Cellular SASE by Transatel and Zscaler: Securing each IoT connection without agents

Across every continent, enterprises are embracing mobile‑first operations, IoT automation, and distributed workforces, turning cellular connectivity into critical business infrastructure. Yet this reliance exposes a growing gap: billions of connected devices now operate beyond the reach of traditional enterprise defenses. Laptops, routers, sensors, and vehicles connect to core systems across miles and borders, often outside corporate perimeters and beyond the visibility of IT security teams.

At the same time, the threats are expanding. More than 4 billion cellular IoT devices were in service in 2024, a number expected to nearly double by 2030. The industry has seen a 400% annual increase in malware attacks targeting IoT and OT environments. Enterprises still separate how they protect people and systems, using SASE or Zero Trust for the workforce and VPNs or APNs for remote assets. That split is no longer sustainable.

The need for convergence of IT & OT Security for IoT 

Historically, IT (Information Technology) and OT(Operational Technology) were secured through distinct strategies. IT networks focused on data protection and user access, whereas OT environments prioritized availability, predictability, and safety. But as IoT gains momentum, those boundaries have dissolved. Connected devices in factories, fleets, and energy grids talk directly to cloud apps and analytics systems. A single vulnerability can move from operational systems into IT networks and vice versa, making unified security essential.  

Cellular IoT devices also bring new challenges. They roam across carriers and borders, may run for years without human oversight, and often lack the resources to run security agents. Legacy connectivity tools such as VPNs were designed for offices, not global fleets of unattended endpoints. They rely on trust in the underlying network, create wide attack surfaces, and require traffic backhaul through data centers that compromise performance and scalability. 

The result is a patchwork of VPNs, APNs, and custom tunnels that offer limited visibility, inconsistent policy enforcement, and high operational complexity. At the same time, attacks on IoT and OT systems continue to rise, amplifying enterprise risk and regulatory scrutiny.  

To secure the next generation of connected business, IT and OT need to converge under a unified model that applies Zero Trust principles across every device, network, and region. What the industry needs is simple yet transformative: enterprise‑grade Zero Trust security that is cloud‑delivered, scalable, and already built into cellular connectivity itself. By embedding protection directly into the SIM, organizations gain secure access, policy consistency, and traffic inspection for every connected endpoint – no hardware changes or software agents required. 

Introducing Cellular SASE: When the SIM becomes the security agent 

Transatel and Zscaler have announced a global partnership that converges cellular connectivity and Zero Trust security in a single architecture. The result is Cellular SASE, a model that transforms the SIM card into the enforcement point for secure access, with no hardware replacement or software agents required.  

Cellular SASE integrates three key components into one solution:  

• Transatel’s global IoT connectivity, powered by its fully owned mobile core network  
• Zscaler’s Zero Trust Exchange, the cloud-native platform for traffic inspection, segmentation, and policy enforcement 
• Policy mechanisms enabling authentication and enforcement directly at the network layer   

All cellular traffic is routed from the device through Transatel’s core and then securely into the Zscaler cloud, where Zero Trust mechanisms apply before traffic reaches applications, services, or enterprise systems. 

A unified infrastructure for connectivity and security 

The solution extends the modern SASE model to the cellular domain. Internet-bound traffic gains secure web access and threat prevention. Cloud connections are governed by precise policy-based controls. Private enterprise apps remain safely behind Zero Trust access. Enterprises gain a unified framework that secures Internet, cloud, and private resources across every cellular-connected endpoint – wherever they operate.  

Cellular SASE provides centralized, cloud-based visibility across devices and geographies, removing the complexity of VPNs and perimeter gateways. And since it leverages SIM-based identity at the network level, it delivers Zero Trust access without touching device firmware or installing software. This is agentless Zero Trust built for a world of billions of connected devices. 

Why enterprises should care: The value behind this partnership

The joint architecture from Transatel and Zscaler establishes a consistent, secure flow from the Transatel core, through the cellular edge, and into the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange. This integrated design unites the strengths of both platforms to provide a secure, scalable, cloud-based model for cellular IoT. 

On the connectivity side, Transatel provides a segmented cellular environment with no exposed external attack surface. It operates within a private, non-publicly addressable cellular environment and maintains full multi-operator independence. Enterprises can retain their existing SIMs and integrate through standard cellular methods without any hardware redesign.  

On the security side, Zscaler extends its Zero Trust service edge directly to cellular traffic. This brings centralized visibility, unified policy enforcement, and direct-to-cloud routing for both Internet and IaaS destinations. The platform also allows secure remote access, whether agent-based or agentless, while removing the need to backhaul cellular traffic through enterprise networks.  

For enterprises, this integrated architecture reduces the complexity and cost of VPNs and private circuits. It enables a consistent Zero Trust posture across workforce devices, operational assets, and IoT endpoints. The solution supports diverse environments, from public networks to private and hybrid 5G, within a single operational framework. This is the true convergence of networking and security, delivered through the world’s most universal connective element: the SIM. 

Why now: The edge has arrived 

The modern enterprise no longer lives inside the data center. Devices at the edge operate independently, across continents and clouds. Cellular SASE extends Zero Trust security to each of them, offering a unified, cloud-first foundation for the hyper-connected future

Scalability and flexibility: A partnership built for global scale

The partnership between Transatel and Zscaler represents a new benchmark for secure, cloud‑delivered connectivity on a global scale. Each company brings complementary strengths designed to simplify and secure enterprise operations everywhere they connect.

Transatel provides a fully owned MNO‑grade core network, extensive coverage across more than 200 countries and territories, and deep expertise in managing multi‑operator access and roaming for IoT deployments. This foundation enables enterprises to connect and protect distributed assets anywhere in the world with a resilient and flexible cellular infrastructure.  

Zscaler contributes the power of its Zero Trust Exchange, a cloud‑native platform that delivers inline inspection, policy enforcement, and secure access through one of the world’s most widely distributed security clouds. With points of presence strategically deployed worldwide and strong alignment with both telecom and cloud ecosystems, Zscaler allows enterprises to apply consistent Zero Trust security to any device, no matter where it operates or connects. 

Together, Transatel and Zscaler offer a unified platform for connectivity, traffic steering, Zero Trust policy management, and global security visibility, all delivered through the SIM. This integration transforms cellular connectivity into a secure, policy‑driven access layer that covers IoT, OT, and IT devices across the enterprise landscape. 

Editor’s final thoughts: 

Cellular SASE marks a new chapter in digital infrastructure. It replaces complexity with simplicity and silos with consistency. Transatel and Zscaler are delivering that transformation today, with a global model for secure, cloud‑based protection built to grow alongside the world’s expanding IoT landscape.