Aruba ESP vs Cato SASE Cloud Platform comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Cato Networks are both solutions in the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #26, while Cato Networks is ranked #6 with an average rating of 9.3. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 1.1% mindshare in SASE, compared to Cato Networks’s 6.4% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Cato Networks users are willing to recommend the solution.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Aruba ESP and Cato SASE Cloud Platform based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba ESP vs. Cato SASE Cloud Platform Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba ESP vs. Cato SASE Cloud Platform

September 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

iboss

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) category, the mindshare of iboss is 3.2%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Aruba ESP is 1.1%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cato SASE Cloud Platform is 6.4%, down from 11.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Cato SASE Cloud Platform	6.4%
iboss	3.2%
Aruba ESP	1.1%
Other	89.3%

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Featured Reviews

Ashok Ananthula

Senior Consultant Proxy Engineering at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Cloud gateway has strengthened remote web security and now needs better Mac and ISP support

The problem our organization had is that iboss failed for the Mac devices. It is not able to give a successful agent for the Mac agents. That is where in 2025, we had to migrate to the Palo Alto-based platform. If your use case is for just Windows laptops,you can consider this platform as an option One issue is the data center resiliency part. In India especially, they are not tied up with the Tier 1 ISPs like Tata or Airtel; they were having Tier 2 ISPs and encountered many issues reaching few major sites that my organization depends on, and they were having problems that they could not fix quickly. They also lack a mechanism to route that traffic within their data center; rather, they ask customers to make a pac file change to route it to Singapore explicitly. It would be better if they route from their backend , i mean even if I send it to India DC, they should be able to route it internally to make that work; however, they fail to do that and ask the customer to route it in the pac file. Another suggestion is that in China, they do not have the proper setup; they used to have numerous problems with slowness and lack of premium circuits in China as well. That leads to multiple sites working slowly with latency-related issues. So the main issue is the ISP-related problems that need to be solved.

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SatishKumar13

Deputy Manager at Savex Technologies Pvt Ltd

Has improved remote connectivity with secure segmentation for traveling users

The scenario has totally changed after COVID. Earlier, people used to work from office culture, but now it has shifted to work from anywhere. Devices are not fixed either. Previously it was fixed asset, but now people are using smartphones, IoT devices, laptops, and other devices, connecting from anywhere. Segmenting network traffic is very difficult and complicated because putting a firewall across devices is very difficult and nearly impossible. EdgeConnect, which includes endpoint protection or SSE, is very agent-based. POPs are nearly reachable across the globe, so users can access services globally whenever they want to reach the data center or access the internet. It creates segregation, and after segregation, it comes with security functionality including CASB, web, anti-malware, and antivirus functionality. It protects the endpoint whenever connecting with unsecured networks. The first level post-check of security parameters matches all functionalities. Their segregation part allows us to define parameters through ZTNA functionality, Zero Trust Network Access where we can define postures, whether devices relate to corporate network or personal use, if antivirus is running, if OS is updated, and many more things. Based upon that, it helps customers protect the complete infrastructure, whether connecting with office network, unsecured network, or remote office.

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reviewer2697738

Product & Services Integrator at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees

Cloud security has unified global network design and has simplified threat visibility

I think all of the functionalities, such as the secure web gateway feature, are quite good. I also believe Cato SASE Cloud Platform is one of the only solutions that has not only a software firewall solution but also a physical software solution where you can change the company's firewalls and put in sockets from Cato SASE Cloud Platform, which I see as an advantage for them. The single-pass architecture has improved user experience with Cato SASE Cloud Platform as it provides security teams in companies a platform where they can easily obtain information if there are breaches or security issues. I assess the benefit of integrating WAN optimization as good. There is ease in making rules between WAN optimization, especially when it comes to global connections because of all their points of presence that are spread over the world. I think the real-time threat protection of Cato SASE Cloud Platform is also good. Their points of presence are quite efficient, and I do not see any delays in that area.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution has massively improved our security posture, giving us full visibility into what our staff does online."

"I would definitely recommend iboss for web filtering purposes to other organizations or individuals."

"I recommend iboss for organizations looking for strong cloud-based web security and centralized access control."

"I would say iboss is a very good product; its scalability is very good, and it's seamless for the user."

"I would rate the technical support of iboss a solid 10 without a shadow of a doubt."

"From a corporate perspective, I understand that it's important to keep the company data safe."

"The security aspect of the solution, particularly the malware behind it, is excellent."

"It was a very easy product to install. It can be deployed very fast."

More iboss pros

"It provides a single umbrella for the complete network infrastructure, which is a very key differentiator from other products."

"Aruba ESP is a single place where you manage everything, and you have integrations with a lot of other vendors together on the same platform."

"We appreciate the optimization and acceleration of the performance of SDP users."

"Cato SASE Cloud Platform's self-healing model is the most valuable feature."

"My customer saves millions of pesos when we remove the line dependency for MPLS/IPVPN for domestic and international sites."

"The most valuable features of Cato Networks are the always-on VPN for remote workers and centralized management. Additionally, web filtering and antivirus are good."

"The Cato SASE Cloud Platform supports my customers' needs for connectivity and security by removing the throttling from the headquarters and putting a firewall in the cloud, instead of having to use a costly MPLS network to perform security inspection on all traffic from various branches."

"My rating for Cato Networks is eight out of ten because it's an excellent product, especially for what it offers."

"One of the advantages of Cato is that they provide a static IP from their cloud and assign it to us, and this is a service that comes with an additional cost but is cheap compared to getting it from my service provider."

"The feature that I find to be the most valuable is the bandwidth aggregation."

More Cato SASE Cloud Platform pros

Cons

"Our iboss subscription access should be more secure with an OTP or VPN etc. It is easy to gain access if, for example, hackers obtain my username and password."

"I would rate iboss an eight out of ten because it provides strong cloud-based security threat protection, centralized policy management, and visibility into web traffic. I would give it a higher rating if automation, reporting, and troubleshooting capabilities could be improved further."

"Our biggest problem with their service was it did not recognize the device and filtering did not always work correctly."

"The dashboards for local use could be better."

"The area I would like to see improvement in is the ability with in the reporter to navigate directly to the content the user is traversing. It is kind of there, but it's not perfect. Quite frequently, I receive links that lead me to pages with error messages."

"Their on-premise hardware's network interface is capped at one gigabit, which is sort of a problem. If you stand a filter up where all traffic flows through that, according to them, in order to go above a gigabit, you have to have multiple devices, which in today's IT seems a little bit silly. They could easily put in an SFP port into their device that could accommodate 10 gigs or at least offer a box."

"Sometimes when you call in support, you get someone who is just following a sheet. It feels like a runaround. You feel that you are running into that support wall."

"The problem our organization had is that iboss failed for the Mac devices; it is not able to give a successful agent for the Mac agents, and that is where in 2025 we had to migrate to the Palo Alto-based platform."

More iboss cons

"Aruba ESP should include more integrations with third-party vendors."

"Segmenting network traffic is very difficult and complicated because putting a firewall across devices is very difficult and nearly impossible."

"Cato Networks could improve their intrusion detection. There is not a lot in place."

"The product's technical support could be more responsive."

"I am located in South Korea, and I can say that most people here have no idea about Cato Networks. I think Cato Networks should promote its network services in various countries."

"They should add more sophisticated security features. It should also be integrated into the cloud."

"I'd rate Cato SASE Cloud Platform's pricing as about five or six out of ten. It's not the cheapest solution, but it is cheaper than Palo Alto and even VeloCloud."

"There's no principal in Malaysia, only a distributor."

"The tool needs to be more granular. Its reports are not very in-depth."

"We would like the product to continue to improve its security."

More Cato SASE Cloud Platform cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"Users need to pay a yearly license for three, five, seven, or ten years based on their requirements."

"The solution's pricing is flexible."

"The pricing of this solution depends on what you need. It is based on bandwidth."

"Cato Networks seems more expensive than Cisco Meraki."

"The platform is expensive."

"The price of Cato Networks is in the middle range compared to other solutions. NetFoundry is a less expensive solution than Cato Networks."

"If you compare with VeloCloud, the price is the same or even cheaper."

"The pricing is on the higher side, almost an eight out of ten."

"The price is not an issue for us, as it is priced more competitively than some other vendors."

More Cato SASE Cloud Platform pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

No data available

Manufacturing Company

13%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	8
Large Enterprise	15

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	11

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

iboss could be improved by making the dashboard more user-friendly, providing more detailed real-time alerts, and imp...

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What is your primary use case for iboss?

iboss is primarily used for cloud security, helping to protect users when they access websites and cloud applications...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

The pricing and licensing for iboss were reasonable for the security features. The setup costs were manageable, thoug...

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What needs improvement with Aruba ESP?

The scenario has totally changed after COVID. Earlier, people used to work from office culture, but now it has shifte...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Aruba ESP?

I am working for the SASE portfolio as a product manager, so I cannot give any comment on other products. If there ar...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Aruba ESP?

I rate Aruba ESP a nine out of ten.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cato Networks?

I can see that I am a consultant at a reseller and I am the architect of Cato SASE Cloud Platform designs. In the bas...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Cato Networks?

It is difficult to find types of companies I would not recommend Cato SASE Cloud Platform to, and I believe you can u...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cato Networks?

I do not find it particularly expensive, but for some companies, they may not have the budget to be at that level of ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs iboss

Compared 10% of the time

Netskope vs iboss

Compared 8% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs iboss

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs iboss

Compared 6% of the time

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VMware SASE vs Aruba ESP

Compared 22% of the time

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform vs Aruba ESP

Compared 17% of the time

Appgate SDP vs Aruba ESP

Compared 5% of the time

Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform vs Aruba ESP

Compared 5% of the time

Netskope vs Aruba ESP

Compared 5% of the time

More Aruba ESP Competitors

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform vs Cato SASE Cloud Platform

Compared 6% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Cato SASE Cloud Platform

Compared 6% of the time

Aryaka Unified SASE Platform vs Cato SASE Cloud Platform

Compared 5% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs Cato SASE Cloud Platform

Compared 5% of the time

Cloudflare One vs Cato SASE Cloud Platform

Compared 5% of the time

More Cato SASE Cloud Platform Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

October 2026

Download iboss product report

Buyer's Guide

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

October 2026

Download Aruba ESP product report

Buyer's Guide

Cato SASE Cloud Platform

October 2026

Download Cato SASE Cloud Platform product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

No data available

Cato Networks

Overview

iboss is the Zero Trust SASE platform that gives organizations complete visibility and governance over their AI, data, and applications through one unified platform, one console, one policy engine, and one data lake.

Your endpoints may already stop malware. Your data and application activity can still be invisible. iboss decrypts and understands every connection, then turns that signal into answers security leaders can act on.

The platform leads with three capabilities in this order: AI Security and Visibility, Data Security and Visibility, and App Visibility and Control. Zero Trust Network Access, VPN replacement, and SD-WAN sit underneath as the access fabric that carries those three. Trusted by global enterprises and government agencies.

What are the most important features of Iboss?

- AI Security and Visibility: conversation capture, shadow-AI discovery, AI DLP, and agent governance across Claude, Co-Work, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok, and emerging services.

- Data Security and Visibility: full SSL/TLS decryption, deep content inspection, MIP label compliance, and one-click compliance reporting.

- App Visibility and Control: signatureless CASB, dual risk scoring, in-app controls, and SSPM for major SaaS.

- Containerized Zero Trust SASE: dedicated containers, isolated SSL keys, one console, one policy engine, one data lake.

- Access fabric: ZTNA, VPN replacement, and SD-WAN under the same platform.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

- Complete visibility over AI, data, and applications from one platform instead of separate point tools.

- Encrypted traffic is inspected by default so data decisions use content and context together.

- Shadow SaaS and new web tools appear as they are used, with enforceable controls in one console.

- Native data sovereignty through dedicated containers, in-region inspection, and per-customer SSL key custody.

- Scale proven in published materials: 10M+ users, 100+ countries, 150B+ transactions, 2.5B+ threats blocked.

Economic buyers are CISOs, CIOs, and VPs of Security. Champions include security architects, network and infrastructure leaders, SecOps, and GRC. Primary segments: enterprise and business, financial services, government (including FedRAMP Gov Cloud), healthcare, manufacturing, legal and professional services, retail and hospitality, and MSP/MSSP partners. Education, including K-12, is one vertical among these.

iboss

Aruba ESP, a cutting-edge platform, enhances network management by integrating AI-driven technology to deliver smart, scalable, and secure connectivity solutions.

Aruba ESP stands out due to its intelligent capabilities to predict and resolve network issues before they impact operations, offering a comprehensive approach for modern network environments. It integrates AI and machine learning to streamline network operations, providing robust security and seamless connectivity. By simplifying management and maintenance, it empowers IT teams to focus on strategic projects while ensuring optimal network performance.

What are the key features of Aruba ESP?

AI-Powered Automation: Automates network management tasks and improves operational efficiency.
Scalable Architecture: Easily expands with the network needs, accommodating growth and change.
Comprehensive Security: Includes built-in security features to protect data and users from emerging threats.
Unified Infrastructure: Offers a single platform for wired, wireless, and WAN environments.

What benefits should users anticipate?

Reduced Downtime: AI capabilities preemptively resolve issues, minimizing disruption.
Lower Operational Costs: Automation reduces the need for manual monitoring and adjustments.
Improved User Experience: Seamless connectivity and speed enhance end-user satisfaction.
Enhanced Security: Robust protection reduces the risk of breaches and data loss.

In industries such as healthcare, education, and retail, Aruba ESP is implemented to address distinct connectivity challenges. In healthcare, it secures sensitive data while maintaining uninterrupted service, whereas in education, it supports high-density environments with reliable internet access, enhancing digital learning experiences. Retailers leverage it for seamless omnichannel integrations, improving operational efficiency and customer interactions.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Cato SASE Cloud Platform delivers a comprehensive approach to network security and connectivity, integrating SASE, CASB, and zero-trust network access for improved performance and scalability in diverse locations.

Cato SASE Cloud Platform offers robust security solutions, including a next-gen firewall and VPN support. It provides a unified management system that is easy to use and integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructures. The platform's self-healing model ensures real-time threat mitigation, enhancing connectivity and performance even in challenging locations. Users appreciate the platform's scalability, integration capabilities, and significant cost savings. However, there is room for improvement in security, network integration, feature enhancement, and affordability to better support larger enterprises and improve user experience.

What are the essential features of Cato SASE Cloud Platform?

SASE: Integrates security and networking functions for seamless performance.
CASB: Provides secure access to cloud applications.
Zero-trust Network Access: Offers secure and direct access without the need for traditional VPNs.
Unified Management: Centralizes control for ease of use and improved efficiency.
Next-Gen Firewall: Robust protection against diverse threats with advanced firewall capabilities.

What benefits or ROI can users expect?

Scalability: Easily adapts to growing organizational needs.
Cost Savings: Reduces expenses through efficient integration and operations.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes save time and resources.
Responsive Support: Quick access to help when needed enhances user satisfaction.

Organizations in sectors like finance, telecommunications, and construction use Cato SASE Cloud Platform for enhanced network security and global connectivity. It effectively replaces MPLS with a cloud-native SD-WAN, integrates security measures for public clouds, and provides centralized management. Its implementation supports a zero-trust model, redundancy, and ISP integration, ensuring scalable remote access and improved security measures.

Cato Networks

Sample Customers

Trusted by global enterprises and government agencies.

Information Not Available

Paysafe, AdRoll, Pet Lovers Centre, Arlington Orthopedics, Humphreys & Partners Architects

Buyer's Guide

Aruba ESP vs. Cato SASE Cloud Platform

September 2026

Free Report: Aruba ESP vs. Cato SASE Cloud Platform

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