Cybersecurity solutions 2026: New standards from Gartner and the answer to the cost equation
- marcom-vn
- Dec 16, 2025
- 5 min read
Are you looking for a comprehensive cybersecurity solution for 2026? A detailed comparison of Microsoft vs. Zscaler, Fortinet based on Gartner standards.
In the context of increasingly sophisticated AI-driven cyberattacks, traditional defense methods are gradually becoming ineffective. According to the latest report from Gartner, the cybersecurity market is witnessing a "great migration" to cloud platforms.
For IT leaders, the biggest question today is not "should we invest?", but "which cybersecurity solution should we invest in to be both secure and cost-optimized?".
This article will analyze trends from the Gartner report and propose a suitable roadmap for Vietnamese businesses.
1. Why is the old security model obsolete?
Before diving into solutions, we need to honestly assess the current reality. The "Castle-and-Moat" model – concentrating all data on internal servers and protecting them with a firewall – has collapsed for two reasons:
Data Dispersion: Businesses now use dozens of SaaS applications (Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Google Workspace) located outside the company firewall.
Hybrid Work: Employees access systems from coffee shops, airports, or home. Traditional VPNs often cause network congestion and become a critical point of failure if hackers compromise an account.
Therefore, a modern cybersecurity solution must meet SSE (Security Service Edge) standards – moving the security layer to the cloud edge, following the user rather than being tethered to the office.
Why is SSE the "Golden Key" for 2026?
Why does Gartner rate SSE so highly? Here are 3 reasons why it is a mandatory cybersecurity solution:
2.1. Data protection in the "work from anywhere" era
Your employees access company data from cafes, at home, or while traveling. Old solutions (like VPNs) are often sluggish and create major vulnerabilities if employee accounts are leaked.
Solution: Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) technology within SSE ensures that only authenticated users are granted access to the specific applications they need.
2.2. Proactive ransomware prevention
Ransomware is the biggest nightmare for businesses. Once data is encrypted, the damage is immense.
Solution: Secure Web Gateway (SWG) acts as a "gatekeeper" in the cloud, filtering out malicious websites and preventing malware from downloading to employee devices before it can cause harm.
2.3. Investment cost optimization
This is the factor SME owners care about most.
Reality: Instead of spending huge budgets (CapEx) to purchase and maintain hardware periodically, SSE allows businesses to switch to a flexible subscription model (OpEx). You pay for what you use.
Notable figure: Businesses applying SSE/SASE architecture can reduce network and security operating costs by 30-50% compared to traditional models.
3. The Market Landscape for Cybersecurity Solutions According to Gartner
Based on Gartner's latest Magic Quadrant Report, the market is divided into 4 strategic groups. Understanding the position of each group will help businesses choose the solution that "fits" their scale and budget best.
3.1. Leaders
This group shapes technology trends, suitable for Enterprise businesses prioritizing deep security capabilities and unafraid of costs.
Zscaler & Netskope: Two pioneers in completely eliminating hardware. They are strong in Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and blocking Zero-day threats thanks to a pure cloud-native architecture.
Palo Alto Networks: The perfect choice for organizations wanting to combine the power of Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW) with cloud security, integrating AI to automate attack detection.
3.2. Challengers
This group holds a large market share in cybersecurity solutions thanks to integration capabilities and cost optimization, especially suitable for Mid-market/Enterprise businesses in Vietnam.
Microsoft (Microsoft Entra):
Advantage: Included in the Microsoft 365 E5 license package. If a business already uses the Microsoft ecosystem, enabling SSE features (Internet Access, Private Access) saves significant costs on third-party solutions.
Strength: Seamless integration with Windows and user identity (Azure AD).
Fortinet:
Advantage: Dominates in Price/Performance. Fortinet provides a unified SASE solution (Single-Vendor SASE), combining both SD-WAN networking and security on the same device/platform.
Suitable for: Retail chains, banks, or businesses with multiple branches needing stable connectivity and synchronized security.
3.3. Visionaries
Cloudflare: Originating as a CDN provider, Cloudflare offers extremely fast access speeds and a global Edge network coverage. This is the choice for tech companies or Startups prioritizing high-speed user experience.
3.4. Niche Players
Cisco & Broadcom (Symantec): Traditional security monuments with loyal customer bases. They are in the process of aggressively migrating old infrastructure to the cloud, suitable for businesses wanting a slow upgrade roadmap, avoiding abrupt changes (Rip-and-replace).
4. Should you choose Microsoft or Specialized Vendors?
A common question from CIOs: "Why should I buy Zscaler when I already have Microsoft E5?". Below is a comparison table to clarify the differences:
Criteria | Microsoft (SSE/Entra) | Zscaler / Netskope / Palo Alto |
Investment Cost | Optimized (Often included in existing Licenses) | Higher (Separate license costs) |
Deployment | Simple (Pre-integrated with User AD) | In-depth (Requires technical deployment team) |
Security Depth | Good enough for most office needs | Best-in-class, deeper Zero-day and DLP capabilities |
Multi-platform Support | Most optimized for Windows environments | Optimized for all platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Linux...) |
Advice: Choose Microsoft if you need simplicity and savings. Choose Leaders if the business holds sensitive data (Finance, Healthcare) and requires the strictest compliance.
Cybersecurity Solution from IPSIP Vietnam - FlexSecure 360: Simple, Easy to Use, Cost-Effective
Understanding that the biggest barrier for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is not a lack of cybersecurity awareness, but rather limited budgets and a shortage of specialized personnel, IPSIP Vietnam brings FlexSecure 360 – a security platform "tailor-made" to break down these barriers.
5.1. Optimized Operating Costs
Unlike common security solution packages on the market, FlexSecure 360 applies a flexible payment mechanism calculated by the actual number of employees.
Benefit: Businesses only pay for what they actually use. Whether you have 10 or 100 personnel, security costs are always under control, helping to fully convert the burden of infrastructure investment into minimal operating costs.
5.2. No Need for In-House Experts
One of the biggest headaches for SMEs is the inability to recruit or maintain a high-quality cybersecurity IT team. FlexSecure 360 is designed to resolve this issue thoroughly:
Simplified Interface: Designed for easy management without requiring deep technical skills.
Automated Operation: Helps business owners peacefully focus on core business, while the system automatically protects digital assets against threats.
5.3. Specialized Multi-Layer Protection
Despite being cost-optimized, FlexSecure 360 does not cut corners on security quality. The system provides comprehensive protection right from the first touchpoints:
Secure Email: Prevents Phishing and malware distributed via email – the most common attack path today.
Robust System: Security modules are customized flexibly based on the scale and specific needs of each business, ensuring no loopholes are left open.
6. What do businesses gain when investing correctly?
Applying next-generation cybersecurity solutions brings numbers that speak for themselves:
Reduce TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) by 30-50%: Thanks to shifting from hardware procurement to service subscriptions.
Proactive Ransomware Prevention: Isolates risks, preventing malware from spreading system-wide.
Increased Employee Experience: Faster application access, no longer dependent on slow VPNs.
In 2026, the boundary between networking and security has blurred. An effective cybersecurity solution must be a combination of advanced cloud technology (according to Gartner standards) and professional monitoring operations.
Whether choosing Microsoft, Fortinet, or Zscaler, the most important thing is that businesses need to act today to build a solid digital shield.
Do you need advice on the solution best suited for your existing infrastructure?
👉 Contact IPSIP Vietnam to receive a system assessment and free SSE strategy consultation.
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