Introduction
Cybersecurity is more important than ever for organizations to protect their data and systems against constantly evolving threats. Two companies offering solutions in this space are ThreatKey and ZScaler. Both provide cybersecurity software to help businesses identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
This article will compare and contrast ThreatKey and ZScaler in depth, analyzing their features, target customers, strengths and weaknesses. Understanding the key differences between these two platforms can help organizations make an informed decision on which solution may suit their needs best.
Overview of ThreatKey
ThreatKey was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Their platform uses security posture management to secure both SaaS applications and cloud infrastructure. It identifies security misconfigurations and ranks them based on vulnerability data for prioritized remediation.
Key features and capabilities of ThreatKey include:
- SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) - Scans SaaS apps like Salesforce, Google Workspace, and Office 365 to uncover risks.
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) - Assesses cloud resources against best practices and hardens security.
- Prioritized Remediation - Analyzes findings based on vulnerability data to prioritize remediation by risk.
- Compliance Assistance - Continuously audits SaaS apps to ensure compliance with regulations.
- Intuitive Interface - Easy to use with fast time to value.
ThreatKey is suited for organizations of all sizes looking to improve their SaaS and cloud security. It charges based on number of users and apps secured.
Overview of ZScaler
ZScaler was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in San Jose, CA. It focuses on securing access to applications and resources through its cloud-based security platform. ZScaler proxies traffic through its network to inspect for threats and enforce policies.
Key features and capabilities of ZScaler include:
- Cloud Security - Secure web gateway, firewall, sandboxing, DLP, and more delivered from the cloud.
- Access Control - Granular policy enforcement for applications and users across all locations.
- Threat Prevention - Blocks known malware, zero-day threats, and unwanted software.
- Compliance Support - Helps meet regulatory requirements around data security.
ZScaler is purpose-built as a cloud-first security solution. It charges based on number of users per month.
Comparing Core Capabilities
While both platforms aim to improve security, ThreatKey and ZScaler have distinct approaches:
- Scope - ThreatKey secures SaaS apps and cloud infrastructure. ZScaler focuses on traffic flowing to apps and resources.
- Protection - ThreatKey finds misconfigurations. ZScaler prevents known threats.
- Approach - ThreatKey is posture management. ZScaler is inline traffic filtering.
- Ease of Use - ThreatKey aligns more with security teams, and offers a single-click deployment mode. ZScaler is optimized for fast end user rollout.
In summary, ThreatKey hardens environments through configuration checks. ZScaler controls access to those environments by filtering traffic for threats.
Comparing Business Models
ThreatKey and ZScaler differ significantly in their business models:
- Pricing - ThreatKey charges per user and offers flat-fees. ZScaler charges per user per month.
- Funding - ThreatKey has raised $5 million. ZScaler has raised over $800 million.
- Target Customers - ThreatKey serves all organization sizes. ZScaler focuses on large enterprises.
- Deployment - Both are cloud-based SaaS offerings.
In summary, ThreatKey takes a flexible, accessible approach while ZScaler follows an enterprise sales model. But both aim to expand coverage.
Strengths of ThreatKey
Some key strengths of ThreatKey:
- Unified platform secures both SaaS apps and cloud infrastructure.
- Prioritized remediation focuses security efforts.
- Intuitive interface enables fast time to value.
- Accessible pricing broadens appeal.
- Founders have strong cybersecurity expertise.
Weaknesses of ThreatKey
Some limitations to consider:
- Less brand recognition given company age.
- Lacks real-time threat prevention capabilities.
- Reporting functionality could improve.
Strengths of ZScaler
Key advantages provided by ZScaler:
- Proven solution for securing cloud app access at scale.
- End-to-end platform spans access, security, monitoring.
- Top-tier threat prevention powered by huge global network.
- Established reputation with massive enterprise customer base.
Weaknesses of ZScaler
Some limitations to consider:
- Complex and expensive solution requiring lengthy rollout.
- Focused on large enterprises, rather than all segments.
- Proxy model can cause performance and compatibility issues.
- Overall less flexibility compared to ThreatKey.
Conclusion and Recommendations
In summary, ThreatKey offers unified SaaS and cloud security for any organization, while ZScaler provides robust but complex web security scaled for large enterprises.
For most organizations, ThreatKey is likely the better choice providing security fundamentals with an intuitive interface and accessible pricing. ThreatKey makes solid security achievable for organizations of all sizes.
Larger companies may require advanced capabilities and scale provided by ZScaler, despite added complexity. But ThreatKey still merits consideration as an alternative offering greater ease of use.
It is recommended to trial both solutions when possible. But for integrated cloud security that is easy to deploy and manage, ThreatKey stands out as a leader for organizations of all sizes.
