How does Zscaler manage user data during SSL inspections?

Zscaler manages user data during SSL inspections by obfuscating data and not storing it on disk. This approach is essential for ensuring user privacy and security while still enabling the analysis of traffic for threat protection and compliance. When Zscaler performs SSL inspection, it decrypts the traffic to inspect the contents for malicious activities or policy violations. However, once the inspection is complete, the data is obfuscated, meaning it is modified or obscured to prevent any sensitive information from being stored or retrievable in its original form.

This method allows Zscaler to maintain a strong security posture and protect user privacy by not retaining sensitive data on their networks. By focusing on obfuscation rather than storage, Zscaler minimizes the risk associated with data breaches or unauthorized access to user information.

Creating logs of every transaction and storing them would imply a level of data retention that conflicts with privacy principles. Although logging is important for security operations, Zscaler's approach emphasizes transient data management to protect users' identities and sensitive information. Similarly, permanently archiving data or compressing and encrypting it does not align with the principles of minimal data retention and user privacy, which is a core tenet of Zscaler's service model.