A full SASE cloud versus a private network built on identity. Different problems — here's how they actually compare.
| OpenVLAN | Zscaler (ZPA / ZIA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic path | Direct peer-to-peer when possible | Through Zscaler security cloud |
| Primary use case | Private access to infra/apps | Web security + private access suite |
| Non-HTTP protocols (SSH, DB, gRPC) | Native, any protocol | Via App Connector + client |
| Inline SWG / CASB / DLP | Not our focus | Core strength |
| Connectors to deploy | None (optional subnet routers) | App Connectors per segment |
| Setup | Minutes to first connection | Weeks–months typical rollout |
| Device-to-device / site-to-site | Native mesh | Limited |
| Pricing | Public, per user | Quote-based, per-module |
You need a full SSE stack — inline DLP, CASB, web isolation — across all egress traffic, and can fund a suite deployment.
The problem is private access: fast, direct, any-protocol connectivity to your resources governed by identity.
Enterprises keep Zscaler for web security and put infrastructure access on OpenVLAN — dropping VPN appliances and App Connector sprawl.