Best Secure Web Gateways for Unified SASE

Secure Web Gateways (SWGs) are a critical component of SASE architecture, providing web filtering, threat protection, and data security for users regardless of location. We evaluated SWGs as part of unified SASE platforms.

5 tools listed|2026|No editorial scoring|Part of the SASE & Zero Trust guide

What this shortlist looks at

Cloud Architecture

Scalability, global coverage, and performance of the cloud-delivered SWG infrastructure including SSL/TLS inspection capacity.

Threat Protection

Quality of inline threat detection including malware scanning, phishing protection, and advanced threat protection for web traffic.

Data Loss Prevention

Inline DLP capabilities for web traffic including content inspection, sensitive data detection, and policy enforcement.

ZTNA Integration

Quality of zero-trust network access integration for replacing VPNs with identity-aware application access.

SASE Platform Completeness

How well the SWG integrates with CASB, ZTNA, FWaaS, and SD-WAN components for a complete SASE architecture.

Tools listed here

Cisco Secure Access

Best for Cisco Ecosystems

Cisco Secure Access (formerly Umbrella SIG) combines DNS-layer security with full SWG and ZTNA capabilities. Its integration with Cisco's networking and security portfolio makes it the natural SWG choice for Cisco customers.

Cisco's unified SASE platform converging Umbrella, Duo, and Meraki into cloud-delivered security

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Netskope

Best for Data Protection

Netskope's SWG excels at inline data protection with deep DLP capabilities across web traffic. Its Cloud Confidence Index provides visibility into shadow IT risk, and the NewEdge network delivers sub-10ms latency globally.

Cloud-native SASE platform with CASB and granular SaaS visibility

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Palo Alto Prisma Access

Best for Palo Alto Customers

Prisma Access provides SWG as part of Palo Alto's SASE platform, extending firewall policies to remote users and branch offices. Organizations already using Palo Alto firewalls get consistent security policies across all locations.

Enterprise SASE platform extending Palo Alto's next-gen firewall to cloud-delivered security

View listing Palo Alto Prisma Access alternatives

Skyhigh Security

Best for CASB-First SWG

Skyhigh Security's SWG evolved from its CASB leadership, providing the deepest cloud application visibility and control. Its unified policy engine covers web access and cloud application security in a single platform.

Data-aware SSE platform with pioneering CASB technology and deep cloud data protection

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Zscaler

Best Cloud-Native SWG

Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) is the market leader in cloud-delivered SWG with the larger global cloud infrastructure. Its inline inspection covers SSL/TLS traffic without performance degradation, and the zero-trust architecture eliminates the need for VPNs or on-premises proxies.

Cloud-native SASE and zero trust platform for secure internet and private application access

View listing Zscaler alternatives

For the full category walkthrough with every tool compared, see the SASE & Zero Trust guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) inspects and filters web traffic to protect users from web-based threats and enforce acceptable use policies. Modern cloud-delivered SWGs are a key component of SASE architecture, providing protection regardless of user location.

For most organizations, using the SWG built into your SASE platform (Zscaler, Netskope, Palo Alto, Cisco) provides better integration and simpler management. Standalone SWGs only make sense if your SASE vendor's SWG capabilities are significantly weaker.

SWG is becoming a component of SASE rather than a standalone product. Gartner no longer publishes a separate SWG Magic Quadrant, instead folding it into the Security Service Edge (SSE) evaluation. All major SWG vendors now position their products as part of SASE or SSE platforms.