In the race to secure a remote workforce, many organizations face a common question: what’s the right kind of security for them? For large enterprises with deep pockets and dedicated IT teams, “best in class” often means investing in feature-packed, enterprise-grade tools like Zscaler. But for most small and mid-sized businesses, and for the Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who support them, Zscaler can feel like using a rocket ship to deliver the mail.
Remote WorkForce ZTNA offers the same Zero Trust principles that make Zscaler a respected name in enterprise security, but in a package that’s easier to deploy, simpler to manage, and built for the realities and budgets of smaller organizations.
This article explores how the two solutions compare, and why the “right-sized” option might actually be exactly right for many businesses.
Built for Different Buyers
Zscaler ZPA was designed with the Fortune 500 in mind. It needs a large IT team, has complex infrastructure, and results in broad-scale integrations across dozens of security tools. For these customers, Zscaler’s extensive SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) stack makes sense. It’s robust, feature-rich, and enterprise-proven, but that power comes with complexity, long deployments, and high costs.
Remote WorkForce ZTNA, on the other hand, is purpose-built for SMBs and MSPs. Its focus isn’t on adding every possible feature; it’s on delivering fast, reliable Zero Trust access without the enterprise overhead. For the organizations that simply want to protect their users, devices, and data quickly and affordably, RWF ZTNA hits the sweet spot between security and simplicity.
Deployment in Hours, Not Weeks
Zscaler deployments often involve weeks or even months of planning, complex policy configurations, and dedicated expertise. MSPs supporting smaller clients can find themselves overwhelmed by setup requirements and ongoing management tasks.
Remote WorkForce ZTNA flips that script. Its intuitive interface and setup wizards allows the technology to be implemented in hours, not weeks. There’s no need for specialized Zscaler training or professional services. MSPs can onboard clients quickly and scale up or down with ease, delivering immediate value without the long runway.
Pricing That Fits SMB Budgets
Zscaler’s pricing structure reflects its enterprise DNA. Minimum annual contracts start around $7,500–$25,000, and additional costs for professional services can push the total investment much higher. That’s before you factor in the ongoing resource commitment to manage it.
Remote WorkForce ZTNA takes a transparent, pay-as-you-go approach: $15 MSRP per user per month, with no contracts, no minimums, and no hidden fees. For a 30-user organization, that’s $450 per month, or $5,400 per year, which is a fraction of what Zscaler typically costs. For MSPs serving multiple SMB clients, that kind of predictable, scalable pricing makes a real difference in profitability and customer satisfaction.
Security That’s Right-Sized (and Then Some)
What we mean by Remote WorkForce ZTNA being ‘right-sized” is that it’s simply optimized for organizations that don’t need (or want to pay for) dozens of niche enterprise features they’ll never use. Remote WorkForce ZTNA is built on the same Zero Trust fundamentals that power enterprise systems: continuous verification, least-privilege access, multi-factor authentication, and encrypted data in transit.
For example, RWF ZTNA prevents lateral movement inside networks, enforces strong access controls, and verifies both user and device trust before granting access, all without slowing down performance or requiring extra hardware. It’s security that’s smart, efficient, and right-sized for smaller environments.
MSP-Friendly by Design
Where Zscaler’s partner program caters mainly to large service providers, Remote WorkForce ZTNA was created with everyday MSPs in mind. It supports native multi-tenancy, simple client management, and even white-labeling options for those who want to present a branded security solution to their customers. This means that MSPs can deploy, monitor, and support multiple clients from a single, streamlined console.
And when help is needed, RWF’s support team is just a call away. No long ticket queues or enterprise escalation paths. The support model is fast, personal, and SMB-focused.
Why “Best in Class” Isn’t Always Best
Zscaler’s full SASE suite is impressive. It integrates deep into global infrastructures, offers advanced analytics, and serves multinational corporations, as well as government agencies. But for a 50-person law firm, a regional manufacturer, or a local healthcare provider, that level of complexity can be unnecessary, and sometimes even counterproductive.
In many cases, the real-world tradeoff isn’t between “good” and “best.” It’s between “secure and simple” versus “secure and resource-intensive.” Remote WorkForce ZTNA provides everything SMBs need to enable secure remote access without burdening them with the costs and complications of an enterprise platform.
The Bottom Line
Zscaler ZPA is an excellent fit for large enterprises with dedicated security teams. But for MSPs and SMBs that value ease, speed, and affordability, Remote WorkForce ZTNA offers a right-sized alternative. It delivers Zero Trust security that’s simple to deploy, easy to manage, and priced for real-world budgets.
In the end, security isn’t just about having the biggest toolset; it’s about having the right one. For many organizations, Remote WorkForce ZTNA delivers exactly that: enterprise-grade protection without the enterprise pain.