Zscaler Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS) and Carahsoft Technology Corp. announced an expanded partnership on Aug. 18, 2026, to deliver enterprise-proven, cloud-native Zero Trust security to the U.S. small and medium-sized business (SMB) and mid-market segments. The initiative aims to address the resource constraints faced by these organizations while countering ransomware, phishing, and identity-based cyber threats.
The companies will leverage Carahsoft’s extensive distribution network and trusted reseller relationships to streamline access to the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform. This approach targets growing businesses that face similar cyber risks as large enterprises but require simpler, more economically predictable security models.
Key Partnership Features
The expanded collaboration introduces several standardized frameworks designed to accelerate adoption and reduce operational burden:
- Standardized SMB-Ready Customer Offers: Curated Zero Trust Exchange bundles and deployment accelerators tailored for rapid time to value.
- Simplified Consumption: Predictable, right-sized pricing and packaging aligned to SMB budgets, with streamlined procurement through Carahsoft’s reseller ecosystem.
- Partner Enablement at Scale: Repeatable onboarding playbooks, reference architectures, and support alignment to enable partners to service the SMB market seamlessly.
- Go-to-Market Partner Velocity: Unified marketing motions and co-selling frameworks built to accelerate channel engagement and market execution.
Strategic Rationale
Anthony Torsiello, SVP of Global Partner Ecosystem at Zscaler, stated that SMB and mid-market organizations need a model built for simplicity, speed, and economic predictability. He noted that the expansion makes the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange more accessible to a large, underserved segment, enabling partners to deliver world-class security outcomes without enterprise complexity.
Craig P. Abod, President of Carahsoft, emphasized that combining Zscaler’s cloud security platform with Carahsoft’s channel expertise helps partners accelerate adoption and simplify the buying process. The goal is to deliver long-term value to customers by replacing legacy security stacks and appliance-based architectures with a unified, cloud-delivered Zero Trust model.
What the Numbers Show
While no financial figures were disclosed in the announcement, the strategic shift highlights a clear dependency on channel partners for market penetration in the SMB segment. By moving from direct enterprise sales to a partner-led model via Carahsoft, Zscaler is effectively outsourcing customer acquisition and deployment costs for this specific tier, trading margin control for volume scalability in an underserved market.