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zscaler vs. Verax

The Zscaler alternative secure AI

While Zscaler offers an AI solution, it is one module of their much larger SSE platform. It doesn’t understand how it is being used.

Built purely for AI, Verax both identifies a wider range of AI and builds deep integrations for each tool and interaction to offer access controls at the model, tier, connector, and file levels.

You can even chain Verax behind Zscaler to add AI depth without replacing it.

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Built to Built for AI, locally.

Inspection stays in your infrastructure

Zscaler steers your traffic to its cloud and inspects it there. Verax inspects inside your own environment, so AI traffic never leaves your boundary. This also means that pricing stays predictable, as Verax’s inference costs don’t rise with your AI usage.

Comprehensive AI Access Controls

Zscaler scans the prompt, but not the other aspects of AI usage. Verax’s custom-built integrations per each AI tool offer visibility and access controls down to the plan, model, connectors, and files shared. Ensuring your workforce (including agents) are using AI safely, without gaining unnecessary access to sensitive files or apps.

Deep AI integrations

Zscaler gives basic visibility and prompt DLP which is limited to basic keyword and regex matching. Verax’s deep integrations enable AI inspection and pattern matching to prevent any data leakage.

COMPARISON TABLE

How Verax compares to Zslacer

Zscaler

Architecture and deployment

Purpose-built for AI usage

Standalone (no SSE platform to adopt or route through)

(delivered via ZIA cloud proxy)

Inspection inside your infrastructure

Inline proxy / traffic inspection

Connection model

Proxy chaining / ICAP / inline, plus optional endpoint, in your environment
Client Connector agent or network/PAC forwarding, into Zscaler's cloud

Can chain off your existing SWG to complement it

Catches embedded AI in trusted SaaS

Catches native desktop AI apps

AI visibility and control

Shadow AI discovery

Real-time DLP on prompts and file uploads

Access controls and policy

Identity-aware access control

Subscription / plan-tier detection

Connector coverage

Model coverage

Connector / MCP and agent coverage

-

Per-interaction depth

(DLP match + prompt text only)

Breadth of SSE platform (SWG, CASB, ZTNA, isolation)

Commercial

Predictable, forecastable pricing

usage-based
*Reflects publicly available vendor information as of June 2026

FAQ

We already run Zscaler. Why add Verax?
Verax is for teams looking to strengthen their AI security by offering broader and deeper AI coverage, DLP, and access controls. It identifies use cases that Zscaler misses (desktop apps, embedded AI, most tools), and its deep AI integrations offer both stronger DLP protection and deeper visibility and access controls into how each tool is being used (model, tier, plan, files, connectors, etc.). Verax is a great addition to Zscaler, complementing it with a stronger AI solution.
Isn't Zscaler network-based like Verax?
Both are inline proxies, so the difference isn't proxy-vs-not. It's where inspection runs and how deep it goes. Zscaler steers traffic to its own cloud and inspects there, as one module of an SSE platform, with AI detection that's largely domain and DLP based. Verax inspects inside your own infrastructure (via proxy chaining, ICAP, inline, or an optional endpoint), is purpose-built for AI usage, and sees each interaction in more detail.
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