Cloudflare Access vs Prisma Access

Cloudflare Access controls access to self-hosted apps, SaaS applications, and infrastructure by checking identity, device posture, and other context on each request. Policies can grant access at the individual resource level, and applications deny access unless a user matches an Allow policy. It supports SAML- and OIDC-compliant identity providers, including enterprise and social providers, as well as Cloudflare as an identity provider. Contractors, partners, and people using unmanaged devices can connect through a browser with social sign-in or a one-time PIN. Access can replace or supplement a legacy VPN by limiting access to specific applications, and its controls also cover infrastructure such as SSH and RDP. Administrators can manage policies centrally and scale them through APIs and Terraform. Publishing a self-hosted public application requires an active Cloudflare domain with full or partial CNAME setup. The free plan is for fewer than 50 users; paid service starts at $7/user/mo (annual).

Prisma Access is a cloud-delivered security solution for users, applications, devices, and data across office, branch, and remote locations. It provides least-privileged application access and is designed to reduce reliance on traditional VPNs. Secure Web Gateway protection addresses web threats, while CASB capabilities provide SaaS visibility, inline and API-based controls, and contextual policies for sensitive data. Firewall as a Service adds threat prevention, application control, and Zero Trust policies. Prisma Agent connects users to organizational networks, SaaS applications, and the internet while extending security policies to their devices. The agent supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with requirements varying by platform. Authentication integrations include Cloud Identity Engine, SAML, TACACS+, RADIUS, LDAP, Kerberos, MFA, and local database authentication. Administrators use Panorama or Strata Cloud Manager, but must select the interface before setup because it cannot later be changed. Insights APIs monitor deployment health and performance. The service is paid, has no free plan, and pricing is on request.