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SASE is now doing to network security what storage devices did to the IT space.

SASE was coined in late August by leading Gartner security analysts Neil MacDonald, Lawrence Orans, and Joe Skorupa. They published the “The Future of Network Security Is in the Cloud” report, which discussed for the first time a new model for network security which will change the way organizations secure their networks and data. This model is called Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).

SASE was announced as the emerging technology model that will shape network security in the upcoming years. Gartner believes that SASE will change the network security industry, similar to how IaaS changed data center architecture. Despite being just introduced, the emerging SASE market is becoming apparent. In the report, Gartner says by 2024, at least 40% of enterprises will have security strategies that will require the SASE model. The concept of the model is to create and provide a secure cloud environment that is fully integrated into one’s network.

Cloud Services Adoption Requires Better Security

As the majority of organizations are moving to the cloud and adopting different cloud services, they are quickly learning network security isn’t so simple. The traditional network security model was built on the idea that organizations should send traffic to corporate static networks where the necessary security services were located. At the time, this was the accepted model due to the majority of employees working from site-centric offices.

The idea of more user-centric networks is changing the traditional network we once knew. While people are now working more remotely from home, cafes, as well as around the world the standard, hardware-based security appliances we’ve depended on are no longer adequate in securing remote network access.

With the widespread adoption of cloud computing, organizations started to see the increase in employees becoming nomads. As more digital workspaces increased, the static network model became a thing of the past. This new approach presented an increase in network security issues. While static network security solutions provide a level of security for most organizations, a fundamental transformation is essential. However, this network and resources digital transformation haven’t provided a smooth transition.

Organizations have implemented cloud services with traditional hardware security solutions such as firewalls, SD-WAN devices, and other security products. This attempt to work with both outdated security solutions and cloud services has created more problems than solutions. How can organizations moving forward combine their hardware and cloud security solutions?

The cyber security and network security solution space is highly segmented with an endless amount of different solutions by security vendors. This is creating a massive headache for organizations that are trying to smoothly integrate these solutions in their network environment. Instead, the entire cybersecurity space needs to converge to provide a more holistic cybersecurity approach. This is where SASE is introduced. SASE allows organizations to have a software-based and service-based network that will provide a unification of different security solutions approach. It happened with the IT space with storage devices and it is now happening with the network security space with SASE.

What is SASE?

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is the cloud architecture model that combines the different functions of network and security solutions into a unified cloud security platform to be delivered as a service without any or small amounts of hardware and appliances involved. The new cloud architecture model which is transforming how the cloud will integrate more smoothly with outdated security technologies all in one network. SASE provides organizations the opportunity to securely connect to a single network where they can gain access to physical and cloud resources – no matter their location.

SASE enables IT security solutions to provide a more holistic and agile service for business networking and security for its customers. What makes SASE innovative and disruptive is the idea of how it will transform the way network security is consumed over traditional products and cloud services.

SASE Is Networking

Unlike traditional networking, SASE is removing the outdated network idea of site-centric to a more user-centric mindset. Instead of organizations connecting their networks and resources under one branch to a central office, the SASE model suggests that businesses should instead connect their employees and networks on a more user-centric level to a cloud-based service.

In the past, the majority of networks for organizations were pinpointed at the central data center for user access. While this approach was implemented by global organizations, Gartner suggests that this site-centric approach is outdated and not effective as organizations are turning to edge platforms, SaaS solutions and cloud services. While the concept of organizations providing a data center for user access won’t disappear overnight its will become less relevant as the majority of services are moving to the cloud.

According to Gartner, SASE provides organizations of all sizes many advantages over traditional security technologies such as better flexibility for users and IT managers, more affordable network costs and greater performance.

SASE Means More Security Features

While current network security solutions emphasis on very specific features in their product, SASE creates the opportunity for security services to provide different security features than their initial offering. One of the key additional security features that SASE can offer is Zero Trust network access.

Due to the SASE model, which is not dependent on an IP address or location of a user’s device for policy enforcement, organizations can implement the Zero Trust Security approach for consistent and secure network access and policy enforcement.

By enforcing the Zero Trust approach for identity user access ensures policy enforcement and protection for all users, devices, applications, and data, regardless of where they’re connecting from. This user-centric approach makes the verification of authorized entities mandatory, not optional. By implementing a holistic security approach with the SASE model will provide a more flexible and adaptable versus any potential network risks moving forward all organizations no matter the size.

Is SASE the Right Model For Your Organization?

For each organization the successful network security depends on the right solution, organizations can feel confident that they can implement the SASE model without needing to modify the existing network.

With secure, segmented and audited access to cloud environments, applications, and local services, Perimeter 81’s SASE service increases security, auditing, monitoring, and visibility while reducing help-desk support and hardware spending.