From Legacy to Leading Edge: How SASE Is Reshaping Enterprise Security

In an age of artificial intelligence and remote work, the need for businesses to protect themselves against sophisticated cyber threats is only becoming more apparent. Workers are relying on traditional security models that can’t keep up with technological advancements and cultural changes, let alone robust cyber attacks.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a solution for unifying security and networking in a cloud-native model, enhancing protection, performance, and scalability. Businesses that embrace SASE are better prepared to address changes in network security and meet cyber threats as they arise. SASE means long-term security and efficiency for countless industries.

Failings of Traditional Network Security

As the modern digital landscape transitions to cloud computing and remote work, the network perimeter has been blurred, making it nearly impossible for a traditional security system to secure a single boundary against attacks.

Standalone security tools like VPNs are useful for securing individual devices against the shortcomings of traditional security infrastructure but are insufficient for anything more. This is where an SASE solution comes in.

What Is SASE?

According to the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), organizations that deploy an SASE solution improve network agility by 35% and reduce operational costs by 25%—but how does it work?

SASE is a cloud-based framework that integrates various network security technologies, including a Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), Cloud Access Security Blockers (CASBs), Secure Web Gateways (SWGs), Firewalls-as-a-Service (FWaaS), and Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA).

This system creates centralized control and private connectivity even on the cloud, during remote work, and across multiple devices—perfect for a company to plan ahead of changes to the cybersecurity landscape.

Security Advantages of a SASE Solution

SASE offers continuous authentication services to combat cyber threats more effectively and micro-segmentation to limit attack surfaces.

Additionally, a SASE solution focuses on identity-driven security policies. The shift to focus on a user’s identity has proven to be a more effective protection solution than other traditional security initiatives.

“SASE uses user identity as its currency,” former Forbes Technology Council member Adi Ruppin wrote in an article on the future of network security. “This is a much better descriptor for the purpose of securing communications in comparison to a descriptor such as a user’s or machine’s (fleeting) IP address. In our distributed world, identity has also moved to the cloud and is taking center stage as the source of truth for everything we do, and it stands to reason that networking and security should follow suit.”

How to Transition to SASE Without Disruption

A seamless transition to an SASE solution begins with assessing a business’s security infrastructure. With this knowledge, a business can determine its goals for the SASE and what requirements it must meet.

Next, these goals should be communicated to experienced staff members, who can help build a clear picture of the current security environment.

Choose the right SASE vendor and solution based on this research and collaboration. Finally, stage and test the deployment of the SASE.

After its deployment, a SASE will require troubleshooting and support, so a business should provide proper outlets for user complaints and have technical staff available to address the issues. This way, an SASE can be continuously optimized to meet a business’ shifting needs.

Why SASE Is the Future of Enterprise Security

The efficiency of remote work, the advantages of the cloud, and a demand for unified security have all but ensured that SASE solutions will drive the future of enterprise security. Combining various advanced tools, a SASE can protect against sophisticated cyber threats while unifying network management in a single cloud-based platform.