Description
Overview
Perimeter 81 (now Check Point SASE) is a cloud-native Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform that replaces traditional VPNs with zero trust access. It securely connects remote employees, contractors, and branch offices to resources on-premises or in the cloud.
Key Capabilities
- ZTNA — Per-application access based on identity and device posture, eliminating lateral movement risks.
- Private Access — Full mesh secure connectivity via a global private backbone spanning 70+ data centers worldwide.
- Internet Access — 10x faster browsing with on-device inspection, web and DNS filtering, and malware protection.
- SaaS Security — AI-powered CASB with shadow SaaS discovery, anomaly detection, and data loss prevention.
- SD-WAN — Smart routing, sub-second failover, and zero-touch provisioning for branch offices.
Use Cases
Secure remote workforce access, hybrid work network security, M&A network integration, regulatory compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA), and enterprise VPN replacement.
Highlights
Pros
- Cloud-based zero-trust architecture eliminates the need for expensive on-premise hardware VPN appliances.
- Granular user and group permission management via a centralized web portal with role-based access controls.
- Integrates with major identity providers including Okta, G Suite, Azure AD, OneLogin, and on-premises Active Directory.
- Device Posture Check allows administrators to enforce security requirements (antivirus, disk encryption) before granting network access.
- On-the-fly creation of private VPN gateways with static IPs, deployable in minutes across multiple global regions.
- Uses AES-256 encryption with OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols, and passed all IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests.
Cons
- Server network is limited to 700 servers across only 16 countries, small compared to most enterprise VPN alternatives.
- Logs connection metadata including login timestamps, device hostnames, and origin IPs on private gateways, with the company based in Israel (a 5 Eyes ally).
- Management console has a steep learning curve, especially when configuring employee permissions and group policies.
- Customer support relies on chatbots and email ticketing with response times ranging from hours to a full day for basic plans.
- Speed performance is mediocre, with average throughput around 51 Mbps, well below many competing business VPN solutions.
- Users report frequent connection drops, crashes, and periodic instability requiring client reinstallation.