Microsegmentation · October 2026 Edition
Zscaler Private Access vs VMware NSX
One of fourteen models named Zscaler Private Access first on the direct prompt; zero named VMware NSX. Zscaler Private Access was named by eight of the fourteen models and VMware NSX by thirteen and Zscaler Private Access carries 14 labels and VMware NSX 32, so the shares are not directly comparable.
Named in three categories this edition.
Named in three categories this edition.
First-choice share2%2%Of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts, 0 to 100.
Negative rate0%41%Negative labels as a share of the product's labels, 0 to 100.
Rank in category#6#7A position in a field of 9; printed, not drawn.
Labels1432A count; the two differ.
The two percentage rows are drawn on one 0 to 100 track, Zscaler Private Access reading right to left. Rank and label count are printed, not drawn.ColorTokens Xshield was named alongside these two in twelve of the fourteen direct answers. ColorTokens Xshield vs Zscaler Private Access · ColorTokens Xshield vs VMware NSX · Illumio Segmentation vs Zscaler Private Access
Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all fourteen models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category; every quote names the model and the prompt it came from. Both figures come from the microsegmentation page.
By framing
How many of the fourteen models made each the first choice, per way of asking, and how many argued against it.
Zscaler Private AccessFirst choices, of fourteen modelsVMware NSX
Direct103 against VMware NSX
Paraphrase00
Comparative01
Budget-constrained001 against VMware NSX
Scale-constrained011 against VMware NSX
Negative008 against VMware NSX
Bars are first choices, 0 to 14 each sideModels that argued againstA model can name both, so the two sides of a row do not sum to fourteen.
Every model, every framing
The eighty-four answers behind the chart above, one cell each: where Zscaler Private Access and VMware NSX stood in it.
| Model | Direct | Paraphrase | Comparative | Budget-constrained | Scale-constrained | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | | |||||
| GPT-5.4 mini | | |||||
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | | | | | ||
| Perplexity Sonar | | | | | ||
| Grok 4.1 Fast | | | | | | |
| Mistral Small | | | ||||
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | | | | | ||
| Llama 4 Maverick | | |||||
| Qwen 3.7 Flash | | | | | ||
| Kimi K2 | | |||||
| GLM 4.7 FlashX | | | ||||
| MiniMax M2.5 | | | ||||
| GPT-6 Luna | ||||||
| Muse Glimmer 30B | | | |
Zscaler Private Access VMware NSX first choice named as an alternative argued againstblank: not namedEach cell is one answer, Zscaler Private Access on the left and VMware NSX on the right.The direct prompt
The plain question, one answer per model, grouped by where Zscaler Private Access and VMware NSX stood in it.
Zscaler Private Access first, VMware NSX not the choice
1 of 14 modelsVMware NSX was named in the answer but not as the choice, or not at all.Perplexity SonarColorTokens Xshield, Zscaler Private Access alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Cisco Secure Workload, Illumio Segmentation
Neither was the first choice, one was named
1 of 14 modelsThe answer put something else first and named one of the two as an alternative.Grok 4.1 FastColorTokens Xshield alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Illumio Segmentation, Zscaler Private Access
Neither was named
12 of 14 modelsThe answer made no first choice from these two in this category.Claude Haiku 4.5ColorTokens Xshield alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Cisco Secure Workload, Illumio Segmentation, Zero Networks Segment
GPT-5.4 miniIllumio Segmentation alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Zero Networks Segment
Gemini 3.5 FlashColorTokens Xshield alternatives: 6sense, Faddom, HubSpot, SideChannel, Zero Networks Segment
Mistral SmallColorTokens Xshield alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Elisity, Illumio Segmentation
DeepSeek V4 FlashColorTokens Xshield alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Illumio Segmentation
Llama 4 MaverickColorTokens Xshield
Qwen 3.7 FlashAkamai Guardicore Segmentation, Illumio Segmentation alternatives: ColorTokens Xshield
Kimi K2ColorTokens Xshield alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, SideChannel Enclave
GLM 4.7 FlashXColorTokens Xshield alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Illumio Segmentation
MiniMax M2.5ColorTokens Xshield alternatives: Illumio Segmentation
GPT-6 LunaIllumio Segmentation alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Cisco Secure Workload
Muse Glimmer 30BColorTokens Xshield alternatives: Akamai Guardicore Segmentation, Cisco Secure Workload, formerly Tetration, Illumio Segmentation
Bold names in an answer are the products the judge labeled a first choice; a model naming several gives each of them that label. The full answer text for every row is in the record.
By buyer segment
The same question asked on behalf of a different buyer. Each standing is computed within its segment and they are never added together. The figures above are the mid-market standing, which is the one the category orders by.
Small business
Zscaler Private Access leads by one point.
Zscaler Private Access1%#9 of 10VMware NSX0%#10 of 10Mid-marketThe figures above
Level: the same share of first choices.
Zscaler Private Access2%#6 of 9VMware NSX2%#7 of 9Enterprise
Level: the same share of first choices.
Zscaler Private Access2%#8 of 9VMware NSX2%#7 of 9What the models said about Zscaler Private Access
No label in this category carried a quote.
What the models said about VMware NSX
Every negative label with a quote, up to three, then the highest-weighted positives, up to three. Four of five in this category shown.
“Broadcom-led VMware NSX: While technically powerful, recent restructuring at Broadcom has caused confusion regarding licensing costs and support models. Be cautious of long-term contracts” Qwen 3.7 Flash · negative prompt · soft negative
“If you are a VMware Shop: Stick with VMware NSX. It is native, reliable, and easiest to manage.” Qwen 3.7 Flash · comparative prompt · first choice
“Illumio and VMware NSX are strong contenders for hybrid environments” Mistral Small · scale prompt · first choice
“If your infrastructure is 100% VMware, choose VMware NSX for seamless, low-overhead native security.” Gemini 3.5 Flash · comparative prompt · alternative
Also compared
ColorTokens Xshield vs Zscaler Private AccessColorTokens Xshield vs VMware NSXIllumio Segmentation vs Zscaler Private AccessIllumio Segmentation vs VMware NSXAkamai Guardicore Segmentation vs Zscaler Private AccessAkamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSXFaddom vs Zscaler Private AccessFaddom vs VMware NSXZero Networks Segment vs Zscaler Private AccessZero Networks Segment vs VMware NSXAll twenty-one head-to-head pages and the full microsegmentation standing
Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category, each against each. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.