Cisco Umbrella integrates with SOAR, TIP, and ITSM platforms making it suitable for organizations looking for comprehensive security management. However, the absence of integration with IPAM may require additional configurations or solutions for IP management.

Cisco Umbrella is deployed entirely in the Cisco cloud, offering scalability, accessibility, and simplified management for organizations looking for a cloud native security solution. However, this cloud-based deployment may pose challenges for organizations with specific on-premises infrastructure needs or regulatory compliance requirements.

User reviews

Likes

• Users appreciate the DNS security capabilities provided by Cisco Umbrella, which protect against phishing attacks, ransomware, and other threats³.
• Umbrella’s secure web gateway feature is praised for its speed and user-friendly interface, enabling easy connectivity with other Cisco Secure products for additional security layers.

Dislikes

• Some users face configuration challenges, such as Root CA installation issues, and encounter difficulties in connecting to websites using TLS 1.3⁴.
• Issues related to content filtering functions, especially with SSL/TLS connections, are reported, including difficulties in connecting to certain pages despite being allowed in policies.

Tufin Orchestration Suite

As one of the Zscaler alternatives, Tufin Orchestration Suite offers a solution for designing, provisioning, analyzing, and auditing security policy changes from the application to the network level. It serves as a centralized security management layer, enabling organizations to define and implement robust security policies, automate network changes efficiently, and ensure compliance with established policies.

Features & integrations

Tufin provides a comprehensive firewall security management solution through the Tufin Orchestration Suite, which includes SecureApp for network connectivity management, SecureChange for network change automation, and SecureTrack for multi-vendor and next-generation firewall management.

Tufin Orchestration Suite integrates seamlessly with IPAM, SOAR, TIP, and ITSM, providing a comprehensive solution for network security management, automation, threat intelligence integration, and IT service management. Additionally, its hybrid deployment model provides flexibility and adaptability to different organizational infrastructures and requirements.

User reviews

Likes

• Firewall management capabilities, especially its ability to simplify changes across various devices and provide customizable options such as limiting privilege access and creating workflows tailored to different needs.
• The integration for workflow management and the flexibility to define zone-based policies are highlighted as significant advantages.

Dislikes

• Integration with ServiceNow and customization capabilities in SecureChange are areas where users seek improvements, along with enhanced flexibility in API calls to third-party tools⁵.
• There are suggestions for enhancing the overall professional services experience and making customization more user-friendly with features like custom dashboarding.

Further Readings

• 3-Step Guide to Effective Firewall Audit in 2024
• Top 12 Firewall Audit Software & Integration-based Comparison in 2024
• 5 Firewall Best Practices for SMEs and Large-Enterprises in ’24

External Links

• 1. A user review on Zscaler. TrustRadius. Accessed: 22/March/2024.
• 2. A user review on Prisma Cloud. TrustRadius. Accessed: 22/March/2024.
• 3. A user review on Cisco Umbrella. G2. Accessed: 22/March/2024.
• 4. A user review on Cisco Umbrella. G2. Accessed: 22/March/2024.
• 5. A user review on Tufin. Trustradius. Accessed: 22/March/2024.