Missoula, MT —February 20th, 2026— Blackfoot Communications today announced the deployment of a Cato Private Point of Presence (PoP) to support Blackfoot Managed SASE, a modern Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) service that integrates SD-WAN, zero trust network access (ZTNA), and advanced network security services. This investment strengthens digital infrastructure across Western Montana and Eastern Idaho, providing faster, more secure, and more resilient connectivity backed by Cato Networks’ world-class security and Blackfoot Communications’ local expertise.
Private PoP Enhances Local Security, Performance, and Reliability
Blackfoot’s Missoula-based Cato Private PoP inspects and protects customer traffic locally, reducing latency and improving application performance for organizations across the region. Keeping traffic closer to users also enhances reliability, security, and supports growing requirements for data residency, sovereignty, and compliance—critical for industries such as healthcare, finance, government, and education.
The new Cato Private PoP represents a major expansion of edge infrastructure in Montana, enabling customers to benefit from global-grade security and performance while keeping sensitive data close to home.
Blackfoot Managed SASE: Unified Security + Networking
Blackfoot Managed SASE provides organizations of all sizes with enterprise-grade security and high-performance networking, backed by expert management and a global cloud backbone. Small businesses gain access to advanced security and optimized network performance without added complexity, while larger organizations benefit from a secure, flexible, and scalable solution that leverages Blackfoot’s local network edge and Cato’s global infrastructure to reduce latency, improve application performance, and simplify operations.
“Having a Cato Private PoP within Blackfoot’s network enables us to bring security and network management closer to our customers,” said Chad Gardner, Chief Revenue Officer at Blackfoot Communications. “This architecture strengthens data sovereignty, improves application performance, and provides simplified access to Blackfoot’s Managed SASE, powered by Cato Networks. Our collaboration with Cato Networks reflects a shared commitment to delivering enterprise-grade security with the local expertise and exceptional service our customers rely on.”
“Blackfoot’s deployment of a Cato Private PoP demonstrates their strong commitment to delivering world-class security and networking with a local approach,” said Karl Soderlund, Global Channel Chief at Cato Networks. “We look forward to collaborating with Blackfoot to bring the power of managed SASE closer to their customers.”
About Blackfoot Communications
Blackfoot Communications delivers secure connectivity and advanced communications services to businesses, communities, and residents across Western Montana and Eastern Idaho. With local expertise, dependable service, and innovative technology solutions, Blackfoot helps organizations securely connect to what matters most.