Why is zscaler used

Overview

Zscaler is a cloud-based security company that pioneered the Security Service Edge (SSE) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architectures, moving security from traditional on-premises appliances to the cloud. Founded in 2008 by serial entrepreneur Jay Chaudhry, the company recognized early that the shift to cloud computing and mobile devices would render traditional perimeter-based security obsolete. Zscaler's initial product, Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA), launched in 2010, providing secure web gateway functionality as a service. The company expanded with Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) in 2016, offering zero-trust network access for private applications. With headquarters in San Jose, California, Zscaler went public on March 16, 2018, raising $192 million in its IPO. The platform now serves organizations across 185+ countries, with particular strength in financial services, healthcare, and government sectors where security compliance is critical.

How It Works

Zscaler operates through a globally distributed cloud platform that intercepts and inspects all internet-bound traffic from users and devices, regardless of their location. When a user attempts to access the internet or cloud applications, their traffic is routed to the nearest Zscaler data center instead of going through traditional security appliances. The platform uses a multi-tenant architecture where all customer traffic is processed through shared infrastructure with logical separation. Key security functions include: URL filtering that categorizes and blocks malicious websites using a database of 200+ million URLs; advanced threat protection with sandboxing that analyzes suspicious files in isolated environments; data loss prevention that scans for sensitive information; and cloud firewall capabilities. For private application access, Zscaler Private Access uses a zero-trust model where users only connect to specific applications they're authorized to access, never to the broader network. All traffic is encrypted using TLS/SSL inspection, and policies are enforced consistently across all users and locations.

Why It Matters

Zscaler matters because it addresses fundamental security challenges of the modern digital workplace, where employees work remotely, use personal devices, and access cloud applications directly from the internet. Traditional security approaches that backhaul traffic to corporate data centers create latency, increase costs, and fail to protect against modern threats. Zscaler's cloud-native approach reduces attack surface by eliminating the need for VPNs and direct internet connections at branch offices. According to Forrester Research, organizations using Zscaler experience 50% fewer security incidents and reduce their security infrastructure costs by 60%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zscaler enabled millions of employees to work securely from home without compromising performance. The platform's significance extends to regulatory compliance, helping organizations meet requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS through consistent policy enforcement and detailed logging. As cyber threats evolve and cloud adoption accelerates, Zscaler's architecture represents the future of enterprise security.