Zscaler: Add-on Security Solution

As cyber security professionals, we often come across firewalls, proxy servers, etc. While firewalls act at layers 3 and 4 of the OSI model, a proxy acts at layer 7, meaning the proxy can detect any suspicious traffic until layer 7 and block the traffic. In today's article, we will discuss Zscaler, which is a proxy-level firewall that protects the internet from malicious traffic and also acts as a VPN service. Let's dive into Zscaler and learn the functionalities.

Zscaler has three types, namely:

• ZIA (Zscaler Internet Access)
• ZPA (Zscaler Private Access)
• ZDX (Zscaler Digital Experience)

Clients are given a choice to choose the best possible solutions based on their needs. Let's explore each type in detail.

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ZIA (Zscaler Internet Access):

Zscaler Internet Access acts as a proxy, performs deep SSL packet inspection at layer 7, and drops packets if they are found to be suspicious. For example, in the SIEM solution, you could see events related to cross-site scripting, injection, adware, and spyware, where the cross-site scripting and injection-related attacks pertain to layer 7, and as Zscaler performs deep packet inspection at layer 7, it can drop packets related to adware, spyware,cross-site scripting, etc. Zscaler internet access can also block outbound traffic related to malware sites, making it an ideal solution for any organization to adopt. It has the option to isolate the environment so that malware or suspicious files do not spread or come into contact with the host. Zscaler administrators can create two policies, namely the firewall/DNS policy to block traffic that is not related to the web port or web-related traffic, and the block rule at the web policy to block or allow web-related traffic inside and outside the premises. If allowed by web policy, users will be able to access the site; if blocked as per web policy, access is restricted with a display page stating the reason and the category the website belongs to (cross-site scripting, miscellaneous, etc.).

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ZPA (Zscaler Private Access):

Zscaler Private Access is similar to VPN, which provides access to an organization's internal applications based on access policies enforced or minimum criteria users must satisfy to access applications. By default, whether the organisation subscribes to any one of Zscaler Internet Access, Zscaler Private Access, or Zscaler Digital Experience, users must install the Zscaler Client Connector, which is used for encrypting the traffic and is being sent to Zscaler Cloud (the internal or public destination site of Zscaler Cloud), where inspections are being conducted based on the traffic and access policies to allow or deny access to applications or the internet. Let's look at the working principle of Zscaler Private Access.

• Users by default install Zscaler Client Connectors on their devices.
• Users log into an application by giving their credentials using either SAML or OAUTH 2.0.
• When users request access to an internal application, Zscaler Client Connector, with the help of geolocation technology, locates the nearest ZPA Public Service Edge or ZPA Private Service.
• Simultaneously, the application initiates a proxy connection to the nearest Zscaler Data Centre.
• The Zscaler client app connector also enforces access policies about users before initiating a proxy connection to the closest Zscaler Data Center. If user policies or organization policies block access, then the users will not be able to access the application or resources.
• As per the above process, if both the proxy connections are successful, then two outbound tunnels, one from the client connector and the other from the app connector, are stitched together by the ZPA service edge.

ZDX (Zscaler Digital Experience)

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We can develop apps and no longer worry about functionality, downtime, etc. with Zscaler. With ZDX, organizations can monitor and alert to application-related issues and improve the user experience. Let's look at the functionality that ZDX offers below:

• ZDX can detect issues concerning applications or environments before users complain and can also identify the root cause of them.
• ZDX can resolve the issues quickly and get users back to work faster.
• It can analyze user behavior that enhances the customer experience.
• It tracks and aggregates user performance metrics tracked over time, enabling or helping organizations improve the application at the development level.
• It can detect the issues and send email notifications to the development or troubleshooting team, explaining the issues detected and steps to troubleshoot them as soon as possible.

Conclusion:

Zscaler as a whole is a security solution that provides a best-in-class user experience while not compromising security. As it involves deep packet inspection and categorizes the type of threat a website can pose, it can very well be adopted across organizations. Organizations that would like to access Zscaler can also render the administration to a third party, thereby reducing the burden and not worrying about security at the same time.

Unlock robust cybersecurity and seamless digital experiences with Symbiz's comprehensive solutions: ZIA for advanced threat protection ???, ZPA for secure private access ??, and ZDX for enhanced application performance monitoring ??.

https://symbizsolutions.com/academy/zscaler-add-on-security-solution/

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@Ganesh Kannan

#CyberSecurity #Zscaler #DigitalTransformation ????