An Overview of Zscaler and How It Works

Zscaler is designed to protect businesses from modern cyber threats. This article provides a detailed overview of Zscaler, its key features, use cases, and why it might be the right fit for your organization. 

You’ll learn about Zscaler’s four-step process for managing risk and how it improves network performance. And, if Zscaler isn’t what you need, there’s an at-a-glance overview of three alternatives.

You’ll also see the subscription plans Zscaler offers and find out how to get the software for the lowest price.

What is Zscaler? A high-level overview

Zscaler is a cloud-based cybersecurity platform that provides secure internet and application access. 

It offers services like secure web gateways, cloud firewalls, data loss prevention, and zero trust network access (ZTNA), by routing data through its cloud security platform to automate inspections and filter for threats.

This protects you from malware, unauthorized access, and data leaks so you can optimize protection and performance for remote and distributed users.

Zscaler's Zero Trust Exchange™ platform operates on the premise that traditional firewalls, approved IP addresses, and VPNs are no longer reliably effective against modern-day cyber threats. By creating a secure, cloud-native environment that connects users directly to applications, not the network, Zscaler minimizes risk and delivers fast application access.

How does Zscaler work?

Zscaler uses a four-step process to manage risk and ensure protection for your users, networks, applications, and devices:

1. First, the platform uses integrations with third-party identity providers to verify the identity of who or what is accessing your systems.
2. Then, it identifies the destination of the connection, for example, a website, SaaS app, or private app.
3. With this information confirmed, Zscaler uses AI to assess the risk based on factors like user behavior, device posture, content, and third-party intel.
4. Now the platform enforces policy on a per-session basis, which means each individual connection is evaluated against your security policies in real-time. 

As Zscaler performs its security checks and processes, the platform analyzes data from user activity, application access, network traffic, and threat detections to:

• Reduce latency and speed up access to cloud services
• Direct network traffic to the fastest and most reliable paths
• Cache frequently accessed content to reduce load times
• Ensure vital applications receive the necessary bandwidth

Zscaler performs all these functions through four core products, which we look at next.

Zscaler products and key features of each

Zscaler’s four products cover different aspects of network security, data protection, and user experience. Each product is available separately, or you can combine multiple features into bundles with ‘Zscaler for Users Editions.’

Here’s a breakdown of each product with their key features.

Secure Internet Experience (ZIA)

Zscaler Internet Access™ is designed to secure all user internet traffic, providing a cloud-native, consolidated security stack to protect against threats, enforce policies, and prevent data loss. This safeguards users' internet browsing and cloud application usage.

Selected features (Essentials and Business plans)

• Full SSL inspection
• Secure web gateway (SWG)
• URL filtering
• Cloud application visibility and control
• Inline malware prevention
• Nanolog™ Streaming Service (NSS)
• Bandwidth control
• Data loss prevention (DLP)
• Cloud access security broker (CASB)
• Standard digital experience monitoring

Secure Private Access (ZPA)

Zscaler Private Access™ access to internal applications without relying on traditional VPNs. It connects users directly to private apps, minimizing exposure to the network and reducing the attack surface — the potential entry points that cyber attackers could exploit.

Features (Essentials and Business)

• Secure access to private apps
• VPN replacement
• Clientless Access (Browser Access, RDP/SSH/VNC)
• Segmentation for remote access
• Threat prevention with deception
• Digital Experience Monitoring 

Digital Experience (ZDX)

Zscaler Digital Experience provides monitoring and analysis of user experience across applications and networks. With its Copilot AI Assistant, IT teams can quickly identify, diagnose, and resolve performance issues, so end-users have reliable, high-quality access to apps, services, and communications.

Selected features (Standard, M365, and Advanced)

• Unify monitoring silos
• Email alerts
• Identify Microsoft performance issues
• Monitor Microsoft Teams call quality
• Integrate with ITSM tools via API and Webhooks
• Troubleshoot user complaints with fine-grained diagnostics
• Automate root cause analysis using Al
• Monitor Zoom and WebEx call quality
• Review device models and deployed software versions organization-wide
• View performance impact by analyzing specific app or user data

Data Protection (CASPA/DLP)

Zscaler Data Protection helps you secure sensitive data for users, devices, and cloud applications across all channels: Inline DLP, CASB, endpoint, email, SSPM, DSPM, workloads, and BYOD. This allows you to enforce data security policies, monitor regulatory compliance, and gain better control over data movement.

Features (Zscaler for Users bundles)

• Inline web protection
• Security for distributed and sensitive data
• Improved control over cloud data
• Regulatory compliance monitoring
• Simplified and centralized data protection operations

Use cases and applications for Zscaler

Here are some of the top use cases for Zscaler so you can see how it could help secure your network, protect data, and optimize performance across your organization.

Stop cyber attacks and protect sensitive data

Zscaler’s ZTNA minimizes potential entry points for attackers, preventing network breaches and data loss. It does this by verifying user identities, monitoring activity, and blocking malware in real-time.

Secure your workloads

You can use Zscaler to perform instant security checks between applications, services, and servers in cloud and hybrid cloud environments. This protects your internal application traffic, data transfers, and cloud infrastructure.

Troubleshoot access issues

Zscaler’s AI assistant can deep-dive into real-time issues. For example, if users report Wi-Fi drops, you can ask Copilot to identify the cause, suggest a quick solution for the user, and recommend a long-term fix.

Secure IoT devices

Unmanaged connected devices, like scanners and smart technology, present a risk to your business security. Zscaler mitigates this with continuous monitoring and centralized reporting in the Zscaler admin portal.

Is Zscaler a good fit for your business? 

Zscaler is specifically for businesses looking to enhance security and performance in complex environments that include a mix of cloud services, on-premises data centers, remote work setups, and IoT devices.

If you:

• Work across multiple cloud environments, Zscaler provides secure communication between applications, services, and data centers.

• Operate within a highly regulated space, such as healthcare, finance, or government, you can leverage Zscaler’s robust data protection and compliance features to meet requirements.
  
  
• Manage sensitive data with employees working from various locations, Zscaler offers secure, high-performance remote access to applications.
  
  
• Prioritize zero-trust security, Zscaler's ZTNA framework verifies user identities, continuously monitors and reports risk in real-time, and controls access with multiple layers of policy enforcement.

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On the other hand, if you operate within a less complex environment or have minimal remote access needs, Zscaler might not be the most cost-effective solution. Below, we look at alternative options that could better align with your requirements.

Top Zscaler competitors

Here are three Zscaler competitors you can consider as you weigh up the best cybersecurity and network performance solutions for your business.

Fortinet

For enterprise-level organizations, Fortinet offers secure networking and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) for hybrid workforce access, GenAI to assist security teams, and cloud security solutions for centralized management and visibility of applications.

For SMBs, there are budget-friendly solutions, including speed detection and response with AI-driven protection, FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls, and security awareness training.

Vendr's Fortinet expertise

• Deals handled: 29
• Unique purchasers: 20
• Average contract value: $35K

Buy Fortinet with Vendr

Check Point

Check Point includes solutions for hybrid data center security, automated full lifecycle security for applications, and multi-layered protection against ransomware attacks on devices, applications, and networks.

For SMBs, Check Point offers out-of-box solutions including device protection; mailbox and SaaS app security; integrated Wi-Fi 6, 5G, and SD-WAN for secure networks; plus a user-friendly dashboard and mobile app.

Vendr's Check Point Software Technologies expertise

• Deals handled: 10
• Unique purchasers: 6
• Average contract value: $257K

Buy Check Point with Vendr

Forcepoint

Forcepoint offers solutions for data protection, hybrid workforces, cloud and web access, and private apps.

Its products include Forcepoint ONE Data Security, which has compliance policy templates, high-speed data security deployment, and Risk-Adaptive Protection for real-time visibility of alerts and policy adjustments in real-time based on user behavior.

Vendr's Forcepoint expertise

• Deals handled: 1
• Unique purchasers: 1
• Average contract value: $69K

Buy Forcepoint with Vendr

Get the best terms and save time on contract negotiations with Vendr

Vendr uses a combination of in-depth contract analysis, expert negotiators, and proven negotiation levers — like securing discounts based on user numbers and contract duration — to get you the lowest price for your software.

Additionally, Vendr ensures faster access to your solution — by cutting down on otherwise long sales cycles and eliminating sales calls that add to your workload.

By buying through Vendr, you get the lowest price, better terms with no hidden pricing, and an efficient procurement process that saves you time.

Use Vendr Marketplace to get the lowest price for Zscaler