Zscaler

The world's largest security cloud — ZTNA, SASE, and data protection at scale

Zscaler built the internet as the network before that idea was fashionable. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange processes over 400 billion transactions per day through 150+ global data centers — enforcing zero-trust access policies for every user, every application, and every device without VPN, without firewall, and without hairpinning traffic through your data center. If your organization is serious about zero trust and SASE, Zscaler is the platform that Gartner, Forrester, and the NSA all point to first.

Overview

Zscaler is the pioneer of the Security Service Edge (SSE) and SASE market. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange is a cloud-native platform that replaces traditional network security infrastructure — VPNs, on-premises firewalls, and proxies — with a globally distributed cloud that enforces security policy at the point of access. ZIA (Zscaler Internet Access) secures internet-bound traffic. ZPA (Zscaler Private Access) provides zero-trust access to internal applications without VPN. ZDPE extends these principles to devices and workloads. Together, they represent the most comprehensive SASE architecture available from a single vendor.

Deployment & pricing

Deployment model: 100% cloud-delivered (SaaS); no hardware required. Pricing model: Annual subscription per user. Typical price range: $150–$350/user/year (bundle dependent). Pricing is negotiable at volume — Compare Select benchmarks quotes against real transacted deals before you sign.

Who Zscaler is ideal for

Key features

Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA)

Cloud-native secure web gateway, CASB, DLP, and sandboxing. All internet-bound traffic is inspected inline — including SSL/TLS — with zero latency impact.

Zscaler Private Access (ZPA)

Zero-trust network access that connects users to specific applications — not the network. VPN replaced entirely: no implicit trust, no lateral movement risk.

AI-Powered Threat Prevention

ML models trained on 400B+ daily transactions identify novel phishing pages, zero-day malware, and C2 communications that signature-based tools miss entirely.

Zero Trust for Workloads (ZDPE)

Extends zero trust to server-to-server and cloud workload communications — microsegmentation without firewall rules.

Zscaler vs. the competition

AlternativeHow it compares
Palo Alto Prisma SASEPalo Alto offers strong NGFW integration with their SASE stack. Zscaler's cloud-native architecture delivers better global performance for distributed workforces.
Cloudflare OneCloudflare One is strong for developer-centric and edge-computing organizations. Zscaler has deeper enterprise features including DLP, CASB, and compliance reporting.
CrowdStrikeCrowdStrike focuses on endpoint and identity security. Zscaler focuses on network and application access. Best-in-class deployments often include both.

How Compare Select helps

Buyer's FAQ

Can Zscaler really replace our VPN?

Yes — ZPA provides per-application access without network-level connectivity. Users access specific apps through the Zscaler cloud, with no ability to traverse the network laterally. The main consideration is application discovery (documenting all private apps that users need) before going live. Compare Select manages the application discovery phase.

Compare Zscaler against every alternative in our Cybersecurity & SASE comparison, or browse the full vendor directory. Ready for pricing? Talk to a Compare Select advisor — our guidance is free and vendor-neutral.