SASE solutions integrate SD-WAN, cloud-secure web gateways, CASB, firewall-as-a-service, and zero-trust network access into a single service. Leading providers also offer advanced capabilities, such as support for 5G WAN links and advanced behavior- and context-based security services.
These capabilities deliver a superior user experience and consistent security across devices, locations, and applications. IT teams can manage policies centrally through a single management platform.
SD-WAN
The holy grail of remote work is enabling employees to use any device from anywhere to perform business functions. SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) offers that capability while providing a layer of security that helps ensure workers and partners follow appropriate protocols. In addition, SASE lets IT staff handle deployment and maintenance tasks more efficiently.
Ideally, SASE is delivered as a single platform with network and security capabilities. That reduces the number of vendors enterprise IT must deal with, cutting deployment time and costs. Moreover, SASE provides the opportunity to replace legacy security appliances that lack the processing power needed to handle modern applications.
Some SASE offerings include NGFW, SWG, CASB, and ZTNA, but only as part of an all-in-one service that requires a single management portal. This approach limits flexibility and may not provide the best possible performance. Similarly, some vendors focus on networking or security rather than both. That could limit the ability to coordinate updates across edge devices, resulting in out-of-date, exploitable security policies.
A unified SASE platform uses in-line policy management to deliver performance, agility, and security while reducing operational complexity. That is important because today’s business workflows are far more complex than traditional networking, and the threat landscape has changed significantly. It takes a software-defined and converged architecture to support those new patterns and address new vulnerabilities.
Cloud-Based Security
In today’s distributed and edge network environment, security functions must be placed at the network edges to protect users, applications, devices, and data. In addition, IT teams need the ability to monitor and control edge devices to respond quickly to threats and incidents.
A SASE solution can deliver all these capabilities from a single platform, reducing IT complexity and providing an organization with a more consistent and secure network. Core SASE technologies include zero trust network access (ZTNA), cloud access security brokers (CASB), and firewall as a service (FWaaS).
ZTNA replaces VPNs by granting remote users access to the enterprise and cloud resources they need without connecting to the main LAN. It enforces access policies based on identity markers rather than the site. This gives the organization granular visibility into who is accessing its networks and services, which can help to mitigate risks.
CASBs ensure that corporate security policies are consistently applied across SaaS apps, whether on-premise or in the cloud. They also detect and block malicious activity, such as malware-based attacks, data exfiltration, and DDoS attacks.
Zero Trust Network Access
In the past, enterprises used firewall protection and enterprise VPNs to safeguard distributed users, data, and applications. But this “castle & moat” model is outdated in today’s dynamic and distributed environments. Traditional security tools need the flexibility and agility enterprises need to support their digital transformation projects. Instead, they need a level of security applied at the network’s edge.
To achieve this, the SASE component must include Zero Trust network access. ZTNA uses a scalable and flexible approach to securing the network’s edge, ensuring that applications, data, and devices are always securely connected. The technology is more efficient than traditional security solutions, such as enterprise VPNs. Additionally, it ensures that WAN and cloud applications are secure and performant by intelligently managing connections at internet exchange points and optimizing connections to cloud services to reduce latency.
Many organizations find it easier to adopt SASE by partnering with a single provider or vendor that offers both SD-WAN and network security. The bundled solution can offer a simplified management and deployment model and an architecture that is easy to scale. The best providers also provide a range of standard and MEF 3.0 certifications to give businesses peace of mind that the solutions will perform as expected. In addition, they can offer a global network backbone to deliver performance guarantees and a high level of security.
Global Network Backbone
The Global Network Backbone component of SASE is a cloud service that delivers your organization’s entire set of networking and security capabilities globally. This includes SD-WAN, CASB, FWaaS, and ZTNA, as well as additional features like a next-generation firewall, DNS security, web filtering, and more. This allows you to create a single security architecture that supports remote work and the cloud-first approach of digital business transformation while addressing advanced threats.
SASE’s network backbone is designed to provide users with high performance and low latency worldwide. Its software-defined WAN technology eliminates the need to backhaul traffic from remote locations to central offices and data centers, which can cause congestion and slowdowns. Instead, it reroutes traffic to SaaS providers where possible, reducing costs and enabling users to work with their favorite apps without interruption.
As your enterprise grows, you need a network that can grow. Traditional hub-and-spoke architectures can’t handle the scale of modern networks. SASE solves this challenge by converging networking and security into a single, cloud-delivered solution that can scale easily as your organization grows. This approach also reduces IT complexity and cost, enables the least-privileged model to mitigate risk, and ensures consistent policy enforcement across your entire network. The result is a network that supports your organization’s digital transformation goals while providing exceptional end-user experiences.
