Today's digital-first world places emphasis on traditional network security measures to keep up with evolving cyber threats. Traditionally, wide area network (WAN) solutions have relied on private multi-label switching (MPLS) connections, remote user VPN connections, and a variety of other, often disparate, network security solutions. Traditional WAN management and security is siled, complex, and location-specific. With innovations such as cloud computing and the rise of remote workers, organizations are now turning to Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
As defined by Gartner, SASE is a converged network that includes a Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), a Secure Web Gateway (SWG), a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and a Next Generation Firewall (NGFW). and security as a service. ) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). SASE supports branch office, remote worker, and on-premises secure access use cases. SASE is primarily offered as a service and combines real-time context, security, and compliance policies to enable zero-trust access based on the identity of a device or entity.
Why SASE is on the rise
SASE disrupts and simplifies traditional WAN management and security approaches by consolidating multiple security functions into a single cloud-native platform. As an alternative to private MPLS, SD-WAN provides a less complex and more flexible way to connect remote branches to the SASE cloud using one or more internet connections. SD-WAN appliances replace on-premises firewalls and MPLS routers with cloud-resident NGFWs. Just as an SD-WAN appliance leverages any number of Internet connections to connect to the SASE cloud, remote users leverage a software client that creates a tunnel to the nearest global point of presence (PoP). Masu.
SASE also takes a zero trust approach. Access to a corporate network, especially its applications and data, is secured based on identity and context. CASB ensures that users can only access cloud services that are approved for use on corporate networks. Continuous monitoring and adaptive access policies help prevent data breaches and attacks. Consolidating network and security into one management plan reduces the administrative burden for IT staff and ensures consistent security policies are applied across the network, no matter where users connect from. Masu. Users report improved performance as traffic is optimized through cloud scalability and global PoPs. It is for these reasons that SASE is becoming an essential part of modern cybersecurity strategies.
Key SASE attributes
While the hype surrounding SASE has legitimate benefits, not all solutions are the same, and it can be difficult to drive up costs and sell. Here are some characteristics of an effective SASE solution and how to properly deploy it.
The service should integrate comprehensive WAN and network security functionality (SWG, CASB, FWaaS, and ZTNA) into a single integrated service. Many solutions from well-known vendors do not meet this requirement and instead combine different security solutions with firewalls or his SD-WAN appliances to achieve similar results.
- Cloud native: SASE must be cloud-native. Cloud-native SASE is globally scalable, so your service can adapt as your business grows. The same elasticity benefits of cloud computing models apply here as well.
- Global backbone: A global network of decentralized PoPs provides the best possible performance for applications and data accessed over the network. Path optimization and application-aware routing are the main advantages of this approach.
- Simplified management: Cloud-native SASE with integrated WAN and network security capabilities should be manageable from a centralized platform. Reducing complexity and administrative time is one of the biggest cost-saving features of a well-designed SASE solution.
- ZTNA: User identity and context (device type, location, time, etc.) are improvements over traditional perimeter-based security models. Just because a user can authenticate does not give them unrestricted access on the network. ZTNA uses the least privilege access principle to enforce fine-grained access and significantly reduce the attack surface.
value proposition
As engineers, we are often much better at articulating the technical nuances of different solutions than communicating their value to the business. SASE is no exception. Discussing a breakdown of key attributes, which vendors meet them, and which vendors don't, does little to encourage conversations with leadership. Focusing on cost will not get you there. Plain and simple, SASE is transformative. With the increasing adoption of hybrid cloud strategies and the rise of remote work, organizations need new and better ways to protect their users and data. Disparate solutions that don't scale and are difficult to configure and manage put your business at risk and waste the time of already busy IT staff.
What needs to be emphasized is the opportunity cost of not making a change. We've all been here when the concept of cloud computing was foreign and scary. At first, most people laughed when they compared the cost of the cloud to their own compute, memory, and storage, and then bought more hardware. We paid little attention to the time it took to vet new technologies, capacity planning, lifecycle management, compliance, and security. Cloud solutions give you back time that you can reinvest in other areas of your business. Choosing the right SASE solution will transform the way your business connects and protects your critical resources (data).
