Gartner first coined the phrase Secure Access Service Edge (SASE- pronounced as Sassy) . At the core of its heart, SASE is a security framework that brings networking and security functions in the cloud.
SASE security architecture providides a more dynamic way to support the modern workforce and address the cybersecurity needs of enterprises – that is no longer centered on the perimeter.
While it’s difficult to overstate the importance of network security–as evidenced by the growing number of cyberattacks and the increased costs for data breach liabilities–the fact is that much of today’s IT architecture is more vulnerable today than it was two years ago. The hybrid IT environment is one with multiple clouds, edge, on-premises infrastructure, and a distributed workforce. This approach, while increasing agility and reducing costs, is putting the old approach to network security to the extreme test.
In this getting started with SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) awareness article, we will talk about networking and security trends. We’re going to define SASE, talk about its components and the benefits it provides.
However, due to the events of the 2020 pandemic, but future of working has changed. Cybersecurity risk, increased by the pandemic, redefines the workplace rules with new strategies to verify the user and device authentication.
While the principles of SASE were in place well before 2020, Cybersecurity in the Age of COVID-19 became a key driver of SASE adoption at a rapid pace. Securing cloud-based environments, with expanded corporate network perimeters and multi-layered security, for remote users or remote access to applications and work from anywhere made SASE security architecture essential.
Businesses had no choice but to fasten direct Internet access to roaming users and Zero Trust network assets to help ensure trust that access.
Now, most people work from anywhere at home, in coffee shops, on any device and unmanaged networks.
With this change in the workforce, people do not work from being inside the perimeter. Instead, they can work form various other locations and get secure access to work resources and applications – connected via the cloud from a variety of locations.
While there are a lot of benefits to having a hybrid IT environment, it does create some additional challenges for network security. This blog will explore some of the key steps of how to get started with SASE and different ways that SASE security can be used to help you.
What is SASE?
Gartner coined the term in 2019, and it’s been cutting fire ever since.
They stated that SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a network framework which merges VPN and WAN capabilities into into one cloud-based service comprising of:
- Secure web gateway
- Cloud access security broker (CASB)
- Security brokers
- Cloud-delivered firewall
- Zero-trust network access (ZTNA)
In other words, SASE is a cloud-based alternative, placing network controls on the cloud edge. It ensures that access to data and applications are based on identity and not on locations.
But Gartner is not the only analyst firm talking about this shift to converge Network and security.
All analysts agree that the move to a cloud-native service is here to stay, but they all have different names.
As you can see here, you’ve got.
- Gartner
- forester
- ESG, and they have different names there.
SASE Zero, Zero trust edge, Elastic cloud gateway but the only thing that’s only sticking right now, it’s SASE.
The SASE model and networking and security functions
So, it is alright to say that a user can be seen as a branch of 1.
Keep in mind that the traditional branch isn’t gone. Remote workforce is likely to return to in-person work and accelerated return-to-the-office plans might be on the horizon.
Throughout this pandemic crisis on technology, users still expect a seamless connection to the applications they need daily. Cloud-Connected Branch Security with SASE
So how can we leverage as simpler?
A more scalable method to securely connect your work for us to the applications they need, and on top of that, how can we ensure your organization can adapt to the next disruption to keep your people in their data safe?
It becomes challenging to look at every user as a branch of 1 as it creates a challenging ecosystem for IT and Security departments. When a user demands round-the-clock secure access to applications, the security also needs to be walking in tandem with the demand.
We don’t know the extent to which workforce traffic patterns will shift again, but what we do know is that we need to be ready to adapt.
It also means that the networking and security team can’t keep working in silos and reacting in parallel to the same problems over and over again.
Right now, you may have a stack of solutions in your data center that we stitched together, but it doesn’t give you the ability you need to react to plan or plan for sudden changes in your workforce.
SD Wan may currently provide networking from one vendor for direct Internet access, and the security teams may be employing a secure web gateway from another vendor to give the roaming user access to applications on the Internet.
Now, if one of these tools fail, then to
A moot point, fingers at vendor B and this delays resolution.
And when our work dynamics shift again, networking and security teams need to be ready.
So, therefore, getting ahead of the disruptive event would require a unified approach.
SASE – Edge and Cloud Computing
So while there may not be an agreement on the acronym itself from the analyst or Vendors alike, there’s an agreement that networking and security will not remain in silos.
So networking and security is converging, and that is what’s driving a shift in the market.
Today buyers are looking to reduce complexity with a multifunction approach that helps them simplify, secure in scale.
So why the change?
That is because networking and security can no longer work in silos. Instead, they must work together to connect and protect users at the edge and do so securely and efficiently.
