Encrypted web traffic
Most web traffic is now encrypted — hiding threats that DNS-layer checks alone can't see inside.
Block threats before connections begin
Zen Secure Internet Access brings web filtering, cloud firewall, data protection and threat defence together in one cloud-delivered service, helping protect people wherever they connect.
It provides the internet and SaaS security capabilities of Security Service Edge (SSE) with the level of Zen management and control that suits you.
Zen Secure Internet Access · powered by Cisco Secure Access
The problem it solves
Work has moved beyond the network edge
People work across different locations and devices, often reaching cloud applications directly. Traffic no longer passes through a single office firewall, so security needs to protect users wherever they connect.
Direct-to-cloud access
Users reach SaaS apps directly, outside the corporate network, where traditional controls don't apply.
Sensitive data in motion
Business data moves through cloud services all day — and needs protecting wherever it travels.
What's Included
One service, layered protection
Secure Internet Access brings core Security Service Edge capabilities together in one cloud platform, covering web, cloud and data protection. It’s available in a range of tiers, and our team can help you choose the right fit for your organisation.
1
Secure web gateway
Inspect and filter web traffic, including encrypted connections, by category or specific URL.
2
Cloud firewall
Apply firewall policy to outbound traffic across all ports and protocols, delivered from the cloud.
3
Data loss prevention
Discover and control sensitive data, helping prevent leaks and support compliance.
4
Cloud app control (CASB)
See which cloud apps are in use, assess their risk, and control access to them.
5
Remote browser isolation
Render risky sites in an isolated cloud session, keeping threats away from the device.
6
DNS-layer security included
All the protection of DNS Defence is built in — SIA is the tier above, not a separate add-on.
What it protects
Inline protection for web, SaaS and cloud traffic
Zen Secure Internet Access is a cloud-delivered Secure Web Gateway. Unlike DNS-only protection, it can inspect web and SaaS traffic itself, including encrypted sessions, giving you greater visibility and control over what passes between users, websites and cloud applications.
Distributed branches · routed through secure IPsec tunnels to global cloud security hubs, for consistent protection at every site.
Roaming and mobile workers · full web proxying, SSL/TLS decryption and payload inspection, applied at the endpoint.
SaaS and data protection · inline DLP and CASB controls manage how data is shared across SaaS and GenAI apps.
Connection assurance · deep inspection paired with ThousandEyes monitoring to trace issues across device, network and cloud.
Why it matters
Cloud and AI use are creating new risks
Employees are increasingly entering business information into generative AI tools, creating new governance and data protection challenges.
57%1
of enterprise employees have entered confidential information into public generative AI tools — making real-time visibility and data controls increasingly important.
1,200+2
predefined data identifiers help detect and protect personal, financial and commercially sensitive information across 77 countries.
1,300+3
large language models can be brought under visibility and control — helping curb Shadow AI use across the business.
The Zen solution: protection for every web and cloud connection
Zen Secure Internet Access combines web security, SaaS controls, data loss prevention and digital experience monitoring in one cloud-delivered service, managed with support from Zen's UK-based team.
1 Tech Monitor survey, “57% of enterprise employees input confidential data into AI tools,” cited in Cisco’s partner webinar PIW — Go Managed: Secure the World with Cisco Managed SASE and SSE (February 2025): Cisco partner SASE materials; see also cisco.com/go/secure-access.
2 Cisco Secure Access Data Sheet — multimode Data Loss Prevention (Features and Benefits): Cisco Secure Access data sheet.
3 Cisco Secure Access — AI Access (visibility and control of 1,300+ LLMs to manage Shadow AI usage): Cisco Secure Access data sheet.
AI in secure internet access
Deeper protection for your data and code
With inline web inspection and data controls, SIA can identify risky activity involving AI tools and help prevent sensitive data or proprietary code being shared where it shouldn’t be.
Advantage
Understands risky prompts
AI-assisted analysis can identify risky prompt activity that simple keyword matching may miss, helping prevent sensitive information being shared with AI tools.
Advantage
Protects your source code
Stops staff pasting proprietary code into AI tools, and checks the code AI sends back so risky or copied code isn’t downloaded.
Advantage
Vets AI models before download
Blocks risky or unapproved AI models from repositories like Hugging Face before they reach your developers.
Why Zen
More than just a licence subscription
Zen supports DNS Defence from initial design and onboarding through to ongoing technical support and service reviews, reducing the day-to-day work for your team.
Onboarding & design
We design the service around your organisation and existing network.
- Solution architects design your network and policy layout
- We handle subscription and tenant setup
- Branch tunnel and identity provider integration
Support & escalation
One team to call, whatever the issue.
- First-line triage for connectivity and block events
- We own critical incidents end to end
- We raise and manage Cisco support cases for you
Reviews & lifecycle
We keep the service current as your needs change.
- Regular technical reviews of policy and software
- A dedicated security expert on Signature Support
- Reporting and planning as your estate evolves
Better together
Better performance with consistent protection
SD-WAN can route cloud and internet traffic directly for better performance. Secure Internet Access helps keep those direct paths consistently protected — and combined, managed SD-WAN and Secure Access form a practical route to a SASE architecture, adopted at your pace.
Managed SD-WAN
Helps optimise how traffic moves between your sites, users, cloud services and the internet. It can improve application performance, resilience and control across your network.
Secure Internet Access
Adds consistent, cloud-delivered protection for web and SaaS traffic, including traffic sent directly to the internet through local breakout.
A route to SASE
SASE combines cloud-delivered security with networking in a single architecture. You can adopt Secure Access and SD-WAN in the way that best fits your organisation.
Secure Internet Access can be used with Zen-managed SD-WAN, another network setup, or on its own.
Where it fits
Cloud security that works around your network
Zen Secure Access lets you add the cloud-delivered security capabilities your organisation needs, from DNS-layer protection to secure internet access and Zero Trust access to private applications. It can also form the security element of a wider SASE architecture.
Start here
DNS Defence
Block online threats before they reach your network
A simple first layer of protection across your organisation. Deployed in minutes, without installing software on every device.
- Block malicious and unwanted domains at the DNS layer
- Protect users, devices and locations
- Fast to deploy, light to run
Broaden You’re viewing this
Secure Internet Access
Deeper control over web and cloud traffic
As your requirements grow, SIA gives you more detailed protection and visibility. It can help you:
- Inspect encrypted web traffic
- Control access to websites and URLs
- Apply cloud-based firewall policies
- Protect sensitive information with data loss prevention
- Manage traffic to SaaS applications
Includes DNS-layer security — you move up to SIA rather than adding it on top of DNS Defence.
Extend
Secure Private Access
Give users access to applications, not the whole network
Traditional remote-access VPNs can give users broad access to your network once they sign in. Secure Private Access uses Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to grant access only to the applications people need, keeping your internal network hidden.
- Reduce unnecessary access
- Keep internal IP addresses hidden
- Limit the risk of threats moving between systems
- Apply more precise access policies
Architecture
SASE
Your network and cloud security, combined
SASE is what you get by adding Secure Access (SSE) to Zen-managed SD-WAN — Catalyst or Meraki.
- SD-WAN moves traffic; Secure Access protects it
- One consistent policy across sites, remote users and cloud
- Works with Catalyst, Meraki or a third-party WAN
- Adopt at your pace, with the level of Zen management that suits you
Try before you commit · up to 60 days, at no cost
See your exposure, then decide
See, control and protect how your people access the internet and cloud applications. Zen deploys Cisco Secure Access for up to 100 users, uncovers risky app and web usage, and hands you a findings pack to keep — whether or not you proceed.
A useful step towards Cyber Essentials, too — see where you stand before your assessment does.
Week 0
Agree what success looks like, in writing.
Weeks 1-2
We build, configure and go live — monitor-only first if you prefer.
Weeks 3+
Weekly evidence against your criteria.
Day 45-60
Findings pack, value review and your decision.
No payment details to start, and it doesn’t roll into a contract. At the end we
decommission the tenant — the findings are yours to keep.
Related services
Part of a wider security picture
Managed Firewalls
Protect your business from unauthorised access and internet security threats.
Cyber Triage
A monthly review and analysis service that flags issues affecting your security.
Managed SD-WAN
Resilient, cloud-ready networking that can combine with Secure Access as part of a SASE architecture.
Can't find your answer?
Get in touch with our dedicated support team via phone or email.
Opening times
Sales - Billing - Web Hosting
09:00 - 17:00
Mon - Fri
Technical Support
08:00 - 20:00
Mon - Fri
Order Management
08:00 - 18:00
Mon - Fri
The questions buyers actually ask
