Top 10 Zscaler Alternatives & Competitors

TL;DR

Cloud security is an essential part of our lives, especially when integrated into business. Though Zscaler is known for its cloud security features, there are drawbacks to the software. This article explores the drawbacks of Zscaler and lists the top 10 Zscaler alternatives.

• Strac
• Nightfall
• Forcepoint
• NetSkope
• DoControl
• Metomic
• PolymerHQ
• Check Point Data Loss Protection
• Cisco Cloud and Application
• McAfee

Top 10 Zscaler Alternatives & Competitors

Today’s digital landscape calls for cloud data storage. In fact, 92% of all organizations already have some portion of their IT environment hosted in the cloud. 

Does this affect data security? Yes. 

A whopping 75% of businesses pointed to cloud security as their top concern. This, in turn, has led us to hunt for some of the best cloud security providers. 

Among the many options for cloud security software, Zscaler is known for its DLP solution. Though the solution promises the highest level of security, there are a few drawbacks you cannot overlook.

Here are a few major concerns about Zscaler.

• Latency and performance issues can affect businesses that deal with large volumes of data in real time. 
• Fails to intercept other ports, excluding 80 and 443. 
• Has limited terms for users or individuals fetching policies.
• The service support is lagging. 

Read the full review here ➡️ Peer Review Gartner

Drawbacks of ZScaler

Support Challenges

• Ineffective Customer Support: Many users have expressed frustration with Zscaler's customer support, describing it as unhelpful and slow to respond. Instances of long wait times and unresolved issues have been common, leading to dissatisfaction among users who require timely assistance.

Performance Issues

• Latency and Slow Speeds: Users frequently report increased latency when using Zscaler, which can affect browsing speeds and overall performance. This is particularly challenging for applications that need real-time data processing or quick response times.
• Resource Consumption: Zscaler can be resource-intensive, requiring a robust internet connection to function effectively. Users have noted that the service can slow down their systems, especially if they are using older hardware or slower connections.

Compatibility Concerns

• Integration Difficulties: Zscaler has been criticized for its compatibility with certain software development tools. Users in development environments often face challenges getting Zscaler to work properly, which can hinder productivity and lead to frustration.
• Blocking Issues: Some users have experienced problems with legitimate websites being blocked or requiring CAPTCHA verification due to Zscaler's routing processes. This can disrupt workflows and create additional hurdles for end-users.

Configuration Complexity

• Complex Setup and Management: The configuration of Zscaler can be complex, leading to potential misconfigurations that may affect performance and security. Users have reported that managing policies across different Zscaler products (like ZIA and ZPA) can be cumbersome due to the need for multiple consoles.

Cost Considerations

• Pricing Transparency: There are concerns regarding the lack of clear pricing information for Zscaler services. Potential customers often need to engage directly with sales representatives to get quotes, which can be a barrier for organizations looking for straightforward pricing models.

Owing to the Zscaler drawbacks, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 alternatives to Zscaler. Let’s explore. 

1. Strac

Strac is the Zscaler alternative, a one-stop shop for all things Personally Identifiable Information (PII). The platform protects businesses and safeguards them from compliance risks through the following practices:

1. Automatically detecting and redacting sensitive data across all communication channels like email, Slack, Zendesk, Google Drive, One Drive, Intercom, ChatGPT, and more. 
2. Protecting sensitive data on front-end apps and back-end servers so they never touch servers. 

The best part? 

Strac seamlessly integrates with cloud and SaaS-based platforms such as Zendesk, Slack, Gmail, Office 365, Salesforce, Box DLP, ChatGPT integration DLP, and a wide range of other products and is compliant with PCI, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, NIST CSF, and NIST 800-53. 

The platform also allows users to define custom policies on what data elements to redact, when to redact them, who should access them, how to get audit reports, and more. 

Features

• Integrated DLP Solutions: Strac uniquely combines SaaS, cloud, and endpoint DLP with AI DLP capabilities, integrating with major SaaS platforms such as Zendesk, Slack, Gmail, Google Drive, Salesforce, etc. and cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and GCP. It also includes endpoint DLP for operating systems like Mac, Windows, and Linux. Strac ensures business security by preventing the transmission of sensitive data to AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Bard/Gemini, Claude, Jesper, and others.
• Automated Data Detection and Redaction: Strac utilizes advanced algorithms to automatically detect and redact sensitive data across all communication channels, offering accurate and efficient performance without needing manual oversight.
  • Strac’s unique redaction experience is the best solution that solves for security and productivity of employees. Never before has a security solution been so secure to use.
• Compliance: Strac adheres to major compliance frameworks including PCI, SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO-27001, CCPA, GDPR, and NIST.
• Customization Options: Provides extensive customization regarding policies, data elements, access, and remediation steps to meet specific business needs.

Likes

• Quick Integration: Users can set up Strac in less than 10 minutes, enabling immediate data loss prevention and redaction across their SaaS applications.
• High Accuracy in Detection and Redaction: Leveraging custom-trained machine learning models, Strac achieves high accuracy in identifying sensitive data, minimizing false positives and negatives.

• Broad SaaS and Cloud Integrations: Strac boasts a wide range of integrations with various SaaS and cloud services. Checkout Demo for more details.
• Built-In & Custom Detectors: Strac offers detectors for all sensitive data related to PCI, HIPAA, GDPR, and other confidential information. It allows users to customize detectors by configuring their specific data elements. Explore Strac’s complete range of sensitive data elements. Full list of Data Elements 
• Support for Various Data and Document Formats: Compatible with all major document formats including PDF, JPEG, PNG, DOCX, and XLSX, and capable of redacting sensitive data from these formats.

• AI and Endpoint Integrations: Beyond standard integrations, Strac extends its DLP capabilities to AI platforms and offers comprehensive endpoint DLP.

• Developer-Friendly API Support: Provides APIs for developers to detect and redact sensitive data, facilitating easier integration and automation. API Docs
• Dedicated Customer Support: Strac ensures a seamless integration process and ongoing support to assist clients at every step.
• Flexible and Customizable Detection: Offers both built-in and customizable detectors for various data protection requirements, with out-of-the-box compliance templates available.

Dislikes

• Checkout Strac G2 Reviews

Review

2. Nightfall

Nightfall AI is a cloud-based security platform that offers detection capabilities for PII, PCI, secrets, and credentials in SaaS apps and Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Slack, Jira, and GitHub. 

Features

• Discovery: The tool is OAuth-based and API only, enabling least privilege access with minimal permissions. 
• Contextual policies: Nightfall offers contextual policies with real-time scanning capabilities that allow for detecting credentials, PCI, PII, or other sensitive data. 
• Data protection: Nightfall comes scheduled with periodic risk assessments to scan all historical data.
• Incident logs: The platform stores information on all incidents in databases for user reference.
  

Likes

• Nightfall configuration is straightforward. 
• The algorithms are constantly evolving, and the focus is on custom solutions.
• It is available on all operating systems. 
  

Dislikes

• Some detection services don't work or function as shown in the advertisements.
• The platform fails to operate smoothly when dealing with massive amounts of data.
• The price is too high for some users.  
• The support services aren’t up to the mark.

Review

3. ForcePoint

Forcepoint is a data security solution that ensures businesses discover, classify, monitor, and protect data intuitively with zero friction to the user experience. The tool uses its risk-adaptive protection to stop data loss.

Features

• Forcepoint covers areas of operations like Drip DLP, cloud, and others. 
• Native behavioral awareness and risk-adaptive protection.
• Automated policy enforcement, classification vendor compatibility, and database flexibility. 
  

Likes

• Discovering data risks is improved, as is cloud security.
• It handles security breaches like uploading PII data on a public website, printing, or copying to an external drive.
• The user interface is simple and easy to use. 
• The tech support service is responsive.  
  

Dislikes

• Discovery and machine training and learning should be improved.
• Deployment is tedious as there are multiple servers for multiple services. 
• Lack of flexibility in creation policy. 
• Support is slow in responding. 
• Integration can be a challenge. 

Review

4. NetSkope

Netskope, another Zscaler alternative, is a cloud-based security solution provider that promises digital security solution enablers with modernized digital security capabilities. 

Features

• Real-time data and threat protection. 
• Supports multiple deployment options, including the Netskope client. 
• SkopeAI (by Netskope) adapts to the ever-growing data landscape, including the widespread adoption of generative AI and new AI-driven attacks. It provides superior security for your data and users at the speed AI requires.
  

Likes

• Netskope prevents attackers from accessing critical data stored on servers. 
• The platform has CASB, secure gateway, and other security enablers.
• Helps customers with advanced security features and customizable policies. 
  

Dislikes

• Inaccurate leaked credentials information.
• Netskope Private Access (NPA) is complex and difficult to use.
• Frequent glitches, and it takes a long time to improve features.
• Backend changes aren’t notified to users.
• Reflecting data in integrated tools like Office 365 takes long.

Review

5. DoControl

The DoControl SaaS security platform offers CASB, DLP, SaaS-to-SaaS, and Insider Risk for SaaS platforms. The software helps expose SaaS applications and data risks, reduces them, and continually remediates them through granular, no-code workflows. 

Features

• CASB for enhanced security capabilities. 
• Cloud-native DLP security checklist for everything SaaS
• 3rd party OAuth application governance
  

Likes

• Visibility into a complete asset inventory over others.
• Monitor and control different event types. 
• Supports auto-remediation. 
  

Dislikes

• Certain limitations exist to form notification bodies, mainly limited to styled text.
• It needs to be customized according to the client's needs and requires a bit of training to extract the most out of the tool.
  

Review

6. Metomic

Metomic protects sensitive data catalogs in your SaaS applications with DLP software solutions. It filters noise to find the data risks. Below are its features and what its users  like and dislike to help you understand it better: 

Features

• Metomic redacts sensitive data with custom retention periods. 
• Controls access levels and exposure to prevent data leaks.
• Labels and tags documents, tickets, and messages. 

Likes

• Works with Google Workspace.
• Document sharing is easy.
• Clean and minimalistic product for data security.
  

Dislikes

• Depending on which features you purchase, you may find some overlap in your tooling. 
• The portal for reviewing alerts needs some work. 
• Few integrations
• Initially, users had to filter detectors to reduce false positives.

Review

7. PolymerHQ

PolymerHQ - a Zscaler alternative,  monitors and controls sensitive data flow for modern enterprises, minimizing risk. People, processes, and systems must work  together with data to deliver results. Polymer defines the proper paths for information flow and guides the employees towards these pathways. 

Features

• Find and flag sensitive data—PHI, PII, and more.
• Catalog data within documents shared across the workspace.
• Identify security risks for third-party apps or extensions installed. 

8. Check Point Data Loss Protection

Check Point Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is known for its pre-emptive protection capabilities from the unintentional loss of valuable and sensitive information. The solution integrates with Check Point’s Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW). The network Data Loss Prevention software enables businesses to monitor data movement and stay compliant with regulations and industry standards.

Features

• Comes with integrated threat prevention and high-fidelity posture management.
• Multi-cloud security from DevOps to production.
• Visibility, threat prevention, and intelligence under one platform.
  

Likes

• 360^O visibility and reporting
• Prevents unintentional data loss
• Easy to deploy and manage
  

Dislikes

• Configuration and management could be complex.
• Issue of false positives.
• System performance is impacted, especially during times of extensive scanning.

Review

9. Cisco Cloud and Application Security

Cisco’s cloud and application security for email and the web are security solutions for data in motion. Cisco’s tool leverages content, context, and destination knowledge to identify emerging threats. This allows enterprises to control who, what, and where a user can send what information, safeguarding accidental or malicious data loss. 

Features

• Secure email gateways, cloud email security, and anti-spam solutions
• Strong detection capabilities, especially in email communications, one of the primary channels for data leakage. 
• Single screen view of application behaviors, dependencies, and vulnerabilities across your entire network.
  

Likes

• Easy deployment and great protection against data theft.
• Automated website blocking based on web reputation.
• Manageability and ease of upgrading OS via web browser. 
• Responsive customer service.
  

 Dislikes

• Complex integration with existing infrastructure.
• Struggling with performance concerns and exclusions for things like Office 365.

Review

10. McAfee

McAfee is a data loss prevention platform that safeguards intellectual property and ensures compliance by protecting sensitive data. The McAfee DLP is delivered through low-maintenance appliances (physical or virtual) and the McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) platform for streamlined deployment, management, updates, and reports. 

Features

• Supports the application of fingerprinting, classification, and file tagging to secure sensitive, unstructured data, such as IP and trade secrets. 
• Provides real-time feedback through educational pop-up messages to help shape corporate security awareness and culture. 
• Integrates natively with McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator software to streamline security awareness and culture and ensure cloud data loss prevention.
  

Likes

• Ensures visibility on how data is being used and how it leaks out of your organization.  
• Forensic analysis on data loss events that occurred before the creation of rules. 
• No prior knowledge of the file details is required. 
• Location and application tagging allow you to get data protection
  

Dislikes

• Lack of clear interface.
• Web categorizations may differ between appliances and cloud lists, resulting in inconsistent results for site access

Review

Conclusion

While there are a ton of options out there, the following tools have reckoned a name for themselves in the industry. One should consider, carefully evaluate and  follow  the best practices and the limitations when opting for a tool that best suits their business. 

Still unsure about which Zscaler alternative to go for? 

Before you make a decision, explore Strac.

The platform is known for high accuracy, superb service, advanced features, and 100% compliance. Cloud security is an essential part of our lives, especially when integrated into business. Though Zscaler is known for its cloud security features, there are drawbacks to the software. This article explores the drawbacks of Zscaler and lists the top 10 Zscaler alternatives.

Explore our other resources:

• Slack Data Loss Prevention
• Google Workspace DLP
• SaaS Security Best Practices