Cato Networks and the Architecture of True SASE

Modern Networking Demands a New Architecture

Enterprises today face an evolved landscape: hybrid work, cloud-first apps, global operations, and rising security threats. Legacy WAN and security models, built on fragmented point products, simply can’t keep pace. The emergence of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) was meant to fix this—but not all “SASE” platforms are created equal.

“Cato is the only platform built from the ground up as a single, converged software stack for security and networking. It’s not SASE by bundling—it’s SASE by design.”

Why Cato? The Only Truly Converged SASE Platform

Cato’s architecture is purpose-built—an all-in-one global platform that connects and secures users, locations, clouds, and apps, with end-to-end visibility and control. No service chaining, no hardware dependencies, no third-party bolt-ons.

Key Attributes:
    •    Single-Pass Architecture: One engine (SPACE) does it all—routing, FWaaS, ZTNA, IPS, CASB, DLP—in one decryption cycle.
    •    Global Private Backbone: 85+ PoPs across 150+ countries, replacing the unpredictability of the public internet.
    •    Cloud-Native Scale: Elastic, self-healing, and delivered as a service.
    •    Identity-Driven Policies: Enforce consistent security and QoS across every edge, user, and device.

SD-WAN vs. SASE: What Enterprises Need to Know

While SD-WAN revolutionized the WAN by breaking MPLS dependency, it didn’t converge security. That gap became critical as more traffic flowed to the internet and the cloud.

“Most enterprises are now evaluating their second-generation SD-WAN or SASE strategy. Cato is ideal for those ready to move from connectivity-first SD-WAN to a full platform play.”

Cato vs. Traditional SD-WAN:
    •    SD-WAN needs separate security appliances or cloud services.
    •    Cato delivers networking and full-stack security natively via a single fabric.
    •    For orgs ready to eliminate silos and reduce operational complexity—Cato is the future-ready choice.

The Architecture: Global Fabric, Single Engine, Seamless Visibility

Global Private Backbone

Cato’s middle-mile is a global, SLA-backed, self-healing backbone. Unlike providers who ride public transit or hyperscaler mesh, Cato owns and operates this core.

“The backbone isn’t just transport—it’s a policy enforcement point, a WAN optimizer, and a security checkpoint in one.”

Single Pass Cloud Engine (SPACE)

Every packet is decrypted once, inspected by all engines, and re-encrypted—with no chaining, delay, or multiple policies.

Universal Access

From branch sites to mobile workers, BYOD to cloud workloads—Cato enforces consistent policies across all edges:
    •    Cato Socket for branches and datacenters
    •    Cato Client for remote workers
    •    vSocket, IPSec, and Cloud XConnect for AWS, Azure, GCP

SSE 360: Full-Spectrum Security, Everywhere

Cato’s SSE 360 stack is embedded into the platform. This isn’t just internet security—it’s WAN, cloud, and private access security from the same policy framework.

Included Services:
    •    Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
    •    Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
    •    Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
    •    Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
    •    Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
    •    Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
    •    Remote Browser Isolation (RBI)
    •    Next-Gen Anti-Malware (NGAM)
    •    DNS Security
    •    Endpoint Protection/EDR (optional add-on)

“Every user, every app, every session is secured by the full stack—no matter where it connects from or to.”

XDR and TDIR: Native Threat Detection and Response

Cato’s native XDR takes full advantage of the converged architecture:
    •    One data lake with correlated network and security events
    •    AI-generated “incident stories” for analyst context
    •    Built-in SOAR-like responses—quarantine, block, notify
    •    Optional MDR for 24/7 threat hunting and response

Operate Efficiently: One Console, One Policy, One Platform

Cato’s CMA (Cato Management Application) offers:
    •    Unified management for network, security, access, and users
    •    Built-in RBAC, MFA, and role granularity
    •    Live topology and alerting
    •    GraphQL API and third-party integrations (Chronicle, Sumo Logic, more)

“From policy to telemetry, Cato lets you see everything, configure anything, and automate at scale—all from a single pane.”

Total Cost of Ownership: Leaner Operations, Lower Spend

Cato delivers clear ROI by replacing:
    •    MPLS and WAN accelerators
    •    Firewalls and SWGs
    •    VPN concentrators and ZTNA appliances
    •    DLP, CASB, NGAM bolt-ons

Savings Areas:
    •    Reduced CapEx: No hardware sprawl
    •    Lower OpEx: One vendor, one platform, minimal management
    •    Fewer Licenses: Everything included, minimal SKUs

“In a Forrester study, Cato customers achieved a 246% ROI over 3 years.”

IVI + Cato: Delivering True SASE with Expert Guidance

At IVI, we’ve helped dozens of enterprises migrate thousands of sites to SD-WAN and SASE. We understand both legacy challenges and cloud-native opportunities. As a trusted Cato partner, we bring:
    •    Deep deployment and migration expertise
    •    Customized design based on your identity, topology, and policy needs
    •    24/7 co-managed or fully managed options
    •    Full-stack visibility across the WAN and security

“You’re not just buying a platform—you’re gaining a partner that understands what secure, agile, and performant looks like in your environment.”

Final Thoughts: A Platform Built for What’s Next

Whether you’re optimizing your second-gen SD-WAN strategy, consolidating security tools, or enabling zero trust for your workforce—Cato is the only SASE platform that delivers it all natively, globally, and simply.