What is SASE? 

SASE combines cloud-native security functionality with VPN and SD-WAN capabilities delivered as a service from a cloud vendor. The following foundational components make up a SASE offering. 

• Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) - This connectivity architecture separates networking hardware from a physical control layer.  

• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) - Zero trust assumes that every network connection is a potential threat that must be authenticated before allowing access. It is an essential security technique where users and sensitive data resources are located in multiple locations. 

• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) - This SASE component enables companies to mitigate cloud security risks by enforcing corporate data privacy and security standards. CASB allows the enforcement of security policies as users access cloud services. 

• Secure Web Gateway (SWG) - The purpose of this component is to protect online devices from malware infection and enforce an organization’s security policies. The SWG provides visibility and control of enterprise web traffic.  

• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) - Delivering a firewall as a service enables the implementation of advanced capabilities like intrusion prevention, advanced threat protection, and web filtering.  

Why do Companies Need SASE? 

The impetus behind SASE is the evolving computing landscape that has made traditional connectivity and security measures obsolete. Focusing on security and connectivity at the data center level cannot effectively address modern, cloud-based infrastructures and the challenges of supporting a mobile workforce. Factors driving the adoption of new techniques include: 

• Users need the ability to connect securely from any location.
• Cloud services are running more workloads and handling more user traffic than traditional data centers.
• Software as a service (SaaS) applications are replacing locally hosted solutions.
• Businesses are storing more sensitive data in cloud services. 

SASE addresses these issues by offering a methodology for managing connectivity and security without relying on routing traffic through an on-premises data center. This enhances security and improves productivity. 

Benefits of Implementing SASE 

Companies can enjoy multiple benefits from a SASE implementation.  

• Network security costs and complexity can be reduced by obtaining a SASE solution from a single cloud provider.
• Enabling a ZTNA enhances security by basing access on the identity of users and devices rather than potentially spoofed elements like IP address or location. 
• Reduced latency with optimized network routing provides better performance and productivity.
• SASE promotes business agility by reducing the risk when introducing new applications and services. Companies can capitalize on emerging trends without undue security concerns.
• Greater security is enforced when providing network access to remote and mobile employees. 
• Security is managed centrally and enforced locally with the SASE architecture for more consistent results across an organization. 

The scalability and agility required by modern businesses are driving the adoption of SASE solutions. Companies need to ensure security while providing customers with the best user experience. SASE provides an SaaS solution for secure remote connectivity.