Zscaler acquires SquareX to extend zero trust browser capabilities

Zscaler acquired SquareX to extend Zero Trust capabilities into the browser for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Edge Resource Allocator (ERA), a move the companies said would allow organizations to secure user activity in standard browsers on unmanaged devices.

The press release recounted that organizations had relied on Remote Access VPNs or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) to reach applications on third-party devices, and it noted Zscaler’s prior introduction of Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) as an alternative to traditional VPNs; the company said a lightweight agent continued to provide device posture checks to tens of millions of users.

The release described SquareX’s technology as enabling lightweight extensions to be embedded into standard browsers, citing support for browsers such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge and indicating that those extensions did not require a full agent or a separate third-party browser.

The acquisition closed on February 5, 2026, and the companies did not disclose terms of the transaction; the announcement connected the SquareX assets to Zscaler’s efforts around browser-based access for the AI ERA and referenced securing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and private applications across managed devices and BYOD.

“Enterprises have historically relied on legacy VPNs and VDIs, but these technologies are fundamentally flawed and laden with security risks,” said Jay Chaudhry, CEO, Chairman, and Founder of Zscaler. “With SquareX, Zscaler is deepening our Zero Trust Exchange™ Platform’s capabilities in standard browsers, such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, to stop threats without having to deploy a third-party enterprise browser. Zscaler continues to set the standard as we evolve into an increasingly powerful platform for global enterprise security.” “By integrating with Zscaler, we will enable organizations to secure SaaS and private applications across any device - managed or BYOD - without compromising productivity,” said Vivek Ramachandran, founder of SquareX.

The press release contained forward-looking statements about expected benefits and plans related to the acquisition and said additional risks and uncertainties were set forth in Zscaler’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed November 25, 2025.