Cato Networks Designates Matrix as a Pooled Bandwidth Partner. Here's What That Means for You.

 A new partnership tier puts dedicated SASE capacity directly in Matrix Networks' hands, so clients move faster, modernize sooner, and get more out of every Cato deployment. 

 Matrix Networks announced an expansion of our partnership with Cato Networks. The headline is straightforward: Cato has granted us access to the Cato Pooled Bandwidth Partnership, a tier reserved for partners with proven depth in designing, deploying, and operating Cato environments at scale. 

If you read the official announcement, you saw the technical framing. This post is for our clients (current and future) who want to know what actually changes on the ground. 

A note from our CEO 

"When clients ask us why this matters, the answer is simple: it changes how fast we can deliver. For organizations already running Cato with us, we can scale capacity, roll out new sites, and adjust security policy without waiting on procurement cycles. For companies evaluating SASE for the first time, we have the licenses, bandwidth, and operational playbook ready on day one. That's what makes this designation different from a typical partner badge. It's built into how we operate, and our clients are going to feel the difference."

Kyle Holmes, CEO, Matrix Networks

What changed

Most SASE deployments follow a familiar rhythm. A client decides to modernize, the partner submits the order, the licenses get provisioned, and weeks later the project starts moving. Capacity changes, new sites, expanded threat prevention, those all reset the clock.

The pooled bandwidth model removes that clock entirely. Matrix now controls a dedicated reserve of:

• Cato bandwidth capacity for new and expanded deployments
• Integrated threat prevention licensing
• Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) seats for remote and hybrid workforces

We allocate those resources from our pool the moment a client needs them. No vendor procurement step. No waiting on individual SKU provisioning. No timing risk on growth or change.

What it means for current clients

If you're already running Cato with Matrix, the change is operational. Adding a site, expanding capacity for a project, layering in CASB, DLP, or ZTNA, those are now same-conversation actions. We've also positioned the pool to support clients wanting to migrate off legacy SD-WAN platforms (Bigleaf, Velo, Meraki, CloudGenix) into Cato without the friction of a full restart.

Renewals also look different. We're using the pool to bundle additional security services into renewal cycles, so clients can upgrade their posture (more often than not) without an MRR increase.

What it means for future clients

For mid-market organizations evaluating SASE, the most common reason projects stall isn't the technology. It's the gap between deciding and deploying. The pool closes that gap. We have the licenses, the bandwidth, and the operational playbook ready to go. Pilots, proofs of concept, full deployments, all of it starts faster.

It also lets us offer something most partners can't: a "Free Through 2026" path for new customers signing this year, where bandwidth, threat prevention, and SDP run on us through December 31, 2026. That gets clients into a modern SASE platform without the budget conversation slowing things down.

Why Cato chose Matrix

Cato's pooled bandwidth tier isn't tied to volume commitments or marketing spend. It's tied to deployment depth. Matrix manages one of the largest independently operated Cato portfolios in the country, spanning hundreds of unique environments across the United States and internationally. That body of work is what prompted this expanded model.

As Karl Soderlund, Cato's Global Channel Chief, put it in our announcement: "Matrix Networks has earned this through execution, not volume commitments. Their ability to operationalize the Cato platform at scale sets them apart."

What's next

The partnership is live. We're already onboarding new clients and existing clients into the model, and we're using it as the foundation for delivering AI-enhanced security as a built-in capability rather than an added layer.

If you're a current client, expect to hear from your account team about how to take advantage of this in your next renewal or change request. If you're evaluating Cato (or any SASE platform), now is the moment to talk to us. The economics, timeline, and operational model have all just gotten significantly better.

 Want to talk about what this could mean for your environment? Reach out at info@mtrx.com or call 503-654-3000. 

• EIN Presswire