This past year was a defining one for all of us at Cato Networks and for the industry at large. The enterprise networking and security market is undergoing a seismic shift—one that we have long anticipated. The days of fragmented, bolt-on security solutions are over. The market has spoken, and it’s clear: enterprises demand a single, converged platform to securely connect their operations everywhere. Cato is delivering exactly that.

There was a time when owning a cassette or video player came with a side gig as a repair technician. Whether it was cleaning tape heads, fixing jammed reels, or rewinding tapes, maintenance was unavoidable. With streaming services, all of that effort has become a relic of the past. Music and videos now live in the cloud, accessible at any time, without the headaches of hardware upkeep. It’s a seamless experience—no more troubleshooting, just pure content consumption.

Cato announced today that it’s become the first SASE platform vendor to achieve PCI DSS v4.0 compliance. More specifically, compliance with PCI DSS v4.0.1. While particularly significant for retailers handling payment data, PCI DSS v4.0 compliance will also benefit non-retailers strengthening their security posture, reducing risk exposure, and demonstrating compliance with industry best practice.

The latest recognition of Cato Networks in the 2025 GigaOm Radar Report for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is just the newest example of our continued excellence in secure networking. Cato was named a Leader and Outperformer for a second consecutive year. Recently, Cato has been recognized for its innovation and leadership in AI-driven security, overall security efficacy, and SD-WAN by Frost & Sullivan and GigaOm.

Remote work. Cloud applications. Mobile devices. They’ve eliminated the days of traditional security perimeters. Today, security must happen at the device level—no matter where that device is. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) earned its place as the G.O.A.T. for remote access—and rightly so. It revolutionized how enterprises secure remote work, but it has its limitations and challenges. UZTNA (Universal Zero Trust Network Access) is the next evolution in zero trust.

As adults, we rarely question the safety of the medicine we consume. This confidence stems from knowing that these products undergo rigorous, independent testing before reaching pharmacy shelves. Security solutions, especially those critical to enterprise operations, deserve the same level of scrutiny. Before trusting a platform to safeguard our data and systems, it’s essential to verify that it can counter the sophisticated threats we face today.

There’s a new ransomware gang targeting critical infrastructure, government organizations, educational institutions, and energy sectors. Their name? Hellcat. But who exactly are they? Hellcat is a new ransomware gang that has surfaced across dark web forums in 2024. Hellcat employs a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, offering ransomware tools and infrastructure to affiliates in exchange for a share of the profits.

Transparency in security practices is essential for building trust in today’s interconnected digital world. Organizations that openly share certifications, audit reports, and policies demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding data and adhering to standards. This openness fosters stronger partnerships and sets a benchmark for accountability.

It’s becoming all too common these days: ransomware hitting another organization. However, most people don’t know exactly what happens when ransomware is found and what must be addressed. What makes it even more challenging for healthcare is that the data that can be stolen, like personal health information, is much more valuable than credit card numbers.