CrowdStrike vs Zscaler

March 19, 2025 | Author: Michael Stromann
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CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike's cloud-native endpoint security platform combines Next-Gen Av, EDR, Threat Intelligence, Threat Hunting, and much more.
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Zscaler
Zscaler is working to make the internet safe for business. Go beyond basic internet security with our 100% cloud solution. Zero hardware and zero backhauling.

CrowdStrike and Zscaler both claim to be the future of cybersecurity, which is a bit worrying because the future of cybersecurity usually involves things going terribly wrong. They are both cloud-based, which means their security solutions float majestically in the digital ether like very serious rainclouds full of AI-powered lightning bolts, ready to zap threats before they even think about misbehaving. They love zero trust, which is a fancy way of saying that their systems assume everything is trying to kill you at all times, which, to be fair, is not entirely inaccurate. Large enterprises and governments adore them, mostly because they make the nightmare of cyber threats slightly less nightmarish.

CrowdStrike, an American creation from 2011, has a Falcon platform, which is either an advanced cybersecurity system or a very ambitious attempt to train birds to attack hackers. It is obsessed with endpoints—laptops, servers and cloud workloads—which it protects with a mixture of AI, threat hunting and sheer paranoia. If there’s a ransomware attack lurking in the shadows, CrowdStrike will find it, dissect it and then write a strongly worded forensic report about it. It also dabbles in incident response, meaning that when everything inevitably goes wrong, it will swoop in heroically and try to clean up the mess before your company makes the evening news.

Zscaler, founded in 2007 (also American, but with a more global swagger), doesn’t care much for endpoints; it cares about the entire internet connection itself. It replaces old-school VPNs and firewalls with cloud-based magic, ensuring that remote workers and big corporations can securely access what they need without nasty things sneaking in through the digital backdoor. Instead of Falcon-related drama, it has ZIA and ZPA, which sound like rejected names for alien civilizations but are actually ways of keeping data and users safely separated from the terrifying cyber wilderness. Essentially, Zscaler believes that the best way to secure your network is to make sure no one really has a network at all.

See also: Top 10 SIEM software
Author: Michael Stromann
Michael is an expert in IT Service Management, IT Security and software development. With his extensive experience as a software developer and active involvement in multiple ERP implementation projects, Michael brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his writings. Having previously worked at SAP, he has honed his expertise and gained a deep understanding of software development and implementation processes. Currently, as a freelance developer, Michael continues to contribute to the IT community by sharing his insights through guest articles published on several IT portals. You can contact Michael by email stromann@liventerprise.com