1. Deployment Approach: ExtraHop is primarily an on-premises network monitoring and analytics platform that provides real-time visibility into the network infrastructure. In contrast, Zscaler is a cloud-based security as a service (SaaS) platform that offers secure access to the internet and cloud applications from anywhere, without the need for on-premises hardware or software.

2. Focus: ExtraHop is mainly focused on network performance monitoring and troubleshooting. It helps organizations understand and optimize their network infrastructure by analyzing network traffic, detecting anomalies, and providing actionable insights. On the other hand, Zscaler primarily focuses on providing secure access to the internet and cloud applications by enforcing security policies, detecting and preventing advanced threats, and ensuring data protection.

3. Security Capabilities: While ExtraHop does include security features such as threat detection and response, Zscaler offers a more comprehensive set of security capabilities. Zscaler provides secure web gateways, cloud sandboxing, data loss prevention, advanced threat protection, and a range of other security services to protect organizations from evolving cyber threats.

4. Scalability and Flexibility: ExtraHop can scale to monitor larger network environments and supports various deployment options, including physical appliances, virtual appliances, and cloud-native environments. However, Zscaler's cloud-native architecture offers greater scalability and elasticity, allowing organizations to seamlessly scale their security infrastructure as their needs evolve.

5. Deployment Complexity: ExtraHop's deployment typically requires some level of configuration and setup to integrate with existing network infrastructure. In contrast, Zscaler's cloud-based approach simplifies deployment as organizations can quickly redirect internet traffic to the Zscaler platform without the complexity of on-premises hardware or extensive configuration.

6. Visibility vs. Access: ExtraHop focuses on providing deep visibility into network traffic to uncover valuable insights for performance optimization and troubleshooting purposes. Zscaler, on the other hand, emphasizes providing secure access to the internet and cloud applications, prioritizing security controls and policies over deep network visibility.

In summary, ExtraHop is a network monitoring and analytics platform primarily focused on performance optimization, while Zscaler is a cloud-based security as a service platform offering comprehensive security capabilities and secure access to the internet and cloud applications. Zscaler's cloud-native architecture provides greater scalability and ease of deployment compared to ExtraHop's on-premises approach.