In the era of cloud computing, remote work, and a mobile workforce, the traditional network security model is becoming obsolete. The old way of thinking—building a strong security perimeter around a central data center—just doesn’t work when your users, applications, and data are everywhere. This is where a new approach, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), comes in.
SASE (pronounced “sassy”) is a framework that combines networking and security functions into a single, cloud-delivered platform. Instead of backhauling traffic to a corporate data center for inspection, SASE brings the security and networking to the user, no matter where they are. It’s a fundamental shift in how we think about protecting our digital assets.
What’s in the SASE toolkit?
A complete SASE architecture is built on a foundation of several key components, all delivered as a unified cloud service:
- Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN): This is the “networking” part of SASE. SD-WAN intelligently routes traffic across multiple connections (like broadband, MPLS, or LTE) to ensure the best performance and reliability for applications.
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): This is a core security principle of SASE. It operates on the idea of “never trust, always verify.” Instead of granting broad network access, ZTNA provides users with least-privilege access to only the specific applications and resources they need.
- Secure Web Gateway (SWG): An SWG protects users from web-based threats by filtering and inspecting web traffic. It provides features like URL filtering, malware detection, and data loss prevention (DLP) for web applications.
- Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): As the name suggests, a CASB acts as a security broker for cloud applications. It provides visibility and control over sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud services, helping to enforce security policies and protect sensitive data in the cloud.
- Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS): FWaaS delivers next-generation firewall capabilities from the cloud, providing consistent policy enforcement and protection for all traffic, regardless of its source or destination.
By converging these capabilities into a single, integrated platform, SASE simplifies network management, enhances security, and improves performance for the modern, distributed enterprise.
The Benefits of a SASE Approach
Moving to a SASE model offers a wide range of advantages for businesses:
- Reduced Complexity and Cost: SASE eliminates the need for multiple, siloed point solutions from different vendors. By consolidating networking and security into a single platform, you can reduce hardware costs, streamline management, and simplify your IT infrastructure.
- Enhanced Security: With SASE, security policies are consistently enforced across all users, devices, and locations. The Zero Trust model minimizes the risk of lateral movement and data breaches.
- Improved Performance and User Experience: SASE brings security enforcement closer to the user, reducing latency and backhaul traffic. This leads to a faster, more reliable experience for remote employees and branch offices accessing cloud applications and data.
- Scalability and Agility: A cloud-native SASE solution can easily scale to meet the changing needs of your business. Whether you’re adding new remote workers, opening a new branch office, or adopting new cloud services, SASE can adapt quickly and seamlessly.
- Support for Hybrid and Remote Work: SASE is a perfect fit for the hybrid work model. It provides secure and reliable access to corporate resources from any device, anywhere, without the need for a traditional VPN.
Getting Started with SASE
Implementing a SASE framework is a journey, not a single event. It’s important to have a clear plan and a phased approach. A typical SASE implementation might involve these steps:
- Assess your current environment: Understand your existing network and security architecture, identifying pain points and gaps.
- Define your goals: Determine what you want to achieve with SASE—improved security, simplified management, better performance, etc.
- Choose a vendor (or vendors): Evaluate SASE providers based on their global reach, scalability, and integration capabilities. A single-vendor approach can offer the most seamless integration, but a multi-vendor strategy may also be an option.
- Implement in phases: Start with high-impact areas, such as replacing your legacy VPN with ZTNA or deploying SD-WAN to a few key locations.
- Test, optimize, and train: Thoroughly test the new solution, continually monitor its performance, and provide training for your IT teams and end-users.
SASE is more than just a buzzword; it’s a strategic architectural shift that addresses the realities of modern business. By converging networking and security in a unified, cloud-delivered platform, SASE provides the agility, security, and performance needed to thrive in a cloud-first, work-from-anywhere world.