Secure, agile, and optimized access to applications for users who work anywhere. SASE combines SD-WAN with security capabilities like CASB, NGFW, and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) into a single architecture for cloud, edge, IoT, and other devices.
Look for a provider with a broad toolkit and easy interface to streamline day-to-day network security and management. This reduces risk and allows IT staff to focus on business functions.
Table of Contents
Security
In today’s distributed enterprises, applications may be in a corporate data center, a cloud service, or an IoT device. SASE allows companies to secure access to these resources by moving security functions to the network edge via a global network of PoPs and integrating networking capabilities into a single solution. This helps enterprises deliver high performance to users and reduce operational costs.
While many vendors have SASE offerings, not all are well-integrated. Some have a long list of features but need more expertise to evaluate contexts for each user. This can make it challenging to enforce policies for each user. Additionally, some SASE providers need a larger global footprint to support their feature set. This can result in inconsistent performance across locations due to latency issues.
Another important consideration when selecting a SASE solution is whether it can detect threats and mitigate DDoS attacks. This is particularly important because the global reach of a SASE solution can help organizations detect and block these attacks before they reach the enterprise network. The security features of a SASE solution should also include an integrated threat prevention module, full content inspection, and sensitive data visibility.
The benefits of a SASE architecture include reduced complexity, lower cost, and improved security posture. The unified SASE solution combines cloud-native cybersecurity technologies such as SWG (Secure Web Gateway), CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker), and ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) into one solution to provide a robust security framework. This simplifies administration, reduces the number of management consoles and clients required for end-user devices, and increases productivity by eliminating time-consuming security protocols.
Scalability
A new network security model has become essential as more data, users, applications, and devices move outside the traditional enterprise perimeter. Existing security solutions cannot support the access control, threat protection, and scalability level that digital organizations require. This is because existing point solutions such as firewalls, secure web gateways (SWG), data loss prevention (DLP), and centralized policy management are designed for something other than cloud-first networks or work from anywhere.
As a result, SASE brings together networking and security for speed, agility, scalability, and consistency at the edge. It combines advanced WAN edge functions with security services such as SWG, DLP, and CASB in a single solution to enable remote employees to connect to cloud applications and services without impacting productivity. It also reduces complexity by eliminating the need for multiple-point solutions and reducing the number of agents on end-user devices.
SASE can be implemented in several ways, including as a virtual cloud service or an appliance installed in an organization’s data center. Its unified model offers easy deployment and management while providing consistent enforcement across all locations. Additionally, it can be deployed as software-as-a-service to cut IT costs by reducing the amount of hardware required at branch offices and other remote areas.
Flexibility
Security requirements become increasingly complex as enterprise applications and data move into the cloud. In addition to traditional on-premises security stacks, new technologies must be used to protect remote users and ensure business continuity in the face of common threats such as malware and ransomware. As a result, many CIOs are searching for a network architecture that is secure, reliable, and flexible. The solution is SASE, a comprehensive set of SD-WAN and security capabilities that deliver the client-to-cloud experience businesses need.
SASE provides a comprehensive security framework for unified policies across all devices, users, and locations. It also supports a hybrid work model, enabling organizations to help remote employees while controlling their data and applications completely. In addition, SASE delivers a more reliable connectivity experience for critical business applications by routing traffic to the nearest points of presence (PoPs) and optimizing traffic flows for application performance.
A unified SASE service can simplify management by integrating networking and security capabilities into one platform, reducing operational overhead and costs. This approach removes appliance capacity concerns, eliminates the need to manage point products, and allows enterprises to scale the platform to meet their growing security and networking needs.
As a scalable platform, SASE can offer the performance organizations require to support a hybrid work model and increase user productivity. It is designed to optimize the delivery of cloud services and provide fast, low-latency connectivity for remote and mobile workers. Its centralized visibility also enables IT executives to identify and resolve network performance issues quickly and easily.
Cost
Modern enterprises require exemplary client-to-cloud experiences that are secure, reliable, and simple. This necessitates SASE’s capabilities, such as a Zero Trust security model and a multitenant cloud platform. This architecture simplifies network and security operations, reduces hardware complexity and costs, enables WFA, and optimizes cloud access. It also increases performance by reducing the distance data travels to reach its final destination. SASE requires no additional on-site hardware or resources and can run in a cloud service, private cloud, public cloud, or hybrid cloud.
SASE is built upon a Zero Trust security model, which eliminates traditional security perimeters and ensures that all connections to the enterprise are fully authorized. This security model addresses challenges with dynamic services, distributed applications, and remote offices, which distribute data beyond a centralized local data center. It also improves visibility into those services and data.
The best SASE providers offer a unified solution that integrates network and security functions into a single software network, lowering the cost of ownership. This approach simplifies management and reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for separate point products in branch locations. Furthermore, it frees IT staff time and resources to focus on more strategic work. This also reduces the time needed to deploy and manage security updates, patches, and hardware replacements.
