A New Way to Partner: Inside the Cato Networks Channel First Partner Program 

The market is evolving, and partners need more than a one-size-fits-all partner program to stay competitive.  

That’s why I’m excited to share that today we’re introducing the Cato Networks Channel First Partner Program—a purpose-built framework that aligns with how you go-to-market. This modular program, with specialization tracks for every partner type—Resellers, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Service Providers (SPs), Distributors, and Referral Partners—adapts to your model, not the other way around. Whether you sell, manage, integrate, or refer, you’ll get the flexibility, structure, and resources to build a profitable, scalable business on your terms.  

This isn’t just an evolution of our partner program. It’s a strategic investment in partner-led growth, powered by the Cato SASE Cloud Platform that consistently delivers results. Cato partners win 70% of deals after the proof-of-concept (PoC) stage, when customers see the platform’s value firsthand. The outcomes are tangible, the platform delivers as promised, and the success is measurable. 

But great technology isn’t enough. That’s why we’ve paired the Cato SASE Cloud Platform with a partner experience built for speed, flexibility, and long-term success. From onboarding to upsell, every element of the program is designed to reduce friction, accelerate time to value, and grow with your business. 

You Don’t Need More Vendors. You Need a Partner Program That Helps You Win. 

The SASE market is exploding. According to Gartner®, “the market for SASE will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 26.0% over five years, reaching $28.5 billion by 2028”.¹ That’s great, but it’s only an opportunity if you’ve got the right solution.  

With Cato, partners win 7 out of 10 times after customers experience the solution through a PoC. Why? Because Cato’s platform delivers no complexity, no patchwork integrations, and no post-sale headaches. It’s a single, cloud-native platform that’s easy to sell, quick to deploy, and built to scale.  

Channel First Means Built Around Your Business 

The Cato Networks Channel First Partner Program isn’t a repackaged tier system. It’s a growth engine built around how you go-to-market with the right structure, flexibility, and resources to accelerate partner success. There are two tiers (Starter and Advanced), plus tailored enablement for every partner type to ensure you get what you need, when you need it: 

• Resellers (VARs) can unlock new revenue with high-margin, cloud-delivered services that require no infrastructure ownership. With Cato, VARs stand out from the crowd, win recurring business, and build long-term customer loyalty.  

• Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can launch and scale high-quality managed SASE services without the cost and complexity of legacy infrastructure. Cato’s single, cloud-native platform delivers complete control, deep visibility, and built-in automation, so MSPs can offer high-margin services that scale quickly. 

• Service Providers (SPs) can strengthen customer loyalty and drive growth with branded SASE services built to fit their model and scale effortlessly. Cato’s SASE platform complements existing offerings without disrupting your business.  

• Distributors can fuel their partner growth by delivering instant access to one of today’s fastest-growing technologies—SASE. With tier-based margins and independent quoting through Cato’s partner portal, it’s never been easier to drive revenue and scale across your ecosystem. 

• Referral Partners/Agents can capitalize on SASE demand with a vendor team that backs you through every step of the conversion process. Cato makes it easy to earn more, close faster, and expand reach with strong incentives and direct sales support that drives results.  

Cato MSASE: Our Secret Weapon for Partner Velocity 

At the core of our partner experience is the Cato MSASE Partner Platform, a scalable, no-cost toolkit designed to help you go-to-market faster, differentiate your services, and grow efficiently. From onboarding to upsell, MSASE delivers automation, training, and white-labeled tools to simplify every stage of the partner lifecycle.  

Built for flexibility, Cato MSASE supports a range of business models with multi-tenant management, co-branded assets, powerful automation, and more. Whether you’re reselling or delivering managed services, the result is accelerated time-to-market, shortened time-to-value, and maximized profitability—all from a SASE platform built to help you win. 

We’re Not Just Easy to Sell. We’re Built to Grow with You. 

The Cato Networks Channel First Partner Program is built on three core principles: 

1. Transparency: Clear discounting, deal protection, and straightforward licensing. 

2. Predictable Revenue: Steady, recurring income supported by greater retention and built-in upsell opportunities.  

3. Maximized Gross Profit: Reduced acquisition costs, boosted margins, and repeatable cross-sell motions. 

Proven Technology Meets Partner-Centric Execution 

This isn’t just another partner program. It’s a partner-first strategy designed around how you, and your team, go-to-market. At the center is the Cato SASE Cloud Platform, proven to close 7 out of 10 deals once it’s in front of the customer in a PoC. It’s simple to sell, fast to deploy, and built to deliver—backed by intuitive tools and scalable support.  

Cato helps you launch faster, stand out with a differentiated solution, and grow recurring revenue with confidence. 

Join us. Let’s build something big together.  

Resources 

• For more information about the Cato Networks Channel First Partner Program, visit the partner page and read the press release.  

• For more information about the Cato MSASE Partner Platform, visit the MSASE page.  

Gartner Disclaimer 

¹ Gartner, Forecast Analysis: Secure Access Service Edge, Worldwide, 5 Feb 2025 

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.