Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Palo Alto Networks and Proofpoint are both solutions in the Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) category. Palo Alto Networks is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.4, while Proofpoint is ranked #17 with an average rating of 9.0. Palo Alto Networks holds a 12.2% mindshare in CASB, compared to Proofpoint’s 1.0% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Palo Alto Networks users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Proofpoint users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 7, 2024

Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker and Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks provide cloud security solutions focusing on different priorities. Prisma Access holds an advantage for its broader security capabilities across networks.

Features: Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker emphasizes detailed cloud app security, offering data loss prevention and SaaS application protection. It is tailored for securing cloud-based applications comprehensively. Prisma Access delivers advanced threat prevention, extensive network security across hybrid environments, and a comprehensive security suite for network-level protection, making it suitable for broader environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Proofpoint's deployment is straightforward with a focus on integrating seamlessly into existing workflows, supported by efficient customer service offering prompt solutions. Prisma Access requires more setup due to its extensive coverage but once established, it effectively manages complex security needs with excellent support and guidance provided by Palo Alto during deployment, which is beneficial for enterprises with complex networks.

Pricing and ROI: Proofpoint offers a competitive pricing model with a strong focus on return on investment, attracting organizations prioritizing cloud app security. Although Prisma Access demands higher initial costs, it offers substantial returns through enhanced network security, which justifies the investment for businesses seeking comprehensive protection. Despite Proofpoint's more accessible pricing, Prisma's return on investment often outweighs the cost in terms of wider security coverage.

To learn more, read our detailed Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker

September 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 920,769 peers since 2012

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 Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) category, the mindshare of iboss is 4.4%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is 12.2%, down from 15.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker is 1.0%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks	12.2%
iboss	4.4%
Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker	1.0%
Other	82.4%

Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB)

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.

Read full review

IgorPinter

Director at PULSEC

Zero-trust access has improved remote security and now simplifies cloud-based firewall management

Regarding the integration part for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks, the integration with identity providers is pretty much good. It is basically firewall as a service, so it performs well. I completed the integration without any issues. What Palo Alto Networks can do better for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is probably to have the point of presence available in more locations. The point of presence from the Serbia region has the nearest POP in Frankfurt, which is an issue since it is your gateway—when you start browsing the internet, you go through a commercial connection in Germany. They definitely need to spread the service in other countries.

Read full review

Farzad Ebrahimi

Senior Devsecops Cloud Cybersecurity Specialist at CGI

Layered security has protected our cloud AI apps and significantly reduced attack incidents

The best features Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker offers are multilayer protection against security attacks and escalation. The escalation feature in Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker is valuable because we are using more and more users, and it is very scalable in relation to the number of users using the same app on the cloud. The performance of Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker stands out as the number of attacks blocked is more than 90%. Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker has positively impacted my organization by resolving all of the security issues related to app security. I can share specific outcomes, such as a reduction in the number of incidents, which is more than 90% related to the past.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

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

"The main advantage of iboss is its cloud-based security centralized policy management, which helps organizations protect users working from different locations, secure access to cloud applications, and reduce security risks."

"Technical support is pretty sharp and very responsive."

"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."

"Granular setup, which was able to set different levels of filters using the OUs in the AD."

"Valuable features: Within the filter: Controls (Web categories, applications, and Allow/Block list) and Network (local Subnets). Within the reporter: Logs (Event Log) and Reports."

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

"The iboss solution gives me the ability to scan the traffic through all the ports, through all the 131,000 PCP and UDP ports, and with this ability, we have the granularity also for consults over social media and applications on mobile, and this is an advantage that the customers are looking for right now."

More iboss pros

"If you are planning on using the SASE model for your organization, I would recommend Palo Alto Prisma Access."

"We have an application called ADEM that helps us troubleshoot network-related issues. It helps us to isolate an issue whether it is on the ISP level, endpoint level, or system access level."

"The most valuable feature of Prisma Access is its ability to provide enterprise-class security for both Internet and internal application access."

"The most valuable feature is the zero-trust part of this solution."

"It's great that we can make sure a machine meets the minimum requirements before users are allowed to log in."

"The product's initial setup phase is simple."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to change the gateway. For example, if there's a problem with a specific region or vendor, we can make modifications. The solution is scalable, and there are different gateways that can be created depending on the demand."

"In my experience, Prisma Access is a great platform."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks pros

"The product is stable."

"Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker has positively impacted my organization by resolving all of the security issues related to app security."

"The quarantine feature is the solution's most valuable aspect."

"The tool's most valuable feature is reporting. It helps us understand what's going on in our environment."

"From stability and availability standpoints, it is pretty good."

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."

"If they could implement an extra security layer preventing access to iboss from the open internet, it would be great."

"I appreciate that iboss's single pane of glass console gives centralized visibility into web traffic, user activity, security policies, and alerts from one dashboard, allowing us to quickly investigate incidents and monitor policy violations without switching between multiple tools, improving operational efficiency; however, the dashboard customization and reporting could be more flexible."

"I would like to see simpler dashboards, more detailed reporting, and faster performance in iboss."

"Its pricing could be better."

"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."

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

"The reporting feature needs improvement. It doesn't give you the expected results. It is quite difficult to get the specific reports needed, and it is not as intuitive as the rest of the platform."

More iboss cons

"Prisma would be a stronger solution if it could aggregate resources by project or by application. So say we have an application we've developed in AWS and five applications we've developed in Azure. The platform will group it according to those applications, but it's based on the tags we use in Azure, which means I have to rely on development teams to tag resources properly."

"The Prisma Access could improve in terms of adding more machine learning and AI capabilities to automate tasks such as incident response."

"Their next release should provide solutions for the mobile environment."

"The product's current price is an area of shortcoming where improvements are required."

"It is a managed firewall. When you run into issues and have to troubleshoot, there is a fair amount of restriction. You run into a couple of restrictions where you don't have any visibility on what is happening on the Palo Alto managed infrastructure, and you need to get on a call to get technical assistance from Palo Alto's technical support. You have to get them to work with you to fix the problem. I would definitely like them to work on the visibility into what happens inside Palo Alto's infrastructure. It is not about getting our hands onto their infrastructure to do troubleshooting or fixing problems; it is just about getting more visibility. This will help us in guiding technical support folks to the area where they need to work."

"It's not really Prisma's fault, but when you try to create exceptions you don't really have those abilities. You cannot say, on the management platform, "Hey, for these users I want to create these exceptions." That is one thing that I have gotten some complaints about, and we have faced some challenges there."

"The cloud setup is straightforward, and the onboarding process is much better, but the on-premises initial setup is slightly complex."

"The Cloud Management application has room for improvement. There are a lot of things on the roadmap for that application; things are going to happen soon."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks cons

"The TLS encryption needs to be improved. It's not state of the art."

"I think some of the hiccups that we had were with the number of domains that we had and how that had to be implemented in Proofpoint."

"They are priced significantly higher and less cost-effective than alternative options."

"Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker should be cheaper."

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."

"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 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."

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

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

"There's no reason not to buy the enterprise version that gives you unlimited PoPs, but you must understand the limitations you impose on yourself if you do that. If you go crazy, that allowlist will be too big for Kubernetes clusters."

"Prisma Access is a little bit expensive."

"The licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis and for what we get, the price is good."

"The licensing model for this product is complicated and changes all the time, making it very hard for the user to comprehend the configuration."

"The price has been good for the ROI during these difficult times for the cruise industry. There are no hidden costs; what the product offers is what you get."

"The solution is expensive."

"The solution requires a license and the technical support has extra costs. The licensing model could improve."

"It's pricey, it's not cheap. But you get what you pay for."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks pricing and cost advice

"The tool's most valuable feature is reporting. It helps us understand what's going on in our environment."

"We had an enterprise contract with them for about 32,000 users at that point, which has now grown."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

920,769 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Outsourcing Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

11%

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

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	26
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	27

No data available

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...

See all answers

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...

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...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks?

From my experience, Palo Alto is more expensive compared to solutions like Netskope and Triscale.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks?

Regarding the integration part for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks, the integration with identity providers is pr...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker?

Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker can be improved with more AI features, as it could help. I feel it is fine to no...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker?

My main use case for Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker is to protect our applications on the cloud against securit...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker?

My advice to others looking into using Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker is that more AI features are needed. Proo...

See all answers

Comparisons

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

FortiSASE vs iboss

Compared 5% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs iboss

Compared 5% of the time

More iboss Competitors

Netskope vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 13% of the time

FortiSASE vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 5% of the time

Appgate SDP vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81) vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 2% of the time

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks Competitors

Forcepoint CASB vs Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker

Compared 23% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps vs Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker

Compared 22% of the time

Netskope vs Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker

Compared 13% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker

Compared 7% of the time

Skyhigh Security vs Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker

Compared 5% of the time

More Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

October 2026

Download iboss product report

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

October 2026

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks report

Download Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks product report

Buyer's Guide

Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB)

October 2026

Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker report

Download Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access, Prisma Access, GlobalProtect, Palo Alto GlobalProtect Mobile Security Manager, Prisma SaaS by Palo Alto Networks, Prisma Access

FireLayers, PCASB

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

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks delivers robust security features including secure remote access across apps and traffic monitoring. It integrates smoothly with cloud environments to provide advanced threat protection and visibility into network traffic.

Prisma Access offers a comprehensive suite of security tools designed to protect cloud environments and remote workforces. With its focus on real-time risk identification and threat prevention, Prisma Access provides encrypted tunnels and centralized management for seamless connectivity and enhanced data security. Designed to scale across platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP, it optimizes traffic and connectivity while offering extensive visibility into vulnerabilities. However, integration with third-party products, usability, and support services are areas for development, as users report interface challenges and desire improved scalability and geographic coverage, especially in regions like China and South America.

What are the key features of Prisma Access?

Real-Time Risk Identification: Detects and manages potential threats instantly.
Secure Remote Access: Ensures secure connectivity to applications from anywhere.
Traffic Monitoring: Provides comprehensive oversight of network traffic.
Seamless Integration: Works well with platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP.
Firewall Capabilities: Blocks unauthorized access and threats.
Scalability: Adapts to various cloud environments to meet growing demands.

What benefits should users expect when evaluating Prisma Access?

Reduced Data Breach Risk: Protects sensitive information through encrypted connections.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies management and configuration tasks.
Centralized Management: Offers a single view for managing all security policies.
Advanced Threat Protection: Regular updates guard against new threats.

Prisma Access is effectively used in industries requiring secure remote access and stringent data protection, such as finance and healthcare. Organizations leverage it to enforce Zero Trust policies, optimize network performance with SD-WAN, and ensure security compliance across multiple platforms.

Palo Alto Networks

Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker provides comprehensive security for cloud applications, helping organizations protect against data breaches and manage compliance within cloud environments efficiently.

Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker leverages a combination of advanced threat protection, data loss prevention, and identity management to secure cloud-based applications. By offering visibility and control over user activities, it enables IT professionals to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Its seamless integration with existing security frameworks allows for a streamlined approach to safeguarding digital assets.

What are the main features of Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker?

Advanced Threat Protection: Shields against sophisticated cyber threats targeting cloud applications.
Data Loss Prevention: Detects and prevents unauthorized data sharing across platforms.
Visibility & Control: Provides comprehensive insights into user activities for enhanced monitoring.
Identity Management: Ensures secure access by managing user credentials and permissions.

What benefits and ROI should users expect from Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker?

Enhanced Security Posture: Reduce risks by securing sensitive data in cloud applications.
Compliance Assurance: Meets regulatory requirements through effective monitoring and controls.
Cost Efficiency: Minimizes security costs with integrated solutions compatible with existing systems.
Operational Ease: Streamlines deployment process for faster time-to-value.

In finance, healthcare, and education, Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker is implemented to protect data privacy and meet compliance standards specific to each industry. By tailoring configurations to sector-specific needs, organizations leverage its capabilities to maintain robust security and support regulatory adherence.

Proofpoint

Sample Customers

Trusted by global enterprises and government agencies.

Concord Hospital, State of Colorado, Essilor International, RheinLand Versicherungsgruppe, University of Westminster, Universidade Nove de Julho, SPAR Austria, CAME Group, ZipRealty, Greenhill & Co., IKT Agder, Aviva Stadium, Animal Logic, Management & Training Corporation, Brigham Young University Hawaii, School District of Chilliwack

Emerging Technologies, HP, CSA, Perion

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker

September 2026

Free Report: Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker

Find out what your peers are saying about Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

920,769 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker report.

See our list of best Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) vendors.

We monitor all Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.