Per-user shadow AI discovery across 10,000+ AI tools
Aona browser pluginDetection catalog; policy enforcement on the top-tier assistants
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerSteered traffic via the Zero Trust Exchange, per user with Client Connector
Workforce AI Security · Why Aona
Aona
Zscaler
Aona vs Zscaler
Choose Aona for employee AI security.
See what sets Aona apart, compare the details, and try it on your own devices.
30-day free trialSOC 2 Type II
The verdict
The Aona advantage
Aona is built for employee AI security. Its offer includes a guided 30-day trial, hard block on prompts and file uploads with no user override, layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction, coverage of the ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude desktop apps, real-time coaching and seven Aona-managed hosting regions, with a first signal during the agreed evaluation. Zscaler is for network-edge access control and SSE policy: its AI App Control, inline DLP and prompt capture apply where traffic is steered through the Zero Trust Exchange with TLS inspection, and stop where steering stops, at certificate-pinned apps and unsteered traffic, with native desktop app coverage and prompt redaction not stated.
About this comparison
Aona secures what employees type, paste and upload into AI tools on the devices where it is deployed: hard block with no user override, layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction and real-time coaching, in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari and in the ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude desktop apps. Zscaler secures the network path: AI App Control, inline DLP and prompt capture across 250+ GenAI apps when traffic is steered through the Zero Trust Exchange with TLS inspection. This page shows where each one enforces and what a Zscaler customer gains by adding Aona.
The Workforce AI Security platform for any company adopting generative AI, with broader endpoint coverage than the incumbents, a simpler trial, and one of the few that ships hard-block DLP for AI prompts and files.
Zscaler: Zero-trust SSE with a 2026 'Secure Access to AI' expansion: AI app control, inline DLP, and prompt capture at the network edge.
Decision matrix
When to pick Aona
Five buyer scenarios, answered for employee AI use.
01Employees paste customer data into sanctioned AI apps on managed devices.
Aona
Zscaler's inline DLP acts on steered traffic with TLS inspection, and its coach action sits at app access rather than inside the prompt. Aona reads the prompt at submit on the device, hard-blocks with no user override, redacts DOCX, XLSX and PDF uploads with the layout intact and coaches the employee on that exact prompt.
02Employees use certificate-pinned or native desktop AI apps, or traffic bypasses steering.
Aona
Zscaler Client Connector steers traffic on or off the corporate network, but inspection still depends on that steering plus TLS inspection; certificate-pinned apps fall outside it and native desktop app coverage is not stated. Aona inspects in the browser and in the ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude desktop apps at the point of use, on the devices where it is deployed.
03You need to show the board a behaviour-change trend, not just an incident count.
Aona
Zscaler reports incidents per period and, with AI Protect, conversation views of captured prompts. Aona reports policy violations per team, per tool and per data type over time, tied to the coaching that changes the trend.
04You want AI prompt and file controls running this month, proven on a trial you run yourself.
Aona
Zscaler's GenAI Security is an add-on to Data Security, scoped through sales with no self-serve trial. Aona has a 30-day guided trial that runs beside Zscaler with no network changes, so the first signal lands during the agreed evaluation.
05You only need to block unsanctioned AI apps at the network edge.
Zscaler
Network-edge app blocking is Zscaler's own category: AI App Control decides which AI apps steered traffic reaches. Blocking at the edge does not read what employees paste into the apps you sanction, so verify that gap, because that is where Aona's hard-block prompt and file DLP applies.
Capability matrix
What each tool actually does
Choose a priority. Compare Aona’s browser plugin and native app with the other product.
| Capability | Aona browser plugin | Aona native app | Zscaler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover | |||
| Per-user shadow AI discovery across 10,000+ AI tools | Detection catalog; policy enforcement on the top-tier assistants | Supported | Steered traffic via the Zero Trust Exchange, per user with Client Connector |
| Prompt inspection at submit, before the prompt reaches the AI provider | Supported | Supported | Inline in the proxy; needs steering plus TLS inspection |
| Native desktop AI app interception (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude desktop) | The browser plugin covers the browser only | Supported | Not stated by Zscaler; steered, non-pinned traffic only |
| AI agent and MCP inspection on the endpoint | Not included | Limited rollout, not general availability | Not publicly documented |
| Network-level AI discovery on the corporate network without an endpoint agent (SSE) | Not included | Not included | All traffic steered through the Zero Trust Exchange |
| Govern | |||
| Real-time employee coaching at the moment of a risky prompt | Supported | Supported | Coach action at app access and post-incident coaching, not in the prompt |
| AI policy templates: EU AI Act, ISO 42001, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR | Supported | Supported | Not publicly documented |
| Per-team policy violation trends and AI adoption analytics | Supported | Supported | Incident dashboards and AI Protect conversation views, not per-team trends |
| Protect | |||
| Hard block on prompts and file uploads with no user override | Supported | Supported | Inline DLP blocks steered traffic; override behaviour not documented |
| Layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction on upload | Supported | Supported | Inline DLP blocks; prompt and file redaction not stated |
| Network-edge block of unsanctioned AI apps (SSE) | Not included | Not included | Core capability |
| Operations | |||
| Choice of seven Aona-managed hosting regions | Supported | Supported | Not publicly documented |
| SIEM export: Microsoft Sentinel via OCSF, REST API and webhooks | Supported | Supported | Nanolog Streaming Service feeds SIEMs, including Sentinel |
| Free 30-day guided trial | Supported | Supported | Sales-led, no self-serve trial; GenAI Security is a Data Security add-on |
| Time to first signal | Agree during scoping | Agree during scoping | Already deployed for steered traffic |
Discover
Prompt inspection at submit, before the prompt reaches the AI provider
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerInline in the proxy; needs steering plus TLS inspection
Native desktop AI app interception (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude desktop)
Aona browser pluginThe browser plugin covers the browser only
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerNot stated by Zscaler; steered, non-pinned traffic only
AI agent and MCP inspection on the endpoint
Aona browser pluginNot included
Aona native appLimited rollout, not general availability
ZscalerNot publicly documented
Network-level AI discovery on the corporate network without an endpoint agent (SSE)
Aona browser pluginNot included
Aona native appNot included
ZscalerAll traffic steered through the Zero Trust Exchange
Govern
Real-time employee coaching at the moment of a risky prompt
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerCoach action at app access and post-incident coaching, not in the prompt
AI policy templates: EU AI Act, ISO 42001, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerNot publicly documented
Per-team policy violation trends and AI adoption analytics
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerIncident dashboards and AI Protect conversation views, not per-team trends
Protect
Hard block on prompts and file uploads with no user override
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerInline DLP blocks steered traffic; override behaviour not documented
Layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction on upload
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerInline DLP blocks; prompt and file redaction not stated
Network-edge block of unsanctioned AI apps (SSE)
Aona browser pluginNot included
Aona native appNot included
ZscalerCore capability
Operations
Choice of seven Aona-managed hosting regions
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerNot publicly documented
SIEM export: Microsoft Sentinel via OCSF, REST API and webhooks
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerNanolog Streaming Service feeds SIEMs, including Sentinel
Free 30-day guided trial
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
ZscalerSales-led, no self-serve trial; GenAI Security is a Data Security add-on
Time to first signal
Aona browser pluginAgree during scoping
Aona native appAgree during scoping
ZscalerAlready deployed for steered traffic
Based on vendor documentation as of September 2026. Email trust@aona.ai if you find a factual error.
Deployment
From evaluation to rollout.
Aona
- Shape
- Browser plugin for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari plus a native endpoint app for Windows and macOS, deployed by IT with its existing software deployment tools (Intune is one option). No network routing or DNS changes.
- Time to first signal
- Agree during scoping
- What IT must change
- Push the plugin and the endpoint app with your usual deployment tooling and connect Microsoft Entra for admin SSO and user or group sync. Nothing changes on the network, in the SSE or in Microsoft 365.
- Prerequisites
- A software deployment tool for managed devices (Intune, Jamf or equivalent)
- Microsoft Entra for admin SSO and user or group sync; general OIDC or SAML also works
Zscaler
- Shape
- SSE inline proxy. Already deployed in your case.
- Time to first signal
- Already deployed
- What IT must change
- None to add Aona. Existing SSE config stays put.
- Prerequisites
- Active Zscaler tenant
Scope, stated plainly
Know the scope. Plan with confidence.
Aona
- Aona does not enforce at the network edge. It enforces on the device, at the moment of use.
- Coverage needs the Aona plugin or endpoint app on the device. There is no agentless or network-only mode, so personal and unmanaged devices are out of scope.
- No iOS or Android coverage: AI use on phones is out of scope.
- Aona has a SOC 2 Type II examination report. No FedRAMP, IRAP or ISO 27001 today.
- AI agent and MCP inspection ships in limited rollout on the native endpoint app, not general availability.
Zscaler
- Prompt capture and inline DLP require full traffic steering with TLS inspection. Certificate-pinned apps and unsteered traffic fall outside them.
- Coverage depends on Client Connector being installed and enrolled. Devices without it, such as unmanaged, personal, or contractor machines, are outside inspection.
- The coach action applies at app access and in post-incident coaching. There is no in-prompt learning loop on the text the employee typed. As of September 2026.
- Native desktop app coverage and prompt or file redaction are not stated on the AI Access Security page; enforcement is a network-path block. As of September 2026.
- GenAI Security is an add-on to Data Security and AI features sit in top-tier bundles, scoped through sales. No self-serve trial. As of September 2026.
Security review facts
Ready for your security review.
Certifications, data handling, and residency for both vendors, answered up front so your GRC and legal review can start from this page.
Certifications
Aona
SOC 2 Type II (observation period to January 2026, report issued March 2026; trust center at trust.aona.ai). No FedRAMP or IRAP today.
Zscaler
FedRAMP High and IRAP PROTECTED. As of July 2026.
Trial
Aona
Free for 30 days. Start with a scoping conversation; access is arranged after deployment requirements are confirmed.
Zscaler
Sales-led; GenAI Security is a Data Security add-on and AI features sit in top-tier bundles. No self-serve trial. As of September 2026.
Where prompts are processed
Aona
Choose backend hosting separately from Aona prompt processing. Host the backend in your cloud, on your premises or on Aona-managed servers. Process prompts on the user device/on-edge, in your cloud or on-premises, or on Aona-managed servers. Confirm the supported configuration, retention, telemetry and integrations for your rollout; these choices do not change a third-party AI provider's data handling.
Zscaler
Prompts are inspected inline in the Zscaler cloud when traffic is steered through it with TLS inspection enabled, including from roaming devices running Client Connector. Certificate-pinned apps, traffic that bypasses steering, and devices without Client Connector are not inspected.
Data residency
Aona
Aona-managed backend hosting has seven regions: Australia, France, UK, Germany, US, Singapore and Hong Kong. Select prompt processing separately; confirm storage, retention, telemetry and any cross-region transfers for the supported configuration. Third-party AI providers have their own data handling.
Zscaler
Not publicly documented (as of July 2026)
DPA and security docs
Aona
DPA available on request. Trust center at trust.aona.ai, security overview at aona.ai/security. SOC 2 report under NDA.
Zscaler
Not publicly documented (as of July 2026)
Competitor facts come from public documentation and pricing pages. Where a vendor does not publish a fact, we say so rather than guess. Corrections: trust@aona.ai.
How they layer
How Aona and Zscaler work together
Aona runs on the device and Zscaler runs at the edge. Aona hard-blocks, redacts and coaches at the prompt, in the browser and in the native desktop apps; Zscaler keeps deciding which apps steered traffic reaches. The result is fewer events for the SSE to log, because employees stop creating them.
Human layer
Aona intercepts in the browser and the native endpoint app at the point of use, hard-blocks or redacts, coaches the employee, and tracks behaviour change.
Network layer
Zscaler steers traffic through the Zero Trust Exchange, on or off the corporate network, categorises AI app usage and prompts, and blocks unsanctioned apps at the edge.
Fewer violations
Employees learn faster than they break things. Your SSE handles less noise.
Sources & review notes ↗Page updated:
Aona publishes these comparisons to explain its fit for employee AI use. Competitor facts come from public documentation, are dated, and are stated as mechanisms you can verify. Corrections: trust@aona.ai.
- Zscaler AI Access Security
Product reference: AI access policies, prompt controls and the network inspection product. This overview is not independent test evidence for every granular comparison claim.
- Aona coverage and deployment scope
Aona's client and action boundaries; validate the configuration and actual policy result during your Aona pilot.
Get started
See what traffic steering does not show you
Free for 30 days. Start with a scoping conversation; access is arranged after deployment requirements are confirmed.
FAQ
Common questions from Zscaler customers
Do we need Aona if we already have Zscaler?
Yes. Aona enforces on the device at the moment an employee submits a prompt or uploads a file: hard block with no user override, layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction and real-time coaching, in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari and in the ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude desktop apps. Zscaler enforces on the network path, where its AI App Control, inline DLP and prompt capture depend on traffic being steered through the Zero Trust Exchange with TLS inspection; certificate-pinned apps and unsteered traffic fall outside it, and prompt redaction and native desktop app coverage are not stated. The two run side by side with no change to the SSE configuration.
Will Aona conflict with our Zscaler deployment?
No. Aona is a browser plugin and an endpoint app that operate at a different layer from Zscaler. No network configuration change is required, and the first signal arrives during the agreed evaluation, with zero changes to the SSE setup.
We already get shadow AI reports from Zscaler. Why do we need more?
Aona reads the prompt in the browser and in the native endpoint app at the moment of use, so certificate-pinned apps and traffic that bypasses steering are still inspected on the devices where Aona is deployed, and it hard-blocks or redacts prompts and files rather than only reporting them, with behaviour trends per team and per tool over time. Zscaler's 2026 'Secure Access to AI' expansion added prompt capture and categorisation across 250+ GenAI apps, so it sees more than app counts wherever traffic is steered through the Zero Trust Exchange with TLS inspection. Those are different vantage points, and Aona is the one that stops the prompt.
Can we run both Aona and Zscaler in a 30-day trial before committing?
Yes. That path lets teams add employee AI controls without changing the network. Aona's 30-day guided trial runs alongside the existing Zscaler deployment with no network changes. The first signal arrives during the agreed evaluation: employee-level behaviour trends, coaching effectiveness, which teams need the most support, and the prompts and uploads Aona blocked or redacted on the device.
What does our Zscaler team need to do to set Aona up?
Almost nothing. Aona deploys as a browser plugin for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari and a native endpoint app for Windows and macOS, pushed by IT with its existing software deployment tooling (Intune is one option), and connects to Microsoft Entra for admin SSO and user or group sync. No network routing changes and no Zscaler configuration changes. The first signal arrives during the agreed evaluation.
What is Zscaler for, and where does its AI coverage stop?
Aona secures employee AI use; Zscaler's own category is network-edge access control and SSE policy, and it holds FedRAMP High and IRAP PROTECTED where procurement requires them (Aona holds SOC 2 Type II, with no FedRAMP or IRAP today). Its AI controls, AI App Control, inline DLP, prompt capture across 250+ GenAI apps and the June 2026 AI Protect conversation views, apply where traffic is steered through the Zero Trust Exchange with TLS inspection. They stop at certificate-pinned apps and unsteered traffic, the coach action sits at app access rather than inside the prompt, and prompt redaction and native desktop app coverage are not stated. Aona covers those on the device, with a 30-day guided trial.