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Cloudflare offers a wide range of services, making it difficult to find a single alternative that covers all its capabilities. In this article, we've outlined Cloudflare alternatives for 1) Zero Trust and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), and 2) Application and Network Services, allowing you to make an informed decision based on your specific needs. So, without further delay, let’s explore!
Cloudflare Zero Trust and SASE Alternatives
Here are five detailed Cloudflare alternatives for Zero Trust and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) that you may consider based on your organization’s specific needs.
1. Pomerium
Overview: Pomerium is one of the best Cloudflare alternatives for Zero Trust and SASE solutions. It is an identity-aware proxy solution designed to implement Zero Trust architecture. It allows secure, context-aware access (which is lacking in Cloudflare) to internal applications without the need for VPNs. Here is a detailed comparison: Cloudflare Access Vs. Pomerium.
Key Features:
Identity-Aware Proxy: Pomerium controls access based on identity and contextual data (e.g., device, time of day, geolocation) instead of network location.
Policy-Based Access Control: Easily define policies using standard policy-as-code frameworks to control who can access what services and when.
Single Sign-On (SSO): It integrates with major identity providers such as Okta, Azure AD, Google Identity, and more, providing secure SSO for your organization.
Continuous Verification: Provides continuous verification where every single action is verified for authentication, authorization, and contextual factors before being accepted or denied – a core concept of zero trust architecture.
7-Layer Security (Application Layer): Pomerium operates at Layer 7 of the OSI model (the application layer), ensuring security policies are enforced based on a deep understanding of the application, not just lower-level network traffic. This includes intelligent routing and access controls based on user identity and requests made to specific applications.
Clientless Access: Pomerium provides secure access to internal web applications without requiring users to install any intermediary client software or VPNs. Users access applications via a browser, and all security measures are enforced through reverse proxying and identity checks.
Access Control for Internal Apps: Provides granular access to internal applications, including web services, dashboards, and APIs based on individual as well as group-level permissions.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Enables secure access to internal resources, adhering to the Zero Trust principle of "never trust, always verify."
Strengths:
Fast: Pomerium is faster than Cloudflare Zero Trust Access since it can be self-hosted and deployed at the edge of your network. This eliminates reliance on third-party middlemen, reducing latency and improving access speeds.
Browser-based access: It provides a frictionless, VPN-free experience for users, who only need a browser to access protected applications.
Authentic ZTNA solution: Pomerium provides a true ZTNA model with continuous verification and context awareness.
Better Security: Cloudflare decrypts data for inspection to enforce its security policies, exposing your data in clear text on a third-party network, which can raise privacy concerns. In contrast, Pomerium operates without acting as a middleman, keeping your data more secure by avoiding unnecessary decryption and inspection on external networks.
Lightweight: It is easy to integrate with existing infrastructure, especially in cloud-native environments (Kubernetes, Docker, etc.).
Drawbacks:
Requires integration with other security solutions for full SASE capabilities like DLP, CASB, and firewalling.
More suitable for organizations looking to implement Zero Trust access controls rather than those seeking a comprehensive SASE architecture.
Overview: Zscaler Private Access is one of the leading providers of cloud security solutions and offers a complete SASE platform and Zero Trust architecture. Their solutions are designed for enterprise networks, providing a secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and firewall as a service (FWaaS).
Key Features:
Zscaler Private Access (ZPA): Facilitates secure, seamless access to internal applications without exposing them to the internet, using a Zero Trust model.
Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA): Offers a cloud-native proxy solution to inspect all traffic leaving your network, securing the entire network perimeter.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Advanced data protection policies to prevent data leakage across endpoints.
Identity-based Access Control: Zscaler ensures that access to applications is based on the user’s identity, device, and context, supporting a Zero Trust framework.
SASE Offering: Zscaler integrates its Zero Trust framework with its SASE offering to provide secure access, inspection, and policy enforcement at the edge.
Strengths:
Easy integration with various identity management platforms (e.g., Okta, Azure AD).
Comprehensive security stack including malware prevention, SSL decryption, and sandboxing.
High scalability for global enterprises with thousands of users.
Drawbacks:
Complexity in deployment for smaller organizations.
Although ZPA positions itself as a VPN alternative, it replaces VPN tunneling with Zscaler’s tunnels. That means the data is still transmitted through a middleman.
Cost: Pricing is custom-based on features and user numbers, and it tends to scale with usage.
3. Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Overview: Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is also a popular Cloudflare alternative for its Zero Trust. It’s a comprehensive SASE and Zero Trust solution offering advanced threat protection and secure remote access. It delivers a cloud-delivered security infrastructure, combining Zero Trust and SASE for securing users and applications.
Key Features:
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Users are granted application-level access based on identity, device, and threat intelligence.
GlobalProtect: Provides secure remote access using client-based or clientless VPN solutions.
Advanced Threat Prevention: Includes advanced firewall services such as intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
Integrated CASB: Offers security for SaaS applications, preventing shadow IT and unsanctioned use of apps.
Cloud-based Firewall: Prisma’s firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS) ensures comprehensive security across all network traffic.
Strengths:
Strong integration with Palo Alto’s industry-leading firewall and threat intelligence.
Comprehensive security stack, including DNS security, threat intelligence, and data loss prevention.
Granular user and application controls.
Drawbacks:
Higher pricing compared to some competitors.
The steeper learning curve for setup and management.
Cost: Pricing depends on the number of users, data processed, and specific features required. While the pricing is gated, according to a source, the prices for Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access tend to be $3,000 to over $1,000,000.
4. Cisco Secure Access by Duo
Overview: Just like Cloudflare Access, Cisco Secure Access (formerly Duo Security) also offers a Zero Trust platform with a focus on securing user identities and verifying devices before granting access to applications. It falls into the category of a No-touch VPN as a Service (VPNaaS) provider, a firewall as a service (FWaaS) provider, and a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB). Cisco’s Zero Trust architecture revolves around user authentication, device posture, and application access control.
Key Features:
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Duo offers a robust MFA solution to ensure strong authentication across applications.
Adaptive Access Policies: Provides dynamic, context-aware access policies based on user behavior, location, and device health.
Device Trust: Ensures only trusted, healthy devices access your applications by enforcing security policies like endpoint security checks.
Single Sign-On (SSO): Simplifies secure user access to multiple applications using a single authentication flow.
SASE Integration: Cisco integrates its Zero Trust offerings with its broader security suite, including its SD-WAN and security infrastructure for SASE capabilities.
Strengths:
Strong identity and access management (IAM) features.
Easy integration with cloud and on-premises apps, including Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, and AWS.
User-friendly interface for managing access policies.
Drawbacks:
Primarily focused on identity security, lacking more comprehensive network traffic inspection.
Too many products, solutions, and features are confusing to choose from.
Might require integration with other Cisco products to realize full SASE capabilities.
Cost: Duo offers tiered pricing based on the features required (e.g., MFA-only plans or full access control suites). Prices are gated and you’ll get the quote only after you book a demo.
Each of these Cloudflare alternatives comes with its unique set of features, advantages, and limitations based on your organization’s specific needs and existing infrastructure.
Cloudflare's Application and Network Services Alternatives
There are several alternatives to Cloudflare's application network services, which typically include services like web performance optimization, content delivery (CDN), DDoS protection, SSL/TLS, and Web Application Firewall (WAF). Below are some popular Cloudflare alternatives, along with their strengths and limitations.
1. Amazon CloudFront
Overview: Amazon CloudFront is a fast, content delivery network (CDN) service integrated with AWS, providing secure, scalable delivery of web content. CloudFront integrates seamlessly with other AWS services, making it a good option for organizations already using Amazon Web Services.
Key Features:
Global Network: CloudFront operates on a vast global network of edge locations, ensuring low-latency content delivery across the globe.
Edge Caching and Optimization: Content is cached at edge locations closer to users, improving page load times and reducing server load.
Security Features: CloudFront integrates with AWS Shield for DDoS protection and AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) to protect against application-level threats.
Lambda@Edge: Allows running serverless code closer to the user, enabling dynamic content generation and personalized experiences without high latency.
Use Cases:
Businesses already using AWS services for hosting or storage.
Websites and applications requiring secure, low-latency delivery of media and web content.
Organizations requiring compliance with strict security and regulatory standards.
Strengths:
Deep integration with AWS services such as S3, EC2, and Lambda.
Scalable and high-performance content delivery, ideal for global audiences.
Strong security features like DDoS protection, encryption, and SSL management.
Drawbacks:
Pricing can get complex with multiple AWS services and may not be the most cost-effective for small or medium-sized businesses.
Configuration may require some expertise to optimize for specific use cases.
Cost: Pay-as-you-go pricing based on data transfer, number of requests, and geographical usage.
2. Fastly
Overview: Fastly is a modern, edge cloud platform designed for performance and flexibility. It provides an advanced CDN, edge computing solutions, and real-time traffic analysis, catering to both small businesses and enterprise-level applications.
Key Features:
Real-time Control and Caching: Fastly allows users to instantly cache and purge content at edge locations, offering developers greater control over content delivery.
Edge Computing with Compute@Edge: Run serverless applications and logic at the edge, enabling low-latency and highly personalized content.
Security: Fastly offers DDoS protection, a Web Application Firewall (WAF), and TLS encryption to ensure that data is secure during transit.
Real-time Analytics: Provides instant visibility into traffic and cache performance, allowing for faster troubleshooting and optimization.
Use Cases:
High-traffic websites and applications needing real-time cache control and updates.
Businesses requiring low-latency, edge-based computation for personalization or dynamic content.
Streaming services and media companies that demand consistent high performance.
Strengths:
Advanced caching and real-time controls make it ideal for dynamic web content and high-performance applications.
Fastly’s edge computing features offer flexibility for developers building modern applications at the edge.
Comprehensive security features, including DDoS protection and SSL/TLS encryption.
Drawbacks:
Pricing can become high for large-scale operations or websites with high traffic volumes.
Requires some technical expertise to set up and manage optimally, especially for complex edge applications.
Overview: Akamai is also one of the famous Cloudflare competitors for network services. It is one of the most established CDNs and cloud security providers, offering a vast array of services including content delivery, security, and edge computing. It is especially known for handling large-scale traffic and providing robust security measures for enterprise customers.
Edge Computing: Akamai enables computation and logic to be performed closer to the end-user, reducing load on origin servers and enhancing performance.
Web Application and API Protection (WAAP): Akamai offers advanced security solutions including WAF, DDoS protection, and bot mitigation to safeguard applications.
Media Delivery: Optimized for delivering high-quality streaming media with minimal buffering, making it popular among video streaming services.
Use Cases:
Enterprise businesses with global audiences that need low-latency content delivery.
Companies handling high-traffic events such as media streaming or sports broadcasts.
Organizations needing advanced web application security for critical infrastructure.
Strengths:
Massive global network ensures that content is delivered quickly to users regardless of location.
Akamai’s advanced security features make it ideal for enterprises needing comprehensive protection against cyber threats.
Exceptional performance for high-bandwidth applications like video streaming.
Drawbacks:
Higher pricing compared to other alternatives, especially for small and medium businesses.
Complex setup and management can be overwhelming without dedicated expertise or support.
Cost: Custom pricing based on traffic, security needs, and additional services.
4. Bunny.net
Overview: Bunny.net is a cost-effective CDN and edge storage provider designed for small to medium-sized businesses looking for fast content delivery with minimal hassle. It offers a simple pricing structure and an easy-to-use interface while providing solid performance.
Key Features:
Global PoP Network: Bunny.net has 114 points of presence (PoPs) across six continents, ensuring fast content delivery to a global audience.
Edge Storage and Video Streaming: Offers edge storage, where content is stored closer to users, and features for optimized video streaming without complex setups.
Security Features: Includes free SSL, DDoS protection, and an IP firewall for basic content and application security.
Instant Cache Purge: Allows content to be updated or removed across the entire network instantly, ensuring that users see the latest versions of your content.
Use Cases:
Small businesses and developers needing an affordable, easy-to-use CDN for delivering web content.
Websites and applications with moderate traffic volumes looking for fast content delivery without complex infrastructure.
Video streaming services looking for a simple yet powerful solution.
Strengths:
Very affordable pricing model, ideal for small and medium-sized businesses.
Simple setup process and user-friendly interface.
Fast cache purging and updates for time-sensitive content.
Drawbacks:
Fewer advanced security and performance optimization features compared to larger CDNs like Akamai or CloudFront.
Smaller network footprint compared to major enterprise CDNs.
Cost: Flat-rate pricing based on bandwidth usage, starting as low as $0.01 per GB for Europe and North America. This type of transparent pricing is unique among other competitive platforms.
Overview: When it comes to Cloudflare alternatives for CDN, Imperva is also a highly recommended solution. Imperva is a comprehensive cybersecurity platform that offers both content delivery and protection solutions, making it a robust alternative to Cloudflare's network services. Known for its Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS protection, and advanced bot management, Imperva focuses on securing web applications, APIs, and data against various cyber threats while ensuring fast content delivery.
Key Features:
Web Application Firewall (WAF): Imperva’s WAF is renowned for its advanced security capabilities, protecting web applications from attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other common vulnerabilities.
DDoS Protection: Provides always-on, globally distributed DDoS mitigation, protecting your website and applications from both volumetric and application-layer attacks. It scales automatically to handle attacks of all sizes.
Bot Management: Imperva helps identify and mitigate malicious bots while allowing legitimate bot traffic, ensuring that websites are not slowed down by harmful automated traffic.
Content Delivery Network (CDN): Imperva offers a high-performance, globally distributed CDN to accelerate web content delivery and improve user experience. This CDN is built to enhance site performance while also securing traffic with integrated security solutions.
Advanced Threat Intelligence: Imperva collects threat data from its global network and uses this intelligence to update its security policies automatically, staying ahead of emerging threats.
API Security: Protects APIs from threats by monitoring and controlling API requests, ensuring that only legitimate traffic reaches your APIs.
Compliance Features: Offers tools to help businesses comply with regulatory requirements, such as GDPR and HIPAA, by providing secure access and data protection across web applications and APIs.
Use Cases:
Enterprise businesses that require robust protection against application-layer threats and DDoS attacks.
Organizations needing a comprehensive security solution for web applications, APIs, and sensitive data.
Companies dealing with large amounts of traffic and requiring advanced bot management and threat mitigation.
Strengths:
Industry-leading security solutions for protecting web applications and APIs from a wide range of attacks.
Highly scalable and capable of handling high-traffic websites, making it suitable for enterprise-level use.
Real-time threat intelligence and automatic policy updates to keep security protocols up-to-date.
Drawbacks:
Pricing tends to be higher, especially for smaller businesses with limited budgets.
Focuses heavily on security; while it offers CDN functionality, it may lack some advanced CDN-specific features compared to more CDN-focused providers like Fastly or CloudFront.
Cost: Custom pricing based on features, traffic volume, and security requirements. Typically priced higher due to its enterprise-level security offerings.
Each of these Cloudflare network service alternatives has distinct strengths, depending on the size, use case, and technical needs of your organization.
6. Sucuri
Overview: Sucuri is a cloud-based security platform that specializes in website security, offering services similar to Cloudflare's application services. It is particularly known for its WAF, malware scanning, and DDoS protection, which help secure websites from various online threats.
Key Features:
Web Application Firewall (WAF): Provides comprehensive protection against common threats like SQL injection, XSS, and brute force attacks.
DDoS Protection: Protects against both Layer 3/4 and Layer 7 DDoS attacks, ensuring that websites remain online during attack attempts.
Malware Detection and Removal: Continuous website monitoring for malware and automatic removal of malicious files.
Content Delivery Network (CDN): Sucuri’s global CDN enhances website performance by reducing latency and improving load times for global users.
Use Cases:
Small to medium-sized businesses that need affordable website security and performance improvements.
Websites looking for integrated security services like malware protection alongside CDN.
Bloggers, eCommerce stores, and businesses requiring robust DDoS protection and WAF.
Strengths:
Focused on website security, providing robust protection for small to mid-sized websites.
Affordable pricing for website security and CDN services.
Easy-to-use dashboard with comprehensive security and performance features.
Drawbacks:
Limited CDN Reach: Sucuri's CDN network is smaller, potentially affecting performance in less-covered regions.
Website Security Focus: Primarily focused on security, it lacks advanced performance optimization features.
Basic Customization: Offers less granular control over CDN and firewall rules compared to competitors.
Limited Free Tier: The free plan lacks essential features like WAF and DDoS protection, requiring a paid plan for full access.
Not Ideal for Large Enterprises: Lacks the scalability and advanced features needed by large enterprises.
Pomerium is an ideal Cloudflare Zero Trust Access alternative because it is faster, offers context-aware access, and doesn’t require intercepting your data to implement policies.
Zscaler and Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access are ideal for large enterprises with global workforces and complex security needs.
Cisco Secure Access (Duo) focuses more on identity and access management, making it a great choice for companies that prioritize MFA and device posture checks.
Akamai is ideal for large enterprises needing a robust and globally distributed CDN with advanced security features.
Fastly is also a good Cloudflare alternative as it offers real-time control and edge computing for businesses needing flexibility and high performance.
Sucuri is great for small to mid-sized websites needing security, malware protection, and performance optimization at an affordable price.
