Darling Ingredients Chooses Cato Networks for SASE and Streamlined Security Solutions

Darling Ingredients Consolidates Security with Cato Networks

In an important shift towards enhancing its cybersecurity infrastructure, Darling Ingredients has chosen Cato Networks as its primary provider of Security Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions. The company, a global leader in converting raw materials from animal agriculture and food industries into valuable ingredients, sought to streamline its operations, reduce costs, and bolster security across its extensive network.

With operations spanning more than 260 sites worldwide and a workforce of approximately 16,000, Darling Ingredients faced the challenge of managing multiple security and networking vendors. The company relied on a fragmented system of point solutions that had developed over time, leading to complexities in both costs and operations. Previously, they had three vendors, resulting in four separate consoles managing their SD-WAN, firewalls, URL filtering, and VPNs for remote access. This patchwork system not only increased operational burdens but also introduced potential vulnerabilities in their cybersecurity posture.

By adopting the SASE platform from Cato Networks, Darling Ingredients embarked on a journey to improve its cybersecurity framework while also achieving significant financial benefits. The shift to a single cloud-native platform has delivered impressive annual savings exceeding $750,000 by consolidating multiple vendors and reducing operational complexities. This move is expected to facilitate tighter security measures, greater scalability, and improved overall efficiency.

Moreover, the implementation of the Cato SASE Platform has allowed Darling Ingredients to enhance its threat management capabilities. The company witnessed a decrease of over 66% in the time taken to compile threat activity data, effectively neutralizing more than 2 million threats each month. Additionally, the resources necessary to handle critical security incidents have plummeted by up to 83%. Where once they required 10-12 responders to address Priority One incidents, they now need just 2-3.

David Daniels, the director of enterprise technology at Darling Ingredients, articulated the rationale behind this transition, stating, "We wanted a single vendor that could do it all. Cato stood out as a platform that our cybersecurity team was excited about.”

Supporting this initiative, Giorgio Weston, Senior VP of Customer Experience at Cato Networks, elaborated on the benefits of the SASE approach. He noted that moving from multiple tools across various consoles to one unified solution not only strengthens security and accelerates troubleshooting but also future-proofs Darling Ingredients' IT and security framework amid ongoing business expansion.

The Bigger Picture

Darling Ingredients is not just focused on enhancing its security measures. The company’s commitment to optimizing its IT operations reflects a broader trend in the industry, where organizations are increasingly leaning towards integrated solutions to address the intricacies of modern cybersecurity threats.

As more businesses pivot towards digital transformation, the adoption of SASE solutions serves as both a security enhancement and a cost-saving strategy. Cato Networks, being a frontrunner in the SASE landscape, has established itself as a preferred partner for numerous companies seeking to navigate this complex environment effectively.

As the first quarter of 2026 continues, Darling Ingredients exemplifies a case study of how companies can effectively unify their security systems while simultaneously reducing operational redundancies and costs. Moving forward, the synergy created by this partnership is expected to not only fortify Darling's defenses against cyber threats but also enhance its overall operational capabilities, paving the way for a more resilient digital infrastructure.

For more information about Darling Ingredients’ journey, or for further insights into the impact of the decision, one can explore the detailed case studies available.