I can see that I am a consultant at a reseller and I am the architect of Cato SASE Cloud Platform designs. In the baseline, I usually recommend Cato SASE Cloud Platform for international companies that have many different setups spread globally.
Cato SASE Cloud Platform
Cato NetworksExternal reviews
External reviews are not included in the AWS star rating for the product.
Cloud security has unified global network design and has simplified threat visibility
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
I think all of the functionalities, such as the secure web gateway feature, are quite good. I also believe Cato SASE Cloud Platform is one of the only solutions that has not only a software firewall solution but also a physical software solution where you can change the company's firewalls and put in sockets from Cato SASE Cloud Platform, which I see as an advantage for them.
The single-pass architecture has improved user experience with Cato SASE Cloud Platform as it provides security teams in companies a platform where they can easily obtain information if there are breaches or security issues.
I assess the benefit of integrating WAN optimization as good. There is ease in making rules between WAN optimization, especially when it comes to global connections because of all their points of presence that are spread over the world.
I think the real-time threat protection of Cato SASE Cloud Platform is also good. Their points of presence are quite efficient, and I do not see any delays in that area.
What needs improvement?
To improve Cato SASE Cloud Platform, I think they sometimes need more built-in features for security in larger networks when doing local authentication, as they currently leave that to other vendors.
I would have preferred to see more LT 5G connection built into their sockets in the future, which is coming up now and I think that is positive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I am quite familiar with Cato SASE Cloud Platform networks and I have been working with Cato SASE Cloud Platform for two to three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I find Cato SASE Cloud Platform overall stable.
How are customer service and support?
I think the technical support by Cato SASE Cloud Platform is quite good and I would rate their performance an eight out of ten for that area.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I do not find it particularly expensive, but for some companies, they may not have the budget to be at that level of security for their networks.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
If Cato SASE Cloud Platform does not fit the budget, I usually recommend a more on-site solution, such as FortiGate firewalls, or if they would prefer a cloud solution, I would suggest a full Meraki solution with MX Gateways from Meraki.
What other advice do I have?
It is difficult to find types of companies I would not recommend Cato SASE Cloud Platform to, and I believe you can use Cato SASE Cloud Platform in most environments, although there could be some cases where organizations are really cost-sensitive.
I measure the effectiveness of Cato SASE Cloud Platform using metrics such as milliseconds for connections and bandwidth, comparing it with its efficiency to see if it delivers on their bandwidth choices.
I believe that the centralized cloud-native management helps with policy configuration by allowing users to build their own environment without many issues, which is key to going cloud-based. I would rate this review an overall eight out of ten.
CATO made life easy, from global connectivty to security it is super
Cato SASE Cloud: Easy to Use, Secure, and All-in-One
CrowdStrike + JumpCloud Integration
Strong Endpoint-Identity Correlation
CrowdStrike provides real-time endpoint telemetry (e.g., threat detection, vulnerability status), while JumpCloud governs identity and access. When integrated, organizations can enforce policies based on the security state of the device and the user's identity.
Benefits:
Blocks access from compromised or non-compliant devices
Supports Zero Trust access models
Reduces lateral movement and insider threats
2. Licensing Overlap for SMBs
For small businesses, the combination of EDR (CrowdStrike) and identity/security tools (JumpCloud) might
CrowdStrike Falcon uses AI-driven behavioral analysis and threat intelligence to detect and stop advanced threats like ransomware, fileless attacks, and zero-day exploits in real time.
Slow Detection and Response Times.
Integrated platform optimizes network and security management through seamless AI system integration and user-friendly toggles
What is our primary use case?
I use Cato SASE Cloud Platform primarily as a single vendor, integrated SD-WAN plus SASE solution.
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.
I Support Cato
I think the Categories are well kept up to date, and detection of the app is pretty good.
Support can be great at the end
When reviewing the monitoring, sometimes, adding multiple filters for something is not possible, or not that easy to figure it out.
The license is very expensive. I cannot believe when I removed a site there was no licensing change or saving for the customer
Support often gives useless insights on tikcet updates.
The firewall rules don't seem to have a policy checker, or I haven't seen it. The rules are not easy to understand at first
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.
Great experience so far
Clean Solution
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.