Secure access service edge, or SASE, converges networking and security services into a single framework that safeguards cloud-based enterprises. Its identity-driven approach leverages a range of security functions, including Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). This helps businesses eliminate point products and save IT, financial, and human resources. It’s a perfect solution for the digital work era and a hybrid workforce.
Unified Networking and Security
What is secure access service edge? Secure access service edge (SASE) offers a centralized architecture integrating networking and diverse security functionalities into a single cloud platform. Unlike traditional VPNs that channel traffic through centralized servers, SASE eliminates latency by pushing network services close to users. It delivers enhanced visibility and granular control of data and applications, minimizes risks, reduces costs, and streamlines vendor management. Firewalls are the foundation of SASE and offer security functionality like IPSec, next-generation firewalls, CASB, and malware detection. SASE combines networking capabilities like SD-WAN with security solutions, including secure web gateways (SWG) and cloud access security brokers (CASB). Integrated SASE platforms combine software-defined wide-area networking with various network security functionalities to provide remote workers and distributed teams a secure, optimized, and seamless experience. Specifically, the SWG and CASB in a unified SASE solution enable granular control of SaaS, cloud, and on-prem applications. This helps organizations improve their threat prevention, increase performance, and reduce costs.
Resource-Based Access
Secure access service edge unifies network and security services into a single cloud-delivered architecture that safeguards users regardless of location. It enables organizations to adapt to the needs of dispersed workers, embrace mobility, and advance their cybersecurity without increasing risk or adding complexity to the business. A key feature of SASE is its resource-based access control, which allows you to limit network access by granting specific permissions based on resources. You can use resource policies in conjunction with identity policies to determine how a policy applies to a particular resource or group of users. SASE is often compared to Zero Trust, but their underlying approaches differ. Zero Trust prioritizes consistency of authentication and authorization, while SASE offers a broader network and security framework that considers context. This ensures no user is inherently trusted and provides granular application and data security control. It also reduces risks by allowing access only if all requirements are met and reducing the number of vulnerabilities requiring patching.
Zero Trust Network Access
The convergence of WAN and network security functions into a single solution, often delivered via the cloud, provides better agility for the enterprise, more robust and reliable network performance, deeper visibility and control, and simpler management. SASE, or Secure Access Service Edge, and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) are this convergence’s two main functional pillars.
ZTNA is a security framework that provides application-specific connectivity for users anywhere. Unlike perimeter-based security solutions that permit unfettered access to internal networks and production environments, ZTNA authenticates connections and validates the security posture of end-user devices before allowing them to see or touch sensitive assets, dramatically reducing their attack surface area. ZTNA combines CASB, firewall-as-a-service, and SD-WAN into one solution that helps secure cloud-based applications that reside on the edge of the organization’s network. It is a critical component of SASE that enables organizations to deliver a better user experience and protect against modern threats.
Advanced SD-WAN
Rather than depending on hardware appliances at each corporate data center for network and security management, SASE leverages software at enterprise sites and a centralized controller to overcome the limitations of traditional WAN architectures. This provides consistent cloud data protection, simplifies management, and reduces costs. SASE solutions offer predictive analytics, enabling IT specialists to identify and quickly resolve any issues impacting performance or availability, whether the Internet causes these, VPNs, internal applications, or other network-related challenges. This improves productivity and eliminates unnecessary network downtime. Advanced SD-WAN technologies prioritize application traffic to ensure critical business applications are always available. They also support flexible WAN connectivity utilizing multiple routes, reducing latency, improving reliability, and optimizing bandwidth. This enables remote users to access business applications without interruption, whether at home or in the office. It can also reduce expensive MPLS connections, allowing for cheaper broadband services. It can also support secure connections to the cloud and significant SaaS applications.
AI and ML
AI and ML are powerful technologies that help businesses automate tasks, unlock value, and generate actionable insights to achieve better outcomes. However, these technologies are not immune to misuse and misapplication. Using AI and ML at the network edge is the most effective way to protect against these threats. This reduces latency, saves bandwidth, and eliminates the need for auxiliary security tools while delivering consistent visibility and control at the network edge.
Secure access service edge, or SASE, is an IT model that unifies networking and security services into a single cloud architecture to protect users, applications, and data everywhere. It combines firewall as a service (FWaaS), secure web gateway, CASB, and zero trust network access (ZTNA) into a cohesive solution that enables employees to work from anywhere while simplifying operations. The result is a seamless connectivity and security experience outperforming traditional data center-focused solutions. This approach eliminates the need to monitor multiple security consoles, streamlines troubleshooting, and improves threat detection. Moreover, it empowers organizations to rethink their security strategies by enabling them to leverage the power of the edge.
