greg jorgensenAs the trend of remote work accelerates, how do businesses ensure the security of their network and data across diverse locations?
Enter Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE, a revolutionary concept that aims to address this challenge.
Picture it: it's 2019, cloud computing is all the rage, and remote work is gaining traction. However, businesses are heavily reliant on physical data centres (they still are) for their networking and security, and VPNs are a staple technology in almost every organization.
Enter SASE. Gartner, a renowned research and advisory company, introduces the concept of SASE and forecasts that by 2024, at least 40% of businesses will have explicit strategies to adopt SASE. Fast forward to today, the rise in remote work brought on by the global pandemic has accelerated the adoption of SASE solutions.
Definition
So, what exactly is SASE?
In a nutshell, SASE is a network architecture that combines Wide Area Networking (WAN) capabilities with network security functions into a single, unified, cloud-native model. This all-encompassing model includes secure web gateway, cloud access security broker, firewall as a service, and zero-trust network access.
The key components here are the consolidation into a SINGLE system and its CLOUD-NATIVE nature.
SASE (or SSE without the SD-WAN capabilities) is designed to deliver these security and networking services as close as possible to the user, irrespective of their location. This ensures that users do not need to connect with distant data centres or company resources.
The Modern Worker
Think about working from your favorite café, enjoying your coffee while tackling your tasks, or working from the comfort of your home. Prior to 2019, this might have been an occasional privilege, but in today's climate, this has become the norm for the modern worker.
This is where SASE really comes into its own.
SASE ensures that all your network traffic, whether originating from a data centre, the cloud, or mobile users, is treated consistently and subjected to the same security policies and controls. This means it doesn't matter if you're connecting from your office or a café – every data packet is subjected to the same rigorous standards in line with zero trust principles.
SASE, or SSE solutions, create a security "bubble" that follows you and your devices, providing secure network access wherever you are. But SASE doesn't just offer blanket protection – it's adaptable and can adjust its security measures based on the user, their location, the device they're using, and what they're accessing.
Improving Efficiency and Scalability
SASE enhances business efficiency by consolidating networking and security services into a single system, simplifying management, and potentially reducing costs.
Businesses no longer need to purchase, implement, and maintain separate products for different security functions. The cloud-native architecture also eliminates reliance on physical hardware, allowing businesses to save on capital costs associated with managing on-prem equipment.
In terms of scalability, the cloud-native nature of SASE allows for easy addition or removal of services, making it an excellent fit for rapidly growing companies or those with fluctuating user or device counts. New locations or hires can be accommodated almost immediately, and the global presence of SASE providers allows businesses to expand without setting up their own infrastructure.
The Future
As we look to the future, SASE is undoubtedly more than just a fleeting trend brought on by the pandemic. It represents a significant shift in how we approach networking and security.
As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation, adopting cloud-based services and supporting a globally dispersed workforce, the relevance and importance of SASE will only grow.
However, it's crucial to remember that SASE is not a product that can be simply bought and installed.
Different providers offer variations of SASE, and its implementation can vary from vendor to vendor.
As the SASE framework continues to evolve, companies will need to transition and adopt different aspects of the model based on their unique needs.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss something more about SASE solutions and how they can benefit your business please contact me - contact@gregjorg.com
Thank you for reading.