Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access vs. Zscaler Internet Access

I still think Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access is the best SASE/SSE product out there. It just has such good granular controls and up to date security definitions that you can feel absolutely secure in your purchase. GlobalProtect was a lifesaver for me when COVID hit so yes I had to work my butt off to get it up and running quickly and as secure as I possibly could but it worked amazing and had excellent performance after we got it running and tied to MFA, certificates and security policies.

Incentivized

It's best suited for a distributed remote workforce, securing internet access for users from anywhere. Suitable for highly regulated industries, such as banking and Healthcare. Not a good fit for an organisation where most of its legacy is in an on-premises environment. Bandwidth-intensive industries like media/entertainment firms.

Incentivized

• A secure end-to-end network with virtualization to be able to choose the port of our interest and an opening of the same.
• Monthly updates that are sufficient, automatic updates that allow us not to have to do the manual implementation.
• Prisma allows automatically opens an IPsec/SSL VPN connection to Prisma Access.
• Is flexible and scalable

Incentivized

• Single Pane of Glass Management - Everything is very easy to access and monitor the entire environment from an internet security perspective.
• Install Flexibility - We can and do install Zscaler Internet Access on both our client devices as well as our SD-WAN appliances and servers. This allows us to control internet security even on devices without an agent in our networks.

Incentivized

• With all of it's unique features it does take some time to get folks up to speed in regards to supporting/managing the software.
• Doesn't always play nice with non Palo Alto software.

Incentivized

• The logs feel kind of lack luster
• When issues are arising with SSL Inspection, logs show everything working despite end user experience
• Could use some kind of global find functionality or something that would allow you to search the entire configuration for matching URLs and the like

Incentivized

While Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) delivers critical value in cloud security and RBI compliance, I rate renewal likelihood 7/10 due to evolving needs versus platform limitations. Below is my rationale:

Key Gaps:

1. Advanced Threat Costs:

ZIA’s add-ons (e.g., Advanced DLP, Sandboxing) incur 35%+ cost premiums – straining budgets as transaction volumes (UPI/iMobile) grow 50% YoY.

2. API Banking Scalability:

ZIA’s API rate limits throttle real-time policy sync during UPI peaks (10K+ TPS), forcing workarounds for finacle integrations.

3. RBI Future-Proofing:

Limited native support for upcoming digital rupee (CBDC) security rules requires custom development, increasing compliance overhead.

Incentivized

I still say that Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access is the best. I love their GUI, their policies are easy to manage, the sales team is VERY helpful (especially when support is not). I still recommend them to everyone I talk to.

Incentivized

The application is easy to install and configure on all Windows devices. To troubleshoot any internet issue, we can easily collect all the relevant logs from Zscaler and check the exact issue. The only problem is with the uninstall, as a dedicated crew needs to provide the password.

Incentivized

There are often performance issues reported

Incentivized

Zscaler's ZIA support is quick and knowledgable. They respond within 1-2 hours of you submitting your ticket. They are very thorough and are typically ready to jump on a live troubleshooting session. Our ZIA platform and how we use is it unique so at times tickets can be open for weeks but we alway get quality support compared to other unrelated product support in our enterprise

Incentivized

The McAfee product really isn’t a great option. The configuration is a nightmare and requires a lot of time. The policy management has a high learning curve.

Incentivized

Zscaler Intenet Access outperformed the competition due to its lightning-fast policy delivery and cross-compatibility. It is easy to track employee usage and block unnecessary websites, reducing company internet usage. Zscalar installed on every system increases cloud-based software bandwidth, decreasing user turnaround time and increasing efficiency.

Incentivized

• It is extremely easy to manage who has remote access in our organization now.
• It has allowed us to more fluidly get remote workers up and running.
• Another tool to mange is never a good thing and the Panorama UI could use a little work.

Incentivized

• Has allowed us to remove other products that were suboptimal
• Saved us money overall by stacking it with other Zscaler products
• Created a more secure work environment for our users through intelligent internet policies that are not needlessly restrictive while still maintaining security best practices

Incentivized