SASE benefits and Uses
Benefits of SASE
Comparing SASE solutions to conventional on-premises network alternatives reveals several advantages. Organisations may wish to use a SASE framework for the following main reasons:
Decreased complexity and expenses of IT
To protect the network perimeter, legacy network security models use a patchwork of technologies. Secure Access Service Edge SASE simplifies administration and lowers IT expenses by reducing the number of solutions required to secure apps and services.
Increased scalability and agility
The network and security infrastructure are fully scalable due to SASE’s cloud delivery. The system can expand along with your business, enabling faster digital transformation.
Designed to support hybrid work
Regardless of how or where they operate, SASE offers enterprise-level security for all users in a scenario where conventional hub-and-spoke networks cannot handle the bandwidth needed to maintain remote workers productive.
Enhances the user experience
SASE effectively manages security exchanges in real time to maximise security for users. This lessens the attack surface of the company and lowers latency when consumers attempt to connect to cloud apps and services.
Enhanced protection
SWG, DLP, ZTNA, and other threat intelligence technologies come together in the SASE architecture to give remote employees safe access to corporate resources while lowering the possibility of network lateral movement. All connections are examined and secured in SASE, and threat protection guidelines are unambiguously stated up front.
Top Use Cases for SASE
Safe Web Use and Cloud Service Access
One of the main uses for the security service edge is the enforcement of policy control over user access to the internet, online, and cloud applications (which was previously handled by a SWG). As end users consume content both on and off the network, SSE policy management helps reduce risk. Another important factor driving this use case across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS is the need to enforce corporate internet and access control regulations for compliance.
Cloud security posture management (CSPM) is another essential skill that shields your company from dangerous setup errors that could result in security breaches.
Recognise and Reduce Dangers
Adoption of SSE and, to a lesser extent, SASE is primarily motivated by the need to identify risks and stop successful attacks over the internet, web, and cloud services. Because end users can access material from any device or network, businesses must have a robust defense-in-depth strategy against risks like phishing and malware.
Advanced threat prevention features like cloud firewall (FWaaS), cloud sandbox, malware detection, and cloud browser isolation must be included in your SSE platform. CASBs can detect and quarantine existing malware before it does harm, and they allow data analysis within SaaS programs. Another important element is adaptive access control, which modifies access based on an end user’s device position.
Link and Protect Remote Employees
The contemporary remote worker requires remote access to private apps and cloud services without the inherent dangers of a virtual private network. Because it removes the security implications of putting the user on a flat network, granting access to apps, data, and content without granting access to the network is an essential component of zero trust access.
Here, it’s crucial to offer safe access to cloud and private apps without exposing them to the internet or opening firewall ACLs. Native inside-out app connectivity, which keeps apps “dark” to the internet, should be made possible by SSE platforms. In order to provide the fastest possible experience for all of your users, independent of their connectivity needs, a ZTNA strategy should also be scalable across a worldwide network of access points.
Recognise and Safeguard Private Information
No matter where sensitive data is stored, SSE makes it possible to locate and manage it. An SSE platform offers improved visibility and increased simplicity across all data channels by integrating essential data protection measures. To satisfy Payment Card Industry (PCI) requirements and other compliance policies, cloud DLP makes it simple to locate, categorise, and secure sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information (PII). Because DLP policies can be created only once and applied to both inline traffic and data at rest in cloud apps via CASBs, SSE also makes data protection easier.
High-performance TLS/SSL inspection is another feature that the best SSE platforms offer to handle encrypted traffic, or the majority of data in transit. Shadow IT discovery, which enables enterprises to prohibit malicious or authorised apps on all endpoints, is also essential for this use case.
What Makes SSE Vital?
SSE, an expanding trend in the market, addresses the core issues that businesses have with digital transformation, cloud computing, remote work, and secure edge computing. Businesses’ data is becoming more dispersed outside of their on-premises data centres as they use software and infrastructure as a service (SaaS, IaaS) solutions along with other cloud apps. Furthermore, an increasing number of users are remote and mobile, accessing their cloud data and apps from any location using any kind of connection.
It is challenging to secure mobile users and cloud apps using conventional network security techniques because:
- Legacy systems that are anchored to the data centre are unable to track user-cloud app connections.
- Everything slows down when user traffic is “hairpinned” (redirected) over a typical VPN to a data centre for inspection.
- Traditional data centre approaches are costly due to administration and hardware upkeep.
- Because they are not patched, VPNs are simple to exploit.
The data centre security stacks of today have developed naturally into intricate, challenging-to-integrate collections of point products, which exacerbates the situation. Because of its intrinsic complexity, there exist gaps between different security systems, which raises the possibility of ransomware attacks and other advanced threats.
Advice on Choosing the Best SSE Platform
You require an SSE platform that offers a smooth user experience built on zero trust together with quick, scalable security.
Seek out a platform that comprises:
Designed to Provide a Quick User and Cloud App Experience
A cloud-native architecture that is globally dispersed among a sizable data centre footprint is necessary for quick, secure access. Compared to SSE platforms housed on IaaS clouds, which are not primarily designed to meet the demands of real-time content inspection, SSE platforms designed for inspection have an advantage. Security is always quick and close to the user, no matter where they are, because every data centre serves as an inspection node. Additionally, to maintain the best possible cloud app experience, look for quick and reliable peering from SSE vendors.
Constructed using a Zero Trust Architecture from the Ground Up
Never add users to your network; instead, manage access based on identification. Seek out cloud native providers that provide extensive support for zero trust access across all workloads, users, devices, IoT, and cloud apps. A provider with a sizable worldwide data centre footprint will guarantee that your users always have a quick experience without the inconvenience of a VPN in this case as well. Given that scalability is essential for remote user productivity, your vendor’s ZTNA approach to SSE should have a track record of success in extensive worldwide deployments.
Scalable and Inline Proxy Inspection Capable
Both the device’s and the cloud app’s connections are cut off via proxy inspection. Better security and inspection than typical passthrough firewalls are made possible by sitting between the two, which allows for full SSL inspection and prevents connections from “passing through.” Pay attention to SSE platforms that are able to provide content and TLS/SSL inspection on a worldwide basis. Since business-critical traffic is typically the subject of inline inspection, scalability problems can cause major disruptions. Make that the SSE vendor you have selected has a history of checking inline traffic for major international corporations and has robust service-level agreements (SLAs).
Promoting Additional Innovation in SSE Development
More security features and services will guarantee the SSE platform is future-proof as more businesses adopt it as a single platform. Digital experience monitoring, which enables IT to promptly detect connectivity problems in the user-to-cloud-app relationship, is one service that is starting to move into SSE.
Furthermore, network service consolidation and an SSE platform are crucial, as indicated by the SASE architecture. This provides multicloud connectivity, local branch office connectivity, and robust connectivity support across SD-WAN services. As your company’s cloud ecosystem develops, you can guarantee space for expansion without adding complexity by concentrating on SASE service providers that are also spearheading SSE innovation.
Secure Access Service Edge vendors
Leading SASE Suppliers
- Cisco: Provides robust SD-WAN and threat protection with Cisco Umbrella.
- Palo Alto Networks: Prisma Access is very good at threat intelligence and Zero Trust.
- Zscaler: With Zscaler Internet Access, the company prioritises easy access and cloud security.
- Fortinet: FortiSASE integrates security and affordable SD-WAN.
- VMware: VMware SASE combines edge services, cloud security, and SD-WAN.
- Cloudflare: Cloudflare One is an expert in scalability and fast performance.
- A fully integrated SASE platform for international networking and security is Cato Networks.
- Netskope: Strong CASB integration and cloud security focus.
- Check Point Software: Advanced threat prevention and Zero Trust are provided by Harmony Connect.
- Akamai: Offers businesses SASE, CDN, and application acceleration.
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