Networks are becoming more distributed as they extend beyond cloud-native and on-premises infrastructures. Attack surfaces are growing for organizations. Zscaler SASE provides Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) with Zero Trust Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) to help organizations meet these cybersecurity and network security demands. The Tufin Orchestration Suite simplifies network complexity with a unified control plane that delivers centralized visibility, automated policy orchestration, and continuous compliance across hybrid environments. This solution can help guide IT teams through architecture design, comparisons, and planning for adoption.
Zscaler SASE architecture and core components
Zscaler’s Zero Trust SASE architecture relies on the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform, unifying networking and security in the cloud for enterprises and service providers. The Zscaler SASE offering combines the benefits of Zero Trust SD-WAN with a range of protective capabilities, including Secure Web Gateway (SWG) and Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) with additional Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), as well as Zscaler Digital Experience (ZDX) for digital experience management.
The architecture is designed to scale at the edge across a distributed global footprint of data centers, optimizing routing and minimizing latency. In addition, it’s architected to minimize the attack surface for applications, endpoints, and exposed IP addresses across workloads. These capabilities are valuable for security teams looking to enhance their cloud security posture.
The Gartner SASE Magic Quadrant for Secure Access Service Edge validates Zscaler’s position among leading SASE providers. With security delivered from the cloud, plus real-time policy enforcement and integrations that are frictionless with SaaS and cloud-native applications, the SASE platform can support mission-critical use cases, providing data flow visibility through its SSE platform and eliminating the complexity of legacy overlay networks, aligning with digital transformation goals.
Zscaler SASE comparisons and key questions
Zscaler SASE is frequently compared against Security Service Edge (SSE) and traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). SSE includes purely security services, such as SWG, CASB, DLP, and FWaaS. A comprehensive SASE solution also includes Zero Trust SD-WAN and routing capabilities, providing greater scalability and performance. These integrations enable security teams to evaluate SASE providers that offer SD-WAN and security coverage for their hybrid networks. The Tufin Orchestration Suite enables organizations to manage their network security posture amid the growing complexity of their modern hybrid environments.
Legacy VPNs often provide broad remote access that expands the attack surface and decreases app performance. In contrast, the Zero Trust design of Zscaler’s SASE solution minimizes permissions through ZTNA. It applies real-time policies to workflows and devices that enhance user experience, strengthen network security, and mitigate potential cyber threats with least-privileged access. The ZTNA framework also segments workloads and endpoints without introducing overlay complexity.
Zero Trust and SASE are interrelated, but distinct concepts. Zero Trust is a security mindset — never trust, always verify — while SASE is an architecture that enforces Zero Trust through cloud-delivered security and networking. With its cloud-native integrations and AI-powered monitoring, Zscaler secures data traffic across data centers, SaaS deployments, and various use cases, including Internet of Things (IoT) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) workloads.
Cost and training are other factors in adoption decisions. Zscaler SASE usually follows a subscription pricing model that scales with user numbers and service bundles. It also offers a structured certification and training process to help network security teams develop the skills needed to run the solution. Guidance from Gartner provides additional resources for organizations that want context on building a SASE strategy that optimizes performance, scalability, and Zero Trust security.
Buyer challenges and adoption considerations
Adopting a SASE architecture often presents more challenges than simply upgrading. Security teams must monitor cloud-native workloads, SaaS environments, and IoT endpoints while ensuring compliance and preventing advanced threat activity. Policy overlap and routing inconsistencies can expand the attack surface and introduce latency. The Tufin Orchestration Suite centralizes policy management and automates policy changes, enabling a Zero Trust architecture to scale securely without increasing complexity.
Compliance is another area of concern. Misaligned access controls can create hidden compliance gaps, especially when working with multiple providers or older overlay networks. Articles like Why Your SASE Implementation is Creating Compliance Gaps emphasize the importance of regular audits and consistent firewall, DLP, and SWG configurations across data centers for effective Zero Trust security.
Scaling to global branch locations requires more than bandwidth. An effective SASE platform optimizes routing, supports real-time integrations, and extends secure connectivity to include private applications. Zscaler’s Zero Trust SD-WAN, when combined with CASB and other controls, provides predictable performance while simplifying network security. See How Modern Security Teams are Tackling Complexity at Scale for more information on how automation and policy orchestration stay ahead of cloud-delivered security and rapid change.
Visibility and continuous monitoring are crucial for long-term success. Solutions such as Vectra AI and Zscaler enhance SASE visibility from start to finish, highlighting how AI-powered analytics can assist in monitoring traffic on the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange, identify anomalous behavior early, and support adoption plans that ensure secure connectivity as Zero Trust SD-WAN and cloud-based workloads scale. For IT decision makers considering SASE as a long-term framework, these capabilities provide the secure connectivity and operational confidence needed to scale Zero Trust security across endpoints and AWS-based workloads.
Conclusion
Zscaler demonstrates that an effective SASE solution can enhance network security and scale to meet the requirements of cloud-native and cloud-based applications. However, having the proper policy management layer in place is equally important. The Tufin Orchestration Suite provides that layer, enabling IT teams to have real-time visibility into and automation of rule control to reduce the attack surface and ensure SD-WAN policies remain consistent. By synchronizing these controls across endpoints, private applications, and multi-cloud environments, Tufin helps minimize risk , enable long-term scalability, and sustain a Zero Trust security posture as networks and use cases grow. Schedule a demo to see how it all works together in your environment.
Frequently asked questions
How does Zscaler SASE help organizations maintain consistent security policies across hybrid environments?
Zscaler SASE enables centralized policy enforcement and consistent application of Zero Trust controls across on-premises and cloud-native resources, making it easier to reduce configuration drift and prevent rule sprawl. Integrating Zscaler SASE with the Tufin Orchestration Suite R25-2 enables organizations to gain a single view of their hybrid and SASE security posture and the ability to enforce Zero Trust policies at scale.
Learn more about Why Your SASE Deployment is Prone to Misconfigurations and Regulatory Blind Spots.
What factors should IT teams consider when comparing Zscaler SASE with other providers?
Key factors include the total number of global points of presence (PoPs), support for real-time policy updates, Zero Trust capabilities of the native SD-WAN, and integration with third-party solutions. A comparison analysis of major SASE providers with native SD-WAN and security coverage helps organizations better understand the performance, scalability, and cost dynamics of Zscaler versus its competitors.
Learn how modern security teams are making progress in How Modern Security Teams Are Tackling Complexity at Scale.
Can Tufin assist in detecting and cleaning up overly permissive rules in Zscaler?
Yes. Tufin’s policy analysis capabilities can be used to detect policy risks such as “shadow rules” or overly permissive rules. It can also scan your Zscaler policies to detect rules that are redundant, expired or violate the principle of least privilege, and assist you in cleaning up the policies safely to help reduce your attack surface.
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