Aruba ESP vs Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Zscaler are both solutions in the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #26, while Zscaler is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.4. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 1.1% mindshare in SASE, compared to Zscaler’s 8.7% mindshare. Additionally, 98% of Zscaler users are willing to recommend the solution.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform and Aruba ESP are key players in network security and management. Zscaler's security-centric approach provides a comprehensive edge, while Aruba ESP's network integration and unified management offer superior value.

Features:Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform enhances threat protection with advanced technology and consistent security policies for remote users, managed centrally. Aruba ESP specializes in intelligent network operations with AI-driven insights and seamless automation. Its unified network management is a notable advantage.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service:Zscaler facilitates global scalability with a quick deployment model enhancing remote user security. Aruba ESP's deployment is smooth, simplifying complex IT environments through comprehensive network management. Aruba is preferred for its effective customer service, easing the onboarding process.

Pricing and ROI:Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform requires a proportional investment offering quick returns and aligning with its security benefits. Aruba ESP, though having a more substantial initial setup cost, justifies this with extensive features and long-term operational efficiencies. Users find Aruba's pricing more economically advantageous over time.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba ESP vs. Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba ESP vs. Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange 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 October 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 Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform is 8.7%, down from 11.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform	8.7%
iboss	3.2%
Aruba ESP	1.1%
Other	87.0%

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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Vibin Thomas

Technical Team Lead - Content Security at Valuepoint Systems

Zero trust access has transformed remote connectivity and now simplifies secure app usage

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform, especially Zscaler Private Access, is very strong, though there are a few areas where improvements can be made. One challenge observed is around initial troubleshooting and visibility. While Zscaler Private Access provides logs, it can sometimes take time to pinpoint the exact cause of access issues, especially in complex environments with multiple policies and identity integration. Another area is the dependency on identity and connector health. Since Zscaler Private Access is heavily reliant on app connectors and identity providers, any issues with these components can impact user access, making proper monitoring critical. During the initial setup, policy configuration and application onboarding require careful planning, especially for larger environments with many applications. These challenges are manageable with proper design and monitoring. Overall, the platform delivers strong security and user experience. I would recommend a few improvements, especially around user interface, reporting, and troubleshooting experience. From a user interface perspective, while the platform is powerful, the policy configuration and navigation can feel complex, especially for new users. A more simplified and intuitive layout for policy mapping and application access would help reduce the learning curve. In terms of reporting, Zscaler Private Access provides logs, but having more built-in customizable dashboards and analytics would be very helpful. Better visibility into user access patterns, application performance, and real-time troubleshooting insights would improve operational efficiency. From a support and troubleshooting standpoint, it would be beneficial to have more granular centralized visibility, allowing for quick end-to-end tracing of a user request from authentication to application access without switching between multiple views. These improvements would make the platform even more efficient, especially for large-scale enterprise environments.

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

"iboss has significantly lowered the number of security incidents. It is crazy how much it blocks and how much it is aware of the outside danger."

"First of all, the security policies are essential. I do not have to rely solely on Active Directory for our users."

"We chose iboss for both zero trust and proxy (SWG) because their SWG was superior."

"The console is cloud-based, which is something I really appreciate."

"Iboss is a solution that prevents advanced persistent threats, and has a zero tolerance for attacks."

"iboss is definitely very good in terms of service."

"As I mentioned, the return on investment is significant, as it saved our office locations' bandwidth because when you are working remotely at home, your internet traffic routes directly to iboss and will not go to your office building, saving bandwidth bottlenecks and ensuring that issues with our building internet circuits will not impact your internet connectivity because you are directly going to the iboss data center."

More iboss pros

"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."

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

"I find all Zscaler Private Access features valuable because each replaces flawed technologies, such as EPAs being replacements for VPN and PR as a replacement for PAM, so I can't mention only one valuable feature. Overall, Zscaler Private Access is a good solution."

"It's one of the easier products on the market as far as set-ups and deployments, and even across their whole product suite, they've made it pretty simple."

"The customer service and support are very good."

"The scalability is pretty good."

"The most valuable features of Zscaler CASB are API integration and DLP."

"The most valuable feature is its ability to establish connectivity for remote users and remote endpoints. It offers a high level of granularity compared to typical VPNs, which also encapsulate a lot of I/O."

"Subsequently, after this, there is a huge reduction, as the vulnerabilities, especially the security bugs that were coming prior to Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform, were about 20,000 to 22,000 and have come down more than 40 percent, which is definitely an advantage over the previous product."

"The most valuable feature of Zscaler Private Access is we do not have to connect to a VPN, it is seamless. It is more convenient for us because we use one agent to cover the internet and VPN access."

More Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform pros

Cons

"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."

"Iboss is growing so fast that it is often hard for them to keep up with the challenges."

"The easiest device I have set up was the Barracuda line of products."

"To scale up, a new iboss Node Blade Chassis must be purchased."

"Its pricing could be better."

"For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company ExxonMobil."

"I am currently doing a PoC of the zero trust aspect of it. Compared to other similar solutions, it is hard to get around each feature. It takes a while to get used to it."

"SSL decryption: We had issues with learners using apps instead of using web browsers. This type of encryption is tough for any appliance in a BYOD environment."

More iboss cons

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

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

"There could be a feature to view the VPN tunnel activities in terms of configuration."

"It has a limitation, if you are creating a rule or something for a web application or something, you could only add five users, not more than that. Five or four users are only included in a rule. If you want to create a rule for more than five or four users, you have to go through other methods, not particularly with the application. Working within the application with this method would be quite easy as compared to listing a URL or a normal IP address."

"Those folks will likely have some issues."

"The product must allow users to check logs for an entire year in the local console."

"It needs to offer SSO, single sign-on, and items of that nature."

"We have issues with the tool's maintenance and networking. It should be able to work in offline mode as well."

"I can't speak to any missing features."

"Having a Zscaler-specific device could streamline this process and provide a more consistent user experience across diverse branches."

More Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

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

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

"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."

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

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

"The product has reasonable pricing."

"There is definitely an ROI."

"It has been relatively reasonable for what it does. Some of the additional license costs based on the advanced next-generation firewall functions are quite high, and they should have certain features ready and available as a baseline rather than having to purchase additional licenses for it. Overall, the cost seems reasonable."

"Zscaler Private Access can be an expensive solution, depending on the license type you will purchase."

"The pricing is expensive and on the higher end. Honestly, in my opinion, it is not worth the price."

"Zscaler Private Access is extremely expensive."

"The price is competitive."

"My company is a Zscaler Private Access partner, so the customers pay for the license fees."

More Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange 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

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	13
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	11

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	17
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	45

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

I think iboss could be improved by making reporting and dashboard customization more flexible, and simplifying troubl...

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What is your primary use case for iboss?

I use iboss as a cloud-based secure web gateway to provide secure internet access, web filtering, and protect remote ...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

My experience with iboss's pricing structure, setup cost, and licensing model has been positive, straightforward, and...

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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...

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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...

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What advice do you have for others considering Aruba ESP?

I rate Aruba ESP a nine out of ten.

See all answers

What is the better solution - Prisma Access or Zscaler Private Access?

We looked into Prisma Access before choosing Zscaler Private Access (ZPA). Palo Alto’s Prisma Access is a secure ac...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zscaler Cloud Protection?

This is an area where I have candid feedback from our organization regarding pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Z...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Zscaler Cloud Protection?

After three years of working with Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform, I do have genuine feedback on areas where I f...

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Comparisons

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Okta Platform vs iboss

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Akamai Enterprise Application Access vs Aruba ESP

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Cisco Umbrella vs Aruba ESP

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Cato SASE Cloud Platform vs Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform

Compared 4% of the time

Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81) vs Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform

Compared 4% of the time

Akamai Enterprise Application Access vs Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform

Compared 3% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform

Compared 3% of the time

Cloudflare One vs Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

September 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

September 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform

September 2026

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform report

Download Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

No data available

Zscaler SASE, Zscaler DLP, Zscaler CASB, Zscaler CSPM, Zscaler Browser Isolation, Zscaler Posture Control

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

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange enhances security with seamless cloud-based connectivity and VPN-less operation, offering integration with multiple identity providers and advanced security features, suitable for remote work environments.

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange provides secure, adaptive connectivity without traditional VPNs, allowing organizations to replace legacy systems and bolster remote work security. The platform offers cloud-based protection, single sign-on, dynamic URL categorization, and scalable solutions. While advanced security features like DLP and threat protection enhance data protection, users may face issues with speed, connectivity, and some customization options. Integration challenges, latency due to multi-tenant hosting, reporting delays, and licensing costs require consideration. It supports secure internet access and private application security, ensuring traffic control and data compliance.

What are the key features of Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange?

VPN-less Connectivity: Enables secure remote access without traditional VPNs.
Cloud-based Security: Offers scalable protection utilizing cloud infrastructure.
Single Sign-On: Integrates with multiple identity providers for streamlined access.
Dynamic URL Categorization: Provides real-time URL filtering to enhance security.
Advanced Threat Protection: Detects and mitigates sophisticated threats effectively.
Customizable Policies: Allows tailored security protocols to fit unique requirements.
Comprehensive DLP: Protects sensitive data through robust data loss prevention.
Integration Capabilities: Connects seamlessly with cloud services and applications.

What are the benefits of using Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange?

Enhanced Security: Delivers consistent protection regardless of user location.
Improved Compliance: Ensures adherence to data protection regulations.
Streamlined Access: Simplifies connectivity to private and cloud applications.
Scalability: Supports expanding organizational demands with cloud scalability.
Real-time Visibility: Provides instant insights into security incidents and network traffic.

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange is deployed across industries to secure remote access and enforce zero trust principles. Organizations in finance, healthcare, and technology sectors utilize it for secure internet access and visibility into cloud applications, enhancing performance and compliance in dynamic environments.

Zscaler

Sample Customers

Trusted by global enterprises and government agencies.

Information Not Available

Siemens, AutoNation, GE, NOV

Buyer's Guide

Aruba ESP vs. Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform

September 2026

Free Report: Aruba ESP vs. Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform

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