Cato Networks: Converging Networking and Security to the cloud

Cato Networks is the first company that popularized the convergence of networking and security into the cloud. They have aligned with Gartner’s Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework, and have stated its vision is to deliver a next generation secure networking architecture that eliminates the complexity, costs, and risks associated with legacy IT approaches based on disjointed point solutions.

Through the Cato platform, organizations can securely and optimally connect any user to any application anywhere in the world. Its cloud-first architecture enables Cato to rapidly deploy new capabilities and maintain optimum security posture, without any effort from the IT teams.

Cato SASE cloud is a global converged cloud-native service that securely and optimally connects all branches, data centers, people, and clouds. Cato can be gradually deployed to replace or augment legacy network services and security point solutions.

There are seven Cato products:

1. Global Private Backbone: The backbone design delivers end-to-end route optimization for WAN and cloud traffic, and a self-healing architecture for maximum service uptime.
2. Edge SD-WAN: The Cato Socket SD-WAN device connects a physical location to the nearest Cato PoP via one or more last mile connections. Customers can choose any mix of fiber, cable, xDSL, and 4G/LTE connections.
3. Security as a Service (SaaS): Security layers include an application-aware next-generation firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS), secure web gateway with URL filtering (SWG), standard and next-generation anti-malware (NGAM), IPS-as-a-Service (IPS), and Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB).
4. Secure Remote Access (SDP/ZTNA): Cato SASE Cloud provides users with zero trust network access (SDP/ZTNA) to on-premises and cloud applications using laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
5. Cloud Datacenter Integration: Cato integrates with major cloud providers, such as Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud with secure IPSec tunnels.
6. Cloud Application Acceleration: Cato optimally routes public cloud application traffic, such as Office 365, UCaaS, and Cloud ERP from the edge and to the doorstep of the cloud application’s datacenter.
7. Cato Management Application: Cato provides a cloud-based and self-service management application to control the entire service. It includes full network and security policy configuration, and detailed analytics on network traffic and security events.