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What is SASE?

SASE can be defined as secure access service edge, a cloud-based security solution that transforms WAN capabilities with network security. It is identified by Gartner as the most efficient way to securely connect users and devices to applications and services regardless of location. The growing popularity of SASE solutions closely correlates to its ability to meet the demands of modern networking.

Thus, combining the networking capabilities of SD WAN solutions with full security features, deployed as a cloud security solution. Secure access service edge is a combination of several features that enable the solution to meet such complex demands. Features such as CASB, FWaaS and zero trust all make up the SASE architecture. SASE architecture identifies users and devices, applies security, and delivers secure access to applications. 

The identification process is based upon policies at the edge of the network and allows for expansion of network to any remote user. This eliminates the need for legacy VPN’s and firewalls, giving organisations more granular control over network security policies. The SASE framework operates on top of a single global network to bring integrated services closer to its users.

What does SASE bring?

Instead of investing in multiple point products SASE operates as a single platform with limited upfront costs, greatly cutting costs and IT resources. In order to protect user devices, organisations are forced to add security solutions to close gaps in their security, resulting in significant costs and management overheads.

BETTER USER EXPERIENCE

Even with a modern workforce VPNs still used to connect users to network for security. SASE brings security closer to the user instead of sending the user to the security. SASE cloud is a secure platform and optimises connections to cloud applications and services to ensure low latency.

SASE REDUCED RISK

All connections are inspected and secured, regardless of where they convert from or what apps they are connecting to or assessing. Encryption is used throughout to identify threats as soon as they appear. Zero trust network access is a feature of the solution that is critical to the way SASE operates. It gives remote users and devices secure application connectivity, while at the same time stopping all attacks across the surface edge.

LATENCY OPTIMISED ROUTING

Enterprises that deliver latency impacted services e.g., Video conferencing. Significant increase in latency is an issue. The cloud SASE based solutions manages to cut latency by routing network traffic across global edge network in which the traffic is processed as close to the user as possible. Routing optimisations determine fastest network path based on network congestion.

Why Is SASE the Next BIG Thing?

The SASE platform supports the growing trend of cloud networking within organisations infrastructure as well as solving significant IT challenges. The existing network security infrastructures within many organisations are designed for the implementation of a centralised data center, acting as an epicenter of connectivity and security. Consequently, they do not serve the needs of digital transformation, SAAS, edge computing or cloud.

The inability to maintain the pace of an ever-changing IT landscape, whilst also lacking agility has led to organisations looking for alternatives to match up to their deployment of cloud and a change in worker landscape. Having a security function that is focused upon a data center is inefficient and not effective when supporting several users and applications.

In addition, companies search for a solution that addresses network latency, along with the encryption of data traffic drives them towards a SASE solution, something that can both solve present issues but also pre-empts problems further down the line. Having an infrastructure that mirrors company vision, both growth or consolidation, saves a lot of time and resources when transitioning or expanding. 

What Makes SASE Stand Out?

• Enterprises running more LaaS/PaaS and SaaS.



• The volume of work being carried out away from the network has now become greater than the amount of work on the netowrk.



• A significant increase in sensitive data located outside of the data center.



• The traffic towards public cloud services significantly more than to data center.



• Branch offices increasing access to cloud services, cutting out the data center, effectively rendering it ineffective.

An important element of understanding the true functions of SASE is the solution is not just a continuation of the same technology, instead a transformation at an architectural level. SASE needs to be an integral part of the organisations networking.

The zero-trust feature within the SASE platform demands that all corporation's resources are counted as variable components. To result in gaining any access to the companies network each component must be specified.  Zero-trust has the capacity to identify personal and cooperate drive instances as separate, SASE also demands additional information around the document

Where it came from and what it is being used for to name a couple.  The pandemic has no doubt had an impact on SASE adoption. Even though, SASE was already growing at a steady rate, the pandemic, and a change within the logistics of workforces has accelerated this.

With remote working continuing to be used even as we begin to loosen restrictions, SASE’s growth is showing no signs of slowing down. It is hugely important for organisations that the security system they choose to adopt mirrors cloud popularity.