Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform Reviews

This is the primary Private Access solution, the VPN solution.

Zscaler brought a new concept to the world or to the networks, basically introducing the zero-trust technologies of the product to bring in the buzzword about it and then make it a norm or create it as a norm. 

So, this is a product that can give you zero trust when it comes to the VPN solution compared to the legacy VPN. So, it has become a mandate to manage.

Zscaler Private Access does not currently offer the ability to assign static IP addresses, which are necessary for supporting telephony or backend communication. 

While Zscaler supports client-initiated connections, it does not support server-initiated connections. This is a feature that Zscaler may consider adding in the future.

I have been using this solution for a year. 

It is a stable solution.

It is a scalable solution. We have around 5,000 end users using this solution.

The customer service and support are okay. I am not a fan of the service. 

The response time is long, and the willingness is lacking. They are not eager to support.

My company used Pulse Secure and SonicWall.

With the zero-trust concept coming in across the secure, we wanted to try out Zscaler and see whether it worked well for our organization. So that's the reason we switched to Zscaler. 

The initial setup was easy. 

With the VPN solutions that sort of pretty much expensive.

I would recommend using the solution. I would rate it around eight out of ten because it is a good product. I don't have any major concerns as such. 

The competition is not up to the level; Netskope is doing well. Palo Alto and other products have just launched their products within the previous two or three quarters, and the market is yet to try their tech work, but Zscaler is a tested product, and it is doing good.

The primary use cases for the Zscaler include secure channel access for applications, private file service access, and remote connectivity to the active directory. These are the top three essential functionalities provided by Zscaler.

Previously, we utilized HubSpot, which required connecting to our office data center and then reaching other data centers for different applications. Internal private access changed this by allowing us to deploy connectors directly in front of the applications, eliminating the need for a single-site private access connection.

The pricing for Private Access seems to be on the expensive side, and I believe they should consider making it more competitive with other solutions. Specifically, they could improve pricing by offering customizable packages that cater to each customer's specific needs.

Connectivity to voice-over IP (VoIP) solutions, both private and VoIP, is scheduled to be included in the upcoming week.

I have been working with the solution for the past few months.

I would rate the stability a nine out of 10. 

The technical support is good. 

Positive

We chose Zscaler because of its superior functionality, especially in terms of its medium capabilities.

A well planned deployment plan can be executed in fifteen days. 

Identifying private applications and the users accessing them are the two key components. Discovering the private applications associated with Zscaler is one part, while the other involves determining the number of users accessing these applications, which is crucial for deciding Zscaler’s deployment.

I would rate the process of initial setup a five out of 10.

I would advise evaluating the solutions as per the requirements, and would rate it a nine out of ten. 

There's a different mechanism and modules. For example,  ZIA is primarily for internet access from the user's side. We can forward the traffic using the ZIA client connector agent installed on user machines like laptops and desktops. 

Users can log in using their credentials and even use single sign-on. Once logged in, their traffic is forwarded to the Zscaler cloud. 

Based on the user profile, we can define policies on what type of content they can access, like streaming or specific file types. It provides data protection as well. 

Alternatively, there's another configuration. If we can't install an agent, we can forward traffic using a PAC file URL to Zscaler servers.

With Zscaler, there are various modules like ZIA, private access, and digital exchange. All focus on internet access, but there's a concept where all traffic is forwarded using the Zscaler agent. 

Previously, they used a different portal where traffic from tools like Jira and FortiGate was allowed. The issue was that third-party applications weren't always supported. We had to configure them manually, and often we had to forward traffic to the Zscaler Cloud.

On the improvement side, when we bypass certain internet traffic types, it's currently recommended to have a one-click option, but audio and video aren't always supported. Thus, we need to bypass that kind of traffic. So, it is an area of improvement.

Another issue is with DNS exclusions and internet bypasses. Even if we put some URLs into DNS exclusion, it doesn't always work. So we often have to use a VPN gateway bypass. If they provided functional DNS exclusions and internet bypasses, it'd be much smoother.

I have been using it for the last three years. 

If I had to provide a rating between one to ten, I'd give it a seven out of ten. Some areas need improvement, like classification understanding, general and fingerprinting. Some classifications aren't adequately addressed by the DLP rules they provide.

The customer service and support are very good because we have dedicated team support on that and a dedicated customer success manager also. If the technical team doesn't resolve within the alert timing, I can escalate, and they assign a senior person to the call.

The current era is moving towards having a single agent manage everything. We can set up the SAP. Previously, we were using the proxy solution. This is on-prem and very hectic to manage. And policy synchronization was also a challenge. 

Zscaler is a SaaS-based solution, making it easy for users from any location to connect. It's very easy to use with minimal operational challenges. Not just Zscaler, but other SaaS solutions like NetScope and Palo Alto as well.

As for the DLP, there's a web-based version and a hosted ERP version. I haven't tested the OS DLP capabilities yet, but the web-based version is in line.

There are around 50,000 end users in our organization. In my organization, I'm part of the COE group, Centralope Accelerate, and I'm in charge of projects, implementations, and escalated support issues.

I have three team members under me at a proxy level, and then there are about ten people at level one. They handle basic troubleshooting, and if they can't resolve issues, they escalate to level two or even to me.

When I look back two or three years, I feel it's worth it. The product has been good for our infrastructure and has positively changed our user experience. 

However, in the current scenario, we need to think more strategically and consider integrating other services like private access, DLP, CASB, etc.

It's expensive currently. But when purchasing for a large number of users, there's room to negotiate. It's really up to the procurement team. 

From my experience, it's a pricey product, but with a larger user count, there's flexibility in the pricing.

If your requirements are at an intermediate level and you need to access DMC, then I would recommend this solution. If you require more detailed data classification, you might want to consider Netscope as they provide very granular classification. However, it really depends on the company's needs and requirements.

Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

I primarily use it for conducting security incident investigations and generating security reports. It serves as a valuable tool in analyzing and responding to security events, and its capabilities are instrumental in producing comprehensive reports on the security status of the network.

It proved to be invaluable in addressing our challenge of not having a rigid perimeter. With employees working from various locations, the need to move away from VPN reliance became apparent. Following thorough assessments, we opted to continue using it as our cloud Web Access solution.

It stands out for its seamless integration with various security solutions, such as EDR, SOAR, etc. The implementation process is straightforward, requiring minimal ongoing maintenance. The desktop agent enhances endpoint protection against zero-day vulnerabilities, providing a safeguard until patches are released. Its adaptability extends beyond a single solution, allowing integration with different models and solutions. The alert detection system and additional security features add an extra layer of appeal. The flexibility to start with one aspect and expand within a single vendor is advantageous. The agent's versatility is notable, used for digital experience monitoring to collect valuable endpoint metrics for troubleshooting. The security browser function distinguishes between known safe sites and potentially suspicious ones, ensuring a secure browsing experience. Unfamiliar websites are run in the Zscaler Cloud, isolating them from the endpoint and preventing potential phishing or malicious scripts from reaching the user's device.

Occasionally, there are certain delays in report generation. Clicking on a link, I found myself waiting for an unpredictable duration—sometimes as long as thirty seconds to a minute—until the report was ready.

I have been working with it for over a year.

There have been instances where certain software or applications on the user side didn't work smoothly. This posed an additional onboarding challenge, requiring collaboration with technical support to analyze logs, generate reports, and identify necessary exclusions or policies to rectify the issue. Once addressed, the applications resumed normal functioning.

It's highly scalable, and I frequently receive notifications about new data center expansions. With around five thousand endpoints, I am not aware of any problems that have been discussed as requiring a change of solution.

I gained access to the web console, and within an hour, I comprehended its capabilities, which I found appealing. Beyond predefined reports, the platform enables users to retrieve any imaginable information. Creating a visual search request is a straightforward process, delivering the required data through a user-friendly interface.

The implementation has effectively addressed numerous challenges related to ensuring a secure internet connection for users.

When we conducted assessments, Cisco and Microsoft were also considered. However, at that time, Cisco was in the initial stages of developing their solution, and Microsoft had just released their web security gateway.

When making a decision, choosing a market leader is often advisable. While the initial cost may be slightly higher, the long-term savings in both time and money, as well as the reduction in operational costs, often outweigh the investment. Opting for a leading product can also mitigate potential issues and challenges that might arise with newer or less-established alternatives. Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.

It serves as a globally distributed solution, differing significantly from MPLS. Unlike traditional firewalls, it seamlessly accommodates cloud services and enables remote work from any location. The product's global distribution across the cloud facilitates internal access with the necessary licenses. Whether connecting from a branch office, on-premises solution, private data system, public data center, or the cloud, the platform ensures consistent and robust security protection throughout the entire infrastructure.

The most valuable feature is its seamless integration capabilities, streamlining the process by eliminating the need for extensive installations. Users can connect to the SaaS solution by simply installing the necessary apps. This includes the flexibility to connect with any firewall or router capable of setting up IPSec, providing users the freedom to choose their preferred hardware. This versatility extends beyond Zscaler-specific applications or devices, making it compatible with a range of SD-WAN solutions, such as Cisco Meraki, Palo Alto, and Juniper.

A suggestion for improvement is the development of their own proprietary SD-WAN device. Currently, the experience can vary when integrating cloud protection with different vendors, such as Palo Alto, Meraki, or Juniper. Having a Zscaler-specific device could streamline this process and provide a more consistent user experience across diverse branches. Additionally, expanding their offerings to include solutions like SIEM, similar to competitors, could enhance their portfolio and cater to clients interested in a broader range of services.

I have been working with it for two years.

It is highly reliable and ensures that users receive optimal performance regardless of their physical location, creating a more seamless and user-friendly experience.

The initial setup was straightforward.

The perception of cloud services being expensive is often a result of the initial migration costs, especially when transitioning from traditional and limited MPLS environments. In the long run, cloud services are not inherently costly. If you're starting fresh and adopting a cloud-first approach from the beginning, the perceived expense is considerably less significant.

It is not economically viable for individual users but is highly recommended for companies with a substantial user base, multiple branches, extensive cloud operations, and remote employees. The solution offers enhanced protection across network, on-premises, and cloud environments, making it valuable for enterprises adapting to the evolving landscape of cloud adoption and seeking comprehensive security and networking benefits. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

I use Zscaler Cloud DLP since my company's clients use Zscaler Cloud Proxy in their environments. I deal with Zscaler Cloud DLP since it meets the requirements of my company's clients and helps to manage data breaches. In general, my company takes care of the configuration part of Zscaler Cloud DLP and provides it to our company's clients as a service.

With Zscaler Cloud DLP, my company benefits from the granular control it provides us. My company provides Zscaler Cloud DLP to our clients as per their requirements, and moreover, we can filter out and deny or allow providing the features related to DLP for a specific user or a location. Basically, Zscaler Cloud DLP provides general control to a person over which files a person wants to allow or deny for a specific user or location. Zscaler Cloud DLP is very easy to configure. With just a few clicks, one can easily take care of the configuration part related to the product.

As of now, no improvements are required in the solution. Though not an improvement from a product perspective, there is no documentation related to Zscaler Cloud DLP on the internet. You won't find anything that can help you with the configuration part and other areas related to the product if you search for proper or exact details of Zscaler Cloud DLP online in very easy language. In short, you can't find any documentation about the product which is exactly arranged in a proper manner. Availability of knowledge related to the product is not there in the public domain.

I have been using Zscaler Cloud DLP for more than three years. My company has a partnership with Zscaler, so we provide solutions from Zscaler to our clients.

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten. I did not have any issues related to the product. For some of the tag-related cases opened with the support team, no proper support was available.

It is a very scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

I work in a large organization, so I think more than 1,000 users use Zscaler Cloud DLP.

The solution's technical support is easy for my company to reach out to, and they are also very supportive. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten.

Positive

I have experience with Palo Alto Networks Firewall.

The product's initial setup is easy.

The solution can be deployed in ten to twenty minutes.

The solution is deployed on a private cloud.

Zscaler Cloud DLP offers cutting-edge technology and is easy to configure and use. People should opt for Zscaler Cloud DLP if they have the opportunity.

Considering that there is always some room for improvement, I rate the overall tool a nine out of ten.

I use Zscaler CASB to get the visibility of the cloud application since everything is moving to the cloud these days. We use the solution to get complete visibility of what is happening on my drive and official applications. The solution also helps to restrict information shared with my other partners.

Zscaler CASB's latency and architecture are excellent.

Zscaler CASB needs to improve its applications or connectors. The solution's granularity should be improved because it has limited granular options to control, visible, allow, block, delay, and receive.

I have been using Zscaler CASB for one year.

Zscaler CASB is a stable solution.

Zscaler CASB is a scalable solution because it is a cloud-based solution. Around 30% of the industry people are using Zscaler CASB.

Zscaler CASB's technical support is good. The solution's support team is available, but they don't have much visibility of what is happening and take too much time to resolve it.

Positive

Zscaler CASB's initial setup is easy.

As per industry leads, Zscaler CASB is an expensive solution.

Zscaler CASB is deployed on-cloud in our organization.

I would recommend Zscaler CASB to other users. Zscaler CASB has a seamless deployment. The solution needs to improve on the navigation or user experience part.

Overall, I rate Zscaler CASB an eight out of ten.

We are currently using Zscaler Cloud DLP internally and it provides us with a robust and highly configurable Data Loss prevention engine, which meets our specific data handling needs.

We experienced many benefits, including improved visibility and the ability to identify vulnerabilities in existing configurations. Its impressive scalability allows the combination of multiple dictionaries and using them as one engine, resulting in narrower data loss gaps. There are significant enhancements in email and file confidentiality, particularly with integration to MCAS solution, which provides insights into permissions and access control for files stored in OneDrive and SharePoint.

The most valuable features are its robustness and high configurability, particularly in relation to existing DLP dictionaries. The ability to choose and utilize specific dictionaries for various purposes, such as credit card checks or monitoring file permissions and transmissions within the corporate network. The platform allows the administrator to monitor who is sharing files and who has access to them, providing a proactive approach to data security.

The customers would benefit from more robust documentation and conversations around configurations, as it is slightly complex. Also, there should be an option for acquiring DLP as a standalone product rather than bundling it with packages, as this would provide more flexibility for customers who only need specific features. They should also provide more reviews and guidance on selecting the best-rated engines and dictionaries, as well as facilitating reporting for DLP violations and integrations with other cloud storage solutions. 

We have been using it for a year now.

Zscaler sells internet access, not specifically DLP, so we had to build a point of presence for our location in Kenya due to latency issues.

It offers high scalability capabilities.

We faced some issues regarding the business support from them due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of troubleshooting processes, which may be time-consuming. However, after we submitted the tickets, they did provide their support and eventually, solved our issues.

Neutral

We tried a few different solutions, but we opted for Zscaler because we were already using other products from them.

The implementation process was straightforward, with good support and training provided by Zscaler. We found it easy to roll out the cloud connectors and configure policies for DLP. The whole process took about three weeks with the help of three individuals, including myself.

Zscaler DLP solution is expensive, with a fixed pricing structure that is billed annually and monthly. There are no additional costs for licenses.

I would recommend having a clearly defined objective and goal, which would facilitate choosing and implementing the solution effectively. I would rate it nine out of ten.

We use Zscaler CASB for DLP and shadow IT.

The most valuable features of Zscaler CASB are API integration and DLP.

Zscaler CASB should include integrations with other SaaS applications.

We just bought Zscaler CASB a week ago.

I rate Zscaler CASB a nine out of ten for stability.

Zscaler CASB has good scalability. I rate Zscaler CASB a seven out of ten for scalability.

The solution's technical support provides a late response; otherwise, it's fine.

Neutral

I have previously worked with McAfee. Compared to Zscaler CASB, McAfee needs to upgrade a lot of things. We chose Zscaler CASB because of more applications and information that we could get to do some fine-tuning on the policies.

The solution's initial setup is supposed to be fairly easy since it's an API.

We haven't yet started to deploy the solution. We will seek the help of professional services to deploy Zscaler CASB.

Zscaler CASB is an expensive solution. On a scale from one to ten, where one is less expensive and ten is more expensive, I rate Zscaler CASB's pricing a seven out of ten.

I recommend users consider the cost and benefit, integration, and supported applications before choosing Zscaler CASB.

Overall, I rate Zscaler CASB a seven out of ten.

Most people use Zscaler SASE as a replacement for VPNs. You know, with a VPN, once you establish connectivity to the network, you have unrestricted access. But with Zscaler SASE, you have strict access control. You don't get any access unless you adhere to the policies set in Zscaler. 

So, you can control who has access to specific applications at a URL level rather than granting access at the physical IP level. That's what most people appreciate about it. IPs provide access to everything on the machine, whereas Zscaler SASE provides access to specific services within the network. 

The most valuable feature is its ability to establish connectivity for remote users and remote endpoints. It offers a high level of granularity compared to typical VPNs, which also encapsulate a lot of I/O. By using Zscaler SASE for home access or access in remote areas, it bypasses the issues introduced by ISPs. 

Sometimes ISPs block certain protocols or applications, but when everything is encapsulated within the Zscaler Cloud, the ISPs don't get a chance to interfere or block. This is especially helpful when it comes to file sharing. Sometimes ISPs block it, so we can't share files using cloud services remotely. Zscaler SASE gives non on-premise users the ability to securely access and sync with on-premise resources.

The area that requires improvement is their support. The current support is lacking. 

Other than that, once you have the right people on the phone, the product performs as advertised. However, multiple clients have complained about the support. 

I have been working with Zscaler SASE for two years. 

When it comes to stability, it's similar to any outsourced service. There will always be some outages because of the global nature of the network and the involvement of various cloud providers. There are many moving parts. I don't anticipate more frequent outages, but it's important to acknowledge that Zscaler is not flawless.

I haven't encountered any clients who have had problems with scalability or performance issues. There were a couple of outages less than six months ago, but that's to be expected. Every service experiences occasional outages. It's like having allergies; every product at a global scale will have such issues. 

I have heard a lot of complaints from my clients about the support. Even VMware's support has declined since it got acquired by Broadcom. 

So, we're not receiving the kind of support we used to get, like from Cisco. It's more akin to Microsoft and internal support.

Neutral

The initial setup does take some time to get used to. Zscaler does a good job with its specialized services in setting up and installing the product. 

Once you start using the product, any issues that arise are generally handled well. The support is not as terrible as it may seem at first. While there may be instances where one technician transfers the case to another technician, it doesn't mean starting the entire process from scratch.

However, most people are deploying it on AWS or Azure. I have some clients who still prefer on-premises deployment. It depends on their specific requirements.

The pricing is quite high, especially when it comes to the gateway. It costs around $10,000 per gateway per data center, which can be seen as ridiculous. Other cloud-based solutions charge based on the number of clients without the need for a gateway for each data center. 

This pricing approach doesn't sit well with my clients anymore. When Zscaler SASE had a monopoly in the market, it could get away with it, but now there are alternatives cutting into its market share.

I would rate Zscaler's pricing model as an eight out of ten, with one being cheap and ten being expensive. 

There are other solutions like VMware that also have high costs, but Zscaler SASE stands out because of the expensive gateway for each data center. It's not a cheap implementation. 

Every time you set up an Azure data center, you have to spend another $10,000 to $15,000 on a gateway. It adds up quickly. Creating a VPN between data centers might be an alternative, but it introduces a single point of failure. So, that pricing policy alone makes it very expensive.

It's a great product. My advice for those considering using it is to understand the concept of zero access. It's different from just having VPN access. If someone can perform a DNS lookup, they still have access. 

People are often stuck in a VPN-centric mindset. It requires a paradigm shift, similar to transitioning from traditional applications to Microsoft applications. Instead of focusing on what services the user needs, it's about restricting access to specific applications regardless of the user. Once you embrace this mindset, it becomes easier to navigate. It's not a major impact, but it does require a change in thinking.

Overall, I would rate this product an eight out of ten, with the exception of pricing and support issues. It is one of the better implementations available, surpassing Cloudflare's capabilities. However, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in terms of pricing and support.