The security issues one faces with legacy VPN solutions are addressed using a SaaS VPN platform. If an organization wants to implement a zero-trust network architecture, then a SaaS VPN platform is the way to go about it.
Zscaler Zero Trust Platform
Zscaler, Inc.External reviews
External reviews are not included in the AWS star rating for the product.
Ability to integrate with multiple IDPs, but app segmentation is license based
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of Zscaler Private Access are its ability to integrate with multiple IDPs and application segmentation.
What needs improvement?
More on-prem infrastructure is required when Zscaler Private Access is to be implemented as a single point of entry.
Since the whole concept of app segmentation is license based, making the app segmentation extremely granular becomes very expensive for an organization. As a result, not all organizations would adopt a granular approach for rolling out their Zscaler Private Access solution. So the entire approach must be seen differently, not the standard license-based approach. As an organization, if I want to make the access for my employees more granular, then it means that I will have to buy more licenses. Organizations with 10,000 to 20,000 applications, including their business partners also connecting to their applications, would need to invest a lot of money into making it granular. Okay. That kind of investment may not be viable for every organization to make, which could limit the use of Zscaler Private Access.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Zscaler Private Access for about two and a half years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate Zscaler Private Access a nine out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate Zscaler Private Access a ten out of ten for scalability. Zscaler Private Access can be used for more than 2,00,000 users.
How was the initial setup?
Zscaler tells you right at the front that the implementation needs to be taken up by Zscaler-certified people. It does require a good amount of knowledge of the platform. Other options are available where Zscaler makes professional services and resident engineers available. So Zscaler Private Access is a complicated solution, but they facilitate much of that implementation. I rate Zscaler Private Access a seven out of ten for ease of initial setup.
What about the implementation team?
Zscaler Private Access's deployment depends on how much time an organization spends preparing for the solution's implementation. If you have a checklist prepared beforehand, you can deploy the solution in probably one and a half or two months. But if you start deploying it and then start making the necessary preparations for the change, it could easily take more than a year for a large organization.
To deploy Zscaler Private Access, you need to follow a full-fledged project management process. This process includes requirement definitions, coming up with a high-level design document, preparing your project plan, coming up with a low-level design document, going into a pilot phase, and then the production rollout.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Zscaler Private Access is extremely expensive. I rate Zscaler Private Access an eight out of ten for pricing.
What other advice do I have?
Zscaler Private Access has its own data centers and its own private cloud.
Overall, I rate Zscaler Private Access a seven out of ten.
User-friendly implementation, responsive support, and handles intricate enterprise environments
What is our primary use case?
Zscaler Private Access empowers organizations to grant access to internal applications and services while maintaining the utmost security for their networks.
How has it helped my organization?
Zscaler Private Access benefits organizations by providing them with security for their networks.
What is most valuable?
The user interface of Zscaler Private Access is excellent. With proper knowledge and expertise, one can efficiently handle intricate enterprise environments without feeling overwhelmed. This leads to exceptional productivity for managed service providers. The user experience is remarkably streamlined, enabling the management of even the most complex enterprise setups without any excessive complications.
What needs improvement?
To enhance their offering, it is advisable for them to focus on strengthening the foundation of their architecture. Additionally, they should consider integrating a broader range of services that go beyond what managed service providers typically offer independently.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Zscaler Private Access for approximately four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the stability of Zscaler Private Access a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Zscaler Private Access is truly remarkable. It never poses any issues in terms of scalability, thanks to its substantial investment in hardware and the robustness of its networks. This holds true not only for Zscaler but also for their closest competitors, such as Netskope. These companies have made significant financial commitments to ensure exceptional network performance and data gateways. The interfaces are highly functional, and all optimization measures are in place. Consequently, they can effortlessly handle a large number of clients at maximum speed without any performance concerns. It's important to note that when discussing network access solutions, such as Zscaler Private Access, there is always a trade-off between performance and security. However, new advancements in the industry have given rise to a new generation of solutions that include zero-trust management, segmentation management, data loss prevention, and advanced attack prevention capabilities all in one package. It's crucial to stay aware of these developments since the technology landscape evolves rapidly, especially in the realm of cloud computing, where progress is even more accelerated.
My clients are all sizes that are using this solution.
I rate the scalability of Zscaler Private Access a ten out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The support is amazing. The marketing, sales, and technical support are highly responsive.
I rate the support from Zscaler Private Access a ten out of ten
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used other solutions in the past, such as Cato Networks.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Zscaler Private Access is simple. The process is easy for all companies and the interface is easy to manage.
The process simply involves configuring IP addresses, and that's all there is to it. The tool automatically generates an inventory of everything it finds on a specific network. The UI is highly intuitive and easily accessible. The software solution excels in terms of interface and user experience, as they adhere to a similar standard of simplicity. Overall, the implementation is user-friendly.
I rate the initial setup of Zscaler Private Access an eight out of ten.
It would take a touch of magic that would set it apart. When it comes to mainstream solutions, reaching a rating of eight is quite commendable. However, there are dedicated solutions specifically designed for managed service providers that truly excel and can be considered the top ten in their field. These solutions are primarily focused on catering to the needs of managed service providers rather than the enterprise environment. To reach a ten out of ten, the solution has to be completely customizable to the needs of a specific sector.
What about the implementation team?
We can do the implementation of the dilution. it is important to have assistance to deploy the solution correctly.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
In terms of market positioning, I would describe Zscaler Private Access as offering optimal pricing. Based on our experience, Cato Networks tends to be slightly more expensive.
Zscaler Private Access integrates various tools that, if obtained from another technology provider, would need to be purchased separately. This includes features, such as data loss prevention and reception technologies, which are seamlessly integrated into their platform.
I would rate the price of Zscaler Private Access a ten out of ten.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have evaluated other solutions.
What other advice do I have?
Zscaler Private Access is an exceptionally professional company that I strongly endorse. However, if your organization has a large field force or relies heavily on sales or geographically dispersed teams, it may be worth exploring alternative solutions.
While easy-to-deploy and user-friendly solutions may appear promising on paper, the true success of any digital transformation project lies in the choice of a competent managed service provider. It is essential to select a solution that works hand in hand with a capable managed service provider. If the managed service provider is excellent but the solution itself is subpar, it will impede progress. Similarly, even if the solution is exceptional, inadequate management will hinder optimal performance. Therefore, it is crucial to take a holistic approach in selecting the best possible solution and compare them side by side, alongside the expertise and approachability of the managed service provider. By deploying both solutions, such as Cato Network or Zscaler Private Access, and carefully observing their performance with small tasks, you can quickly identify the differences, especially in terms of speed and performance. These factors can vary significantly based on the nature and volume of your data.
Our clients prioritize five key objectives when it comes to their systems: security, compliance, performance, cost optimization, and operational continuity. These criteria are crucial for their operations. However, achieving compliance, especially in specific sectors like oil and gas or telecommunications, goes beyond relying solely on the tool itself. Compliance is achieved through proper operational practices and procedures, which is why clients rely on the expertise of managed service providers. While the tool may have certifications and guarantees related to data residency and longevity, it is ultimately the way an organization operates its infrastructure, solutions, and systems that determine compliance and security. It is important to continuously work on and test these aspects rather than treating them as something that can be simply purchased. Security and compliance require ongoing effort and attention on a daily basis.
I rate Zscaler Private Access an eight out of ten.
Zscaler Private Access is a solution that delivers on its promises and can be relied upon with great dependability. It stands out as an enterprise-grade solution, which is not the case for all options available in the market. While there may be less expensive alternatives, they can often be more fragile in terms of reliability. Zscaler ensures higher availability and offers dependable solutions, making it an ideal choice for businesses that heavily rely on software and cloud services. With Zscaler in place, you can rest assured that your business will be well protected, even in the face of new waves of ransomware attacks, privacy concerns, and malware threats that emerge every couple of months. Their proactive teams actively monitor network traffic and can promptly address any issues detected in one client, sharing the knowledge and best practices to prevent similar issues from impacting other clients. This advantage comes from having a dedicated professional team that seamlessly integrates the work of endpoint protection, active network monitoring, and protection. As a result, Zscaler's zero-trust network access solutions complement and enhance the layered defense system that every company should have in place.
Highly scalable, useful URL categorization, and easy setup
What is our primary use case?
I work for a service provider for a defense customer. We are using Zscaler Private Access to connect to the Internet. This is how we keep our customers protected with the latest inspection of the URLs.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Zscaler Private Access is the categorization of the dynamic URLs which keeps the customer's environment protected. The threats and the malware are correctly categorized.
What needs improvement?
Zscaler Private Access's reporting is poor. We should have more insight into the reports regarding what is blocked and allowed.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Zscaler Private Access for approximately four years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the scalability of Zscaler Private Access a ten out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
I rate the support of Zscaler Private Access a five out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
There is a lightweight agent on six laptops and the agent reaches out to the SaaS-based cloud.
The process of deployment takes 15 to 30 days.
I rate the initial setup of Zscaler Private Access an eight out of ten.
What was our ROI?
I rate the ROI from Zscaler Private Access a seven out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is competitive.
I rate the price of Zscaler Private Access five out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
If the reports were improved the customer would have more insight.
I rate Zscaler Private Access nine out of ten.