Cato Networks Unveils NSaaS Platform, Assigns New Americas Channel Chief

Network security startupCato Networks is looking to provide channel partners with the ability to provide Network Security as a Service (NSaaS) to their customers with the launch of Cato Cloud, a managed services alternative to traditional network security solutions.

Like other “as a service” solutions of its class, Cato Cloud takes the concept of legacy network security solutions, which were traditionally expensive to utilize across businesses with distributed infrastructures, and allows IT administrators to virtualize their security for use across the entire network. The company said its approach to network security cuts down on the cost of distributing security to mobile devices and branch offices while eliminating the infrastructure strain typically associated with legacy solutions.“Network security must scale and adapt quickly to support new business requirements and the evolving threat landscape. However, the current appliance-based infrastructure can’t keep up and is too expensive and too complex to sustain, especially for mid-sized and resource-constrained companies,” said Shlomo Kramer, CEO and co-founder of Cato, in a statement. “Cato is creating the next chapter in the evolution of network security by unifying the network and security stack in the Cloud, addressing multiple enterprise challenges and use cases with one turnkey, service-based solution.”

Technically speaking, Cato Cloud consists of two layers, including the Cato Cloud Network and Cato Network Security Services, according to the announcement. Cato Cloud Network is a global network of Points of Presence, or PoPs, while Cato Network Security Services includes a suite of cloud-based network security solutions, the company explained in the official press release. The platform, which is managed by Cato’s Network and Security Operations Center, combines both WAN and Internet traffic in the cloud under a unified set of security services.

The launch of Cato Cloud comes in unison with the appointment of former Barracuda Networks (CUDA) executive Glenn Esposito as Cato’s vice president of Sales, Americas, responsible for overseeing the company’s sales and channel efforts in the Americas. Esposito joins the Israeli security company this month after spending five years in various positions at Barracuda, including his most recent stint as senior vice president of Sales for the Americas.

Cato also received $20 million in Series A funding as the company looks to build a name for itself in the IT security market.