As businesses undergo periods of rapid digital transformation, there’s always one term that keeps floating around in conversation – the cloud.
Spending on cloud-based infrastructure is predicted to exceed $1 trillion in 2024, spurred on by the need to accommodate the working patterns of both remote and hybrid employees.
Increased adoption of cloud technology comes at a time when cybersecurity becomes a key concern among business leaders. With the attack surface expanding, that need to safeguard endpoints and precious data is paramount.
The legacy approach of a centralised data centre and accessing through either a localised or virtual private network can’t support multiple devices operating from various locations. This ‘hub-and-spoke model’ can be easily overwhelmed by increased usage of SaaS (software as a service) applications, leading to increased latency and decreased performance.
The way forward is in the cloud, through a service that combines network and security. That’s where SASE comes into play.
Cutting-edge architecture
Gartner first brought SASE (secure access service edge) to our attention back in 2019, outlining the term in their ‘Future of Network Security in the Cloud’ report. SASE, pronounced as ‘sassy’, was defined as:
“An emerging offering combining comprehensive WAN capabilities with comprehensive network security functions … to support the dynamic secure access needs of digital enterprises.”
Control is placed on network’s edge rather than in a data centre, expanding the network to workers regardless of location. It’s a far more streamlined and simplified alternative to the traditional data centre and sending traffic through a MPLS (multiprotocol label switching) service.
Directing traffic to a nearby PoP (point of presence) gives remote workers an easier way to access business-critical data and applications without running the risk of a costly security breach. With the average global cost of a breach cited at $4.45 million in 2023, a secure network is more vital than ever.
The components behind SASE
Cloud-based SASE is an exciting prospect for any business looking to meet ever-changing working requirements. But what are the elements behind this innovative service? SASE is commonly composed of:
- SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network), an overlay architecture that optimises network traffic routing and is already changing the future of connectivity
- FWaaS (firewall as a service), a next-gen firewall that operates in the cloud and is instrumental in any advanced network service
- CASB (cloud access security broker), which acts as a checkpoint between cloud providers and on-premise devices to ensure safe usage of applications
- SWG (secure web gateway), protecting users during browsing sessions via functions that include URL filtering, Data Loss Prevention, and malware detection
- ZTNA (zero trust network access), verifying all users and devices through a zero-trust policy that only grants access on a need-to-know basis
These five technologies are essential for the SASE architecture, with each one managed and monitored through a centralised platform to guarantee robust and reliable security.
What does SASE bring to businesses?
Bringing network and security capabilities into one cloud-based solution is enticing enough for any business looking to build towards future success. By 2024, at least 40% of enterprises will have deployed strategies to adopt SASE, vastly increasing from less than 1% of enterprises in 2018. There’s a clear shift towards adoption, and it’s worth exploring what exactly is driving this decision.
First, using different solutions from numerous vendors can be expensive. Consolidating vital tools into one cloud-based platform removes the need to pay various providers for their services, making SASE more cost-effective than traditional models. Hardware and maintenance costs are also reduced due to SASE operating in the cloud, with additional savings on energy consumption and devoting space to on-premise solutions.
Not only do businesses cut down on their CapEx and OpEx costs, but also start to see reduced complexity for users. Appliance sprawl only opens a business to greater security vulnerabilities with an expanded attack surface, while also making the technological infrastructure overly complex and fragmented. SASE combines security and networking functions into a single platform that’s far more manageable than previous models.
This single-pane-of-glass management method is more secure (a great comfort for business leaders), with 40% of leaders citing how cybersecurity threats could ‘highly affect’ company performance across 2024. Identity-based ZTNA means threat protection is the same for both on-premise and remote staff, and a unified solution that incorporates multiple tools reduces the attack surface. These tools include next-gen security functions, ensuring that SASE is a far more secure offering compared with on-premise predecessors.
By being cloud-based, SASE is scalable and flexible, making it a versatile platform that can adapt to business needs easily. SD-WAN incorporation alone gives enterprises the means to move away from traditional WAN solutions and direct data traffic through a centralised plane. Moreover, SASE architecture minimises the time and resources spent by IT departments to appropriately scale operations by reducing the need for physical data centres and hardware. Through a single click, businesses can adjust to ever-changing circumstances with ease.
What stands out with SASE is the increased productivity and efficiency it enables. Real-time network visibility adds a new level of security as teams can detect threats before they escalate, guaranteeing continuous operations. Centralising the infrastructure makes it easier for managers to manage security and network features, giving users a stable network that reduces latency and improves connectivity. Never a bad thing for an expanding enterprise!
Be wary of the challenges…
The benefits of merging networking and security functions together delivers a strong case for SASE adoption, but new technology always comes with its own challenges. Change is never an easy process, and today’s fast-paced digital world provides plenty of change to contend with. Achieving seamless SASE integration can be easier said than done.
Integration relies heavily on dismantling the silos that network and security teams currently operate in. SASE transitioning requires collaboration, or else organisations risk undergoing a turbulent time in implementing SASE. Both teams need to understand the importance behind team collaboration and avoid negative outcomes that include a disjoined security infrastructure and wasted resources. Considering 82% of IT leaders have highlighted greater collaboration as a necessity for improving operations, it’s clear how crucial it is for businesses going forward.
Utilising new technology can also expose skill gaps in a particular department, which can occur as SASE is integrated into the existing security infrastructure. Cutting-edge solutions, such as SD-WAN, require a level of expertise that some organisations may lack, coming at a time where the global cybersecurity workforce gap has reached 4 million people.
That can only add to elements of resistance created by organisational culture and the phasing out of traditional infrastructure once SASE transition begins. Moving away from legacy systems can be a time-consuming process that can become overly complex when dealing with cloud-based solutions that are a step above hardware-based products.
SASE is still a relatively new concept, with Gartner first bringing it to our attention back in 2019. Building trust is a process that doesn’t come overnight – it comes from understanding that SASE is a journey. Bringing security and network together means multiple solutions must be understood, with workers confident and competent enough to utilise each component. It’s that need for trust which makes working with the right provider so important.
A network provider that’s on your side
A smooth transition starts with working with a provider that understands the exact needs of a business. Providers must be ready and able to lead with in-depth expertise and guidance on how best to move forward with SASE. Evaluating the right MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) should be a well-thought-out process, especially if the topic of a potentially overcomplicated cybersecurity infrastructure is being discussed.
Businesses need to know that a provider has both the visibility and capability to detect incoming threats early and can disseminate any necessary remedies quickly to meet the danger. Providers, like Gamma for example, need to be compliant and reliable, armed with unique data-driven insights that are proactive when decisive defensive action must be taken.
Cybersecurity is of paramount importance to any business, regardless of sector or size, and an MSSP must demonstrate why SASE’s combination of network and security are good together. While SASE may be the ‘new kid on the block’, its promise in revolutionising network security is something to begin planning for. A clear roadmap to SASE convergence is required, with a recent report from Gartner, ‘2024 Strategic Roadmap for SASE Convergence’, being vital in telling security and risk management leaders why they “must converge networking and security into one or two explicitly partnered SASE vendor offerings and retire legacy perimeter systems”.
You can enjoy complimentary access to the Gartner report that will help businesses evaluate their approach to work-from-anywhere initiatives without the hassle.
