I use Cato SASE Cloud Platform primarily as a single vendor, integrated SD-WAN plus SASE solution.
Cato SSE 360
Cato NetworksExternal reviews
External reviews are not included in the AWS star rating for the product.
Integrated platform optimizes network and security management through seamless AI system integration and user-friendly toggles
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
All features are toggle switches on the platform, making it easy to turn them on and off. It integrates with AI systems, and the dashboard provides insights into faults through an XDR platform. It offers network and security event workbenches, AI history, and summaries of faults. It is scalable for end users across network and cloud sides and saves operational costs.
What needs improvement?
The platform lacks strong security features on the edge. All security features are on the cloud. For someone who wants to break out traffic locally from the LAN, there are only basic firewalls included. I would like to see more robust edge security features to replace existing customer on-premises firewalls.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Cato SASE Cloud Platform for one year.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is highly scalable. As an MSSP, we find it scalable for end users across EPP platforms, network, and cloud sides. It is an ideal option for those looking for a single integrated solution and a refresh from point solutions.
How are customer service and support?
As a partner, I receive very good support from Cato. Their knowledge portal and Cato Academy portal are excellent resources. Features are updated weekly and automatically, which is very convenient.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have worked with solutions from Fortinet and Palo Alto. Cato offers a built-in platform perspective with all features integrated into a single platform, unlike competitors who have acquired various components like SD-WAN or CASB that may run on different platforms.
How was the initial setup?
I was not directly involved in the deployment, but our team has set up five or six customers in the last year. The platform is very easy to deploy.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I've worked closely with Fortinet. I'm aware of Palo Alto and Netskope but have not seen strong integrated platforms from them.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Cato SASE Cloud Platform at 9.5 out of 10. There is always room for improvement, especially in edge security features.
Has good firewall and secure web gateway features
What is our primary use case?
We have been using Cato Networks as a solution for firewall and secure web gateway.
How has it helped my organization?
It's provided us the solution for firewall and secure web gateway.
What is most valuable?
The main features we use are the firewall and secure web gateway.
What needs improvement?
There isn't much to improve as we have a close relationship with them, providing information for research and development. We cannot disclose further details due to a nondisclosure agreement.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been working with Cato Networks for two years now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability of the solution as ten on a scale of one to ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We chose Cato Networks due to its scalability and ability to expand the network.
How are customer service and support?
Our customer service experience is excellent, however, this might be due to our special partnership with them.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did a lot of evaluations. Most competitors didn't meet our needs due to pricing and functionality.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was done in-house and was simple.
What about the implementation team?
The setup was handled in-house, without the need for consultants.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate the pricing as seven out of ten. The pricing is flexible due to our special partnership with Cato Networks.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We compared it with competitors like Versa and Prisma.
What other advice do I have?
I would definitely recommend Cato Networks to other users.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Has a user-friendly dashboard and robust security features
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the platform for monitoring purposes. It serves as a SaaS solution integrated with SD-WAN and security functionalities.
What is most valuable?
The product's most valuable features include advanced firewall capabilities for robust security, a secure gateway for safe data transmission, and next-generation anti-malware for threat prevention. Additionally, the SASE framework integrates well with our operational needs, ensuring comprehensive security and compliance.
What needs improvement?
The product's technical support could be more responsive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the Cato SASE Cloud Platform for around seven months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the product stability a nine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product accommodates varying customer requirements effectively, facilitating easy scaling as needed.
I would rate the scalability an eight.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support services need improvement.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup process was straightforward, taking about one to one and a half hours. It involved minimal complexities, handled efficiently by two individuals, primarily myself.
What was our ROI?
Based on studies from Forrester, our organization has achieved a significant return on investment of approximately 246% within less than six months of deploying Cato.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The platform is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
Cato's user-friendly dashboard has contributed positively to our experience, making it suitable for our current operational needs.
Integrating SD-WAN has significantly optimized our network performance by enabling path selection for optimal traffic routing, WAN optimization through protocol acceleration, and seamless traffic encryption without compromising performance.
I rate it an eight.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
A hassle-free solution that is easy to manage across all customers
What is most valuable?
The tool's most valuable feature is its CASB feature. From my experience with customers, they initially tried the Cato SASE Cloud Platform because they had specific issues that traditional solutions couldn't solve. These issues included connectivity and performance problems from countries like Vietnam, China, and Turkey and challenges with roaming employees. Initially curious and skeptical, they found that the tool addressed these challenges. As a result, it expanded its deployment beyond difficult countries to regions like the UK, Canada, and Europe. Customers appreciate the unified management console and the benefits of a zero-trust network approach to VPN.
The tool's advantage is that it provides a hassle-free solution that is easy to manage across all customers. For instance, we have a few customers with as few as 50 users, including one with a branch in Vietnam and others with thousands of users.
Configurations are more complex for larger companies, such as our largest customer, with around 3000 users across Italy, Turkey, the UK, and Canada. However, even for experienced network professionals familiar with Check Point and Cisco appliances, the tool is straightforward to understand, manage, and configure.
The entire interface has received positive feedback so far. I must highlight the tool's knowledge base, which is comparable to that of other leading products like Netskope. While the sales process may sometimes take longer, adding CASB features in recent years has significantly enhanced its capabilities. Netskope is a more mature product, albeit at a higher price point compared to the solution.
What needs improvement?
The tool should improve its interface.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the product for four years.
What other advice do I have?
My rating for the Cato SASE Cloud Platform is very high. I've known it since 2015 when it first entered the Italian market, and I appreciate its new philosophy and roadmap. From my feedback, customers are very positive about the product. However, one challenge we face is convincing customers to try the solution, especially when they are already familiar with larger vendors like Palo Alto or Cisco.
Every proof of concept we've conducted so far has been successful. Customers typically start with a trial for a specific pain point, often at one or two branches, and then expand their deployment once they see the benefits.
I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.
A global service for controlling Zero Trust network access functions through its SASE capabilities
What is our primary use case?
For the past three years, our company has operated as a managed service provider across various continents. We assist clients in choosing the most suitable platforms or managing their existing ones. Our services aim to control costs, optimize IT spending, and effectively streamline necessary IT management processes.
What is most valuable?
Cato SASE Cloud Platform is a remarkable solution for managing and controlling all aspects of Zero Trust network access functions through its SASE capabilities. It's designed with an exquisite and practical architecture, making it a worthwhile investment for organizations looking to optimize IT spending and streamline management processes. The single SASE cloud engine, known as the space engine, is particularly effective for threat prevention as it integrates critical functions related to network security seamlessly. This engine simplifies the management of flow control, segmentation, threat prevention, and application protection through an intuitive interface, offering a comprehensive solution from a single pane of glass.
What needs improvement?
It could expand its reach into other sectors like professional services and finance, requiring more specialized tools beyond Cato's current offerings. This includes better integration with third-party providers for more sophisticated tools such as intrusion prevention systems, anti-malware, and data loss prevention. Additionally, enhancing network speed and optimizing last-mile connectivity for managed service providers like us would be beneficial.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cato SASE Cloud Platform is incredibly stable, with high availability and reliability. It's one of the most dependable solutions in the market, especially for global SASE deployments.
I would rate its stability ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is an inherent feature of Cato SASE Cloud Platform, as it is familiar with all SASE platforms and software as a service (SaaS) models. This scalability is essential for cloud-based services like Cato, allowing businesses to expand operations efficiently without compromising performance or reliability. They’re expanding their presence in critical locations, demonstrating financial solid and engineering investments. They provide comprehensive monthly updates to partners, showcasing consistent growth and technological advancements.
I would rate this ten out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support for the Cato SASE Cloud Platform is top-notch. They have a competent and responsive team.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of the Cato SASE Cloud Platform is straightforward and can be quickly implemented by an experienced team.Cato SASE Cloud Platform is typically deployed as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution. Cato manages its infrastructure, including firewalls and security tools, in its environment. For network access, managed service providers may need to deploy limited hardware, such as access points, at client premises. Cato provides all the tools
and services in the cloud, making deployment straightforward for users.
What was our ROI?
The ROI is typically achieved within a few months, making it a cost-effective solution. Using Cato as a complete SASE solution or solely for security as a service (SSE 360) provides flexibility and caters to specific business needs. This business model benefits Cato and us as a managed service provider. The ROI from the Cato SASE Cloud Platform has been quite good. While the solution is expensive, Cato's comprehensive management reduces the need for extensive support and expertise.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is on the higher side, almost an eight out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
AI is integrated into the Cato SASE Cloud Platform through various security tools like CASB, Kaspersky solution, DLP, and intrusion prevention system. These tools utilize AI to identify anomalies and patterns to enhance security measures. The AI integration in Cato's solution is practical enough for average retail, logistics, and manufacturing clients.
However, additional robust solutions may be necessary for clients in highly regulated sectors or those with more sophisticated security needs. As for incident response times, Cato's competent team continuously updates their AI-based security tools to protect against evolving malware attacks and maintain high security.
I would recommend the Cato SASE Cloud Platform to others. It's a trusted solution in the industry, and Cato is known for reliability and leadership. Various research companies like Forrester, Gartner, and others have recognized Cato as a leader in SASE solutions. Overall, I would rate the SASE solution from Cato an eight out of ten.
Used for network security to ensure organized item management and comprehensive security
What is our primary use case?
We utilize the Cato SASE Cloud Platform for network security, which ensures organized item management and comprehensive security across the entire network. Additionally, it enables appropriate access rights for all network users.
How has it helped my organization?
Cato SASE Cloud Platform provides an all-in-one solution. As an organization, you can consolidate various technologies with Titan Networks. Additionally, being a managed service requires much fewer resources to deploy, saving time and effort. As part of this managed service, upgrades and other technology refreshments are no longer the organization's concern.
What is most valuable?
Cato SASE Cloud Platform is a managed service. You don't have to incur expenses for specialists to maintain your network access and security. Another cost-saving aspect is that you no longer need to upgrade various perimeter firewalls and other components of your network because they are all provided as part of the Cato managed service.
Additionally, Cato has a global point of presence, which means instead of using other technologies to connect branches and provide access for a retail organization or any organization with branches, we can utilize Cato's backbone. Furthermore, by consolidating different technologies into one solution, there are additional cost savings from that perspective.
What needs improvement?
Cato SASE Cloud Platform was built from the ground up as a SASE solution, whereas the competitor attempted to purchase components to qualify as a SASE solution. The challenge is that customers are locked into long-term contracts with other vendors and may hesitate to change to Cato.
However, Cato's solution is modular. You don't have to buy the whole package; instead, you can start with some of the functionality and then expand it as you see fit, based on its value and as your other contracts expire.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cato SASE Cloud Platform for one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable.
I rate the solution's stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable. I rate it as ten out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Support is effective.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is difficult because there's a lot of data to handle.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is cheap because it provides value. I would give it an eight out of ten, with ten being the cheapest.
What other advice do I have?
People will gravitate towards products like Cato SASE Cloud Platform. Moreover, Cato SASE boasts strong founding partners with prestigious market reputations. The technology works; global organizations have been utilizing SASE since its inception. Additionally, it's built on highly scalable technology, making it advantageous for small, mid-sized, and global enterprises.
We're still in the early stages of SASE. At this point, we've conducted some proof of concepts and presentations for customers, preparing to incorporate them into the next budget cycle. Currently, we don't have many SASE customers as we only implemented it about six months ago to raise awareness in the market.
One of the big benefits of the Cato SASE Cloud Platform is its efficiency. Cato can conduct a proof of concept in two days to demonstrate its value. Deploying the product typically takes less than a week. However, the timeline may vary depending on the size of the project. The Cato team also provides resources to support deployment.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Offers a self-healing model and auto-mitigates threats with impressive scalability
What is our primary use case?
It's a turnkey cloud solution for comprehensive patching. The tool has three main use cases. The first one is for remote users, instead of VPNs, they can use zero-trust or SDP technology with the tool. This feature allows high scalability to the user. There are many more functionalities in Cato SASE Cloud Platform than any other traditional VPN service.
The product allows deep inspection of every session with varying security engines, including firewall-as-a-service, IPS, next-generation anti-malware, and DLP. The multiple features of the Cato SASE Cloud Platform can be used parallelly.
The second use case of the product is the security of public clouds. For instance, if you have applications running on Amazon, Azure, GCP, or OCI, Cato SASE Cloud Platform provides security for the VMs.
What is most valuable?
Cato SASE Cloud Platform's self-healing model is the most valuable feature. The solution is able to auto-detect and mitigate threats seamlessly. Whenever the solution detects malware, ransomware, or cyber attack, it will block the threat immediately between two endpoints.
The product is much better than SOC model solutions, as it's able to detect and respond immediately without waiting for manual intervention. After Cato SASE Cloud Platform has handled a threat automatically on its own, it will distribute a report informing the respective company professionals about the incident.
What needs improvement?
There should be a Web Application Firewall (WAF) feature in the product nodes. Cato SASE Cloud Platform is one of the cutting-edge solutions in cybersecurity that provides functions that are unavailable in classic models of other vendors.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cato SASE Cloud Platform for a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product offers impressive scalability. I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten. It's a cloud-based solution, so it can be easily scaled. When you use boxes from Fortinet, you will notice that when a scaling need arises because you have to accommodate one thousand users with a VPN, the entire box will need to be changed as the box was originally designed to accommodate two hundred users.
With Cato SASE Cloud Platform, the previous scenario doesn't occur due to an extensive scaling capacity.
How are customer service and support?
The product has excellent customer support. The support team is available 24/7 and they are able to respond in twenty minutes to a raised ticket. I would rate the tech support a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
About a year ago, in our organization, Fortinet Security Solutions was replaced with Cato SASE Cloud Platform.
How was the initial setup?
The product has a highly straightforward setup process. Cato SASE Cloud Platform uses a concept of zero-touch. The product utilizes SD-WAN for the network site, boxes, and end devices. As part of the deployment, the end device is placed in the on-prem data center, and all the racks, network, and cybersecurity boxes are replaced with one box, which is the SD-WAN.
Followed by the aforementioned step all the LANs from that data center will get connected to the cloud. The VMs in the public cloud will also get replaced by a virtual socket or device that will protect the public-cloud applications. Cato SASE Cloud Platform provides an overview of the enterprise cybersecurity and networking from a single console.
The deployment process of Cato SASE Cloud Platform is majorly handled by the vendor. For example, in a retail network with a hundred stories, the network user will need to send a hundred boxes, and the responsible individual of every branch will take the boxes and put them in a rack, following which all connections will be implemented. Only one professional with a knowledge of cybersecurity and networks will be required in the organization in which the product is being implemented.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing of the solution depends on the bandwidth required for different branches that will be implemented in the data centers, on-premises and public networks. The price will depend on the security functionalities availed during a contract with Cato SASE Cloud Platform.
For example, if the baseline includes the firewall and navigation filter for the users and you add DLP and CASB with the product's one-click model, you will need to pay for the bandwidth and security functionalities. While adding DLP is a single-click, instantaneous process in Cato SASE Cloud Platform, implementing DLP will take a nine-month project in a classic model.
What other advice do I have?
I would overall rate the product a nine out of ten.
Works as a WAN solution and involves no complex routing
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution as a WAN, but we plan to optimize it by incorporating security features like zero trust for enhanced insights.
What is most valuable?
The solution is a simple WAN solution. We've onboarded the socket on the Cato platform, and it provides connectivity. There is no complex routing.
What needs improvement?
The tool needs to be more granular. Its reports are not very in-depth.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for less than a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We haven't encountered any issues with the product's stability. I rate it an eight out of ten. Its performance is based on bandwidth licensing. In other words, the more bandwidth you have, the better the performance. Overall, the performance is very good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate Cato SASE Cloud Platform's scalability an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The tech support response time is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The primary reason for switching to Cato SASE Cloud Platform was the ease of connecting branches with SD-WAN. We were in search of a solution, and it offered a very simple and easy-to-implement solution that also proved straightforward to manage. So, we made the switch to the Cato SASE Cloud Platform.
How was the initial setup?
The product is very simple to implement. The implementation doesn't take a long time, and the level of effort required is minimal. Even if you have hundreds of sites, onboarding, and deployment are straightforward. I rate it a nine out of ten. It takes less than a day to get a site onboarded. You need two to three resources to handle the deployment.
What other advice do I have?
In terms of security, we are planning to deploy more features and our current usage is primarily focused on branch networking. I rate the tool a nine out of ten. I rate the product a nine out of ten. I haven't faced any issues with the tool's documentation.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
A highly scalable and stable network security solution that is efficient and easy to use
What is our primary use case?
The solution is used for secure web browsing and setting up segregated networks. It is used for network security.
What is most valuable?
The VPN works really well. The product is efficient and easy to use. The ease of use is extremely good.
What needs improvement?
The solution is not cheap. The security could be improved further.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The tool is very stable. We haven’t had any issues. I rate the stability a nine out of ten. It’s difficult to understand whether the occasional stability issues are due to Cato or our local service provider.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Our whole company is using the tool in the USA and internationally. It can scale up to thousands of endpoints. The product is more suitable for enterprise environments.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Cisco AnyConnect before. We switched to Cato Networks because it is more secure. It also integrates with SSO.
How was the initial setup?
The solution is cloud-based.
What about the implementation team?
A third-party company deployed the tool for us.
What was our ROI?
The solution provides good value. We can limit the incidents and potential issues.
What other advice do I have?
People buying the solution must remember that it must be a part of their security rollout for secure networks and VPNs. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
A stable and scalable network service that provides useful features, like monitoring and SASE
What is our primary use case?
In my company, we use the solution for multiple purposes, including for our employees involved in remote work. Cato Networks is helpful for my company since we need it to connect our headquarters in Germany with our branch office and plant in Korea.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the solution is SASE or Secure Access Service Edge since the team of Cato Networks does the monitoring, and it helps us if any incidents appear in our network service.
What needs improvement?
I don't find any weaknesses in the solution. I am very satisfied with the service from Cato Networks.
I think Cato Networks needs to promote its product globally. I am located in South Korea, and I can say that most people here have no idea about Cato Networks. I think Cato Networks should promote its network services in various countries.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cato Networks for two years. I use the solution in my company. I don't remember the solution's version since it is a network service. I am a customer of Cato Networks.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution. I have never had any experience with Cato's setup box or network service being down for the last two years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I think it is a scalable solution.
For Korea alone, 1,800 employees in our office use Cato Networks. I think one administrator for Cato Networks is enough.
How are customer service and support?
The solution's technical support keeps an eye on our company's network service. If there is anything wrong with our company's network service, the technical support contacts us immediately and gives us good support. The technical support team's speed of response is really good.
I rate the technical support a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
My company previously used MPLS for network service. The decision to switch from MPLS to Cato Networks was made by those at our organization's headquarters in Germany. MPLS was a really good service.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Cato Networks is very easy and straightforward.
The solution is deployed on a hybrid cloud.
For deployment, you just plug the cable into Cato's setup box and Cato's suite. The deployment can be done in 30 minutes.
Only one person is needed for the solution's installation.
What about the implementation team?
I did the installation of the solution in our company.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is reasonably priced since Cato Networks provides features like SASE and monitoring, which I am very happy with currently. The licensing costs of the solution are reasonable since, in our company, we just use the solution's service and don't need Cato Networks for many hours to operate.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I think our headquarters had considered various services like Palo Alto Networks and Cisco, but finally, they decided to use Cato Networks. From what I heard from my colleagues working in our company's finance department, the cost of Cato Networks is slightly lower than its competitors. The setup and deployment phases of Cato Networks are easy.
What other advice do I have?
Cato Networks is a product for those who want their enterprise network service to provide them with SASE and some features similar to SD-WAN.
The interface of Cato Networks is good. I am not sure of the solution's integration capabilities with the third-party tools. Cato Networks helps with the integration part of the ticketing system in our company. It is very helpful to identify issues and manage the process of troubleshooting. The documentation that Cato Networks provides is good.
I rate the overall product a nine out of ten.