CATO Networks – Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

CATO Networks is a world-leading single-vendor Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform that offers a seamless and elegant customer experience that effortlessly enables threat prevention, data protection, and timely incident detection and response.

By using CATO Networks SASE, organizations can easily replace costly and rigid legacy infrastructure with an open and modular SASE architecture based on SD-WAN, a purpose-built global cloud network, and an embedded cloud-native security stack to secure and optimize their global hybrid workforce and mission-critical applications and data on premises and in the cloud. CATO Networks enables any organization to reap the full benefits of digital transformation and move at the speed of business.

CATO Networks pioneered the first cloud-native SASE platform that combines SD‑WAN, a private global backbone, and native security services into a single managed platform. CATO Networks’ global SASE infrastructure spans over 73 points of presence across more than 150 countries serving more than 2,200 enterprise clients with unified connectivity and security for cloud services across an organization’s networks including headquarters, branch offices, and remote users.

CATO Network is recognized as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for single‑vendor SASE and is preparing for a 2025 IPO that values the company at over $3 billion. CATO Networks is driving the shift toward secure, cloud-centric network architectures with the CATO Networks SASE Cloud platform that converges networking and security into a single cloud-native service managed through a unified console. Key features include software‑defined WAN with a global private backbone, digital experience monitoring, and integrated security services such as FWaaS, SWG, CASB, DLP, IPS, ZTNA, sandboxing, XDR, and EPP.

CATO Networks Features

Software‑Defined WAN (SD‑WAN)

CATO Networks’ Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD‑WAN) feature provides centralized control with multi-segment, policy‑based routing across first, middle, and last‑mile network segments, using a deep packet inspection engine to classify applications without SSL decryption for optimized performance. Delivered as a cloud service via a single‑pass engine, CATO SD-WAN eliminates appliance capacity constraints and supports zero‑touch provisioning.

Global Private Backbone

The CATO SASE Cloud runs over a private backbone of 73+ points of presence in 150+ countries, ensuring low‑latency, high‑availability connectivity by avoiding congested Internet paths and providing WAN and Internet optimization.

Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM)

CATO Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM) delivers end‑to‑end visibility into application and network performance across both WAN and Internet paths, enabling proactive troubleshooting and optimization of user experiences from the same management console.

Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)

CATO Networks’ Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) feature offers next‑generation firewall capabilities such as application control, intrusion prevention, identity‑based policies which are delivered in the cloud for consistent enforcement at every edge.

Secure Web Gateway (SWG)

CATO’s Secure Web Gateway (SWG) feature inspects and filters web traffic in real time, applying URL and content filtering to block web‑based threats before they reach users.

Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

CATO’s Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is built into the Cato SPACE engine and provides rich context and real‑time control over sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud apps (shadow IT), all managed natively within the SASE Cloud.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

CATO’s Data Loss Prevention (DLP) engine integrates sensitivity labels and customizable policies to detect and prevent unauthorized data exfiltration across all network edges.

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

CATO’s Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) inspects traffic for known signatures and anomalies, applying geolocation‑based blocking and protocol validation to thwart attacks.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

CATO’s Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) feature enforces least‑privilege access by authenticating and authorizing users, devices, and applications centrally which replaces traditional VPNs with granular, context‑aware policies.

Advanced Anti‑Malware & Sandbox

CATO’s Advanced Anti-Malware & Sandbox multi‑engine anti‑malware feature detects known threats, while the CATO Sandbox performs static and dynamic analysis to uncover stealthy or polymorphic malware without impacting user productivity.

Extended Detection & Response (XDR) and Endpoint Protection (EPP)

CATO’s Extended Detection & Response (XDR) feature unifies network and endpoint telemetry for proactive threat hunting and rapid incident response while CATO’s Endpoint Protection (EPP) feature extends prevention capabilities directly to managed endpoints.

Unified Policy & Single‑Pane‑of‑Glass

CATO’s SASE platform operates across a single cloud management console that provides control over all networking and security functions and is driven by a unified policy engine that ensures consistent enforcement across users, devices, and locations.

Real‑Time Analytics & Threat Intelligence

With CATO’s Real-Time Analytics & Threat Intelligence feature, all network, security, and endpoint telemetry streams into a central data lake, enabling real‑time analytics, historical forensics, and integration with CATO’s Cyber Threat Research Labs (CTRL) for up‑to‑date threat intelligence.

Cloud‑Native Architecture

CATO’s Cloud-Native Architecture is a multi‑tenant SASE Cloud that auto‑scales and self‑heals to accommodate dynamic workloads and delivers continuous feature updates without hardware upgrades.

Flexible Deployment Options

CATO connects organizations via physical Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD‑WAN) appliances, virtual machines, cloud instances, or lightweight endpoint clients, ensuring consistent security and performance for branches, data centers, and mobile users.

CATO Networks Benefits

Simplified Architecture Streamlines Network & Security Management

By consolidating disparate point products into one managed cloud-based service, CATO SASE streamlines network and security management which frees IT staff from hardware maintenance tasks.

Improved Performance & Reliability

The CATO private backbone and intelligent routing reduce latency, jitter, and packet loss, while global failover and self‑healing ensure continuous availability.

Zero‑Trust Network Access Security (ZTNA)

CATO’s integrated Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) security feature offers unified policy enforcement and a comprehensive security stack that deliver least‑privilege access and consistent threat protection as networks grow and evolve. CATO Networks ZTNA security ensures that access to resources is conditional, continuously verified, and tightly controlled. This approach minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and lateral movement by attackers.

Enhanced Visibility & Control

CATO’s centralized real‑time analytics and unified threat intelligence provide end‑to‑end visibility into all network and application activity, enabling proactive threat detection and compliance reporting.

Superior User Experience

CATO’s Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM) and local Internet breakouts empower IT to maintain optimal application performance, rapidly address service degradations, and boost productivity for both remote and on‑site users.

Integration

By integrating networking and security into a single multi‑tenant cloud platform, CATO Networks removes the complexity and cost of managing disparate point solutions while enforcing consistent policies across all network edges. This convergence supports modern work patterns by providing secure, low‑latency access for remote and mobile users, branch offices, and cloud workloads which eliminates the need to backhaul traffic through centralized data centers. CATO Networks’ private backbone further enhances performance and reliability by avoiding congested public Internet paths and offering traffic prioritization for critical applications.

Meets Diverse Security and Networking Needs

Gartner’s recognition of Cato as a Leader in the 2024 Magic Quadrant for Single‑Vendor SASE underscores its vision completeness and execution diverse security networking needs. Market adoption, as evidenced by over 2,200 enterprise customers and 59% revenue growth in 2023, reflects the platform’s ability to meet diverse security and networking needs across industries like manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and financial services.

Agile, and Comprehensively Secured Network Infrastructure

As organizations pursue zero trust architectures and digital transformation, CATO Networks’ Managed SASE approach offers a scalable, agile, and comprehensively secured network infrastructure, positioning it as a critical enabler of modern cybersecurity strategies.

Enhanced Security for Distributed Workforces

With remote work becoming prevalent, CATO provides secure and seamless access to applications and data from any location. It eliminates the need for backhauling traffic through traditional data centers, reducing latency while ensuring security.

Integrates of Networking and Security

SASE integrates multiple security functions (e.g., firewall-as-a-service, secure web gateway, zero-trust network access) with WAN capabilities. This unified approach simplifies IT operations and reduces the complexity of managing disparate systems.

Improves Performance and User Experience

CATO Networks SASE delivers optimized routing and performance for cloud and SaaS applications by connecting users directly to the nearest cloud edge. This reduces latency and ensures a better experience for users.

Cloud-Native Scalability

CATO SASE is designed for the cloud, allowing organizations to scale security and networking capabilities as needed without deploying new hardware. This flexibility supports rapid growth and adapts to dynamic workloads.

Cost Efficiency

Consolidating multiple security and networking services into a single framework reduces the need for separate appliances and tools. Organizations save on capital expenditures and ongoing maintenance costs.

Protection Against Advanced Threats

CATO SASE incorporates advanced threat protection tools like data loss prevention (DLP), intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and secure web gateways (SWG). These capabilities defend against malware, phishing, and other cyber threats.

Consistent Security Policies

SASE ensures that security policies are uniformly enforced across all users, devices, and locations. This consistency reduces configuration errors and gaps in security coverage.

Simplified Management

CATO’s centralized management dashboards in SASE platforms provide visibility into network traffic, user behavior, and security threats. This unified view streamlines administration and incident response.

Future-Proofing IT Infrastructure

As organizations continue adopting cloud-native applications and hybrid work models, CATO SASE provides a future-ready framework for securing modern infrastructures. It ensures alignment with evolving cybersecurity and networking demands.