Over the past ten years, the usage of cloud computing has increased. Cloud computing has experienced a boom in use and development over the past several years as well. All of this comes full circle back to the ongoing epidemic, which compelled several workers to adopt technology and the work-from-home paradigm. The cloud model is crucial for maintaining and expanding the workforce changes.

Definition of SASE 

A cloud-based IT approach called Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE, unifies network security and software-defined networking operations under the control of a single service provider. The word “SASE” was created in 2019 by Gartner, a multinational research and consultancy company.

Modern, internationally dispersed enterprises require the improved control and visibility that a SASE strategy provides over the users, traffic, and data that are accessed by a corporate network. SASE-based networks may link geographically dispersed employees and offices in any place using any device since they are adaptable and expandable.

How does SASE function?

SASE, as previously noted, combines your network design with network security, such as SaaS or Zero Trust, to produce a single, cloud-based solution. Technology for managing network traffic and technology for managing network security are the two separate parts of the technology used by SASE.

SASE locates the controls for controlling network traffic outside of the data center, at the cloud edge. By extending your network perimeter to remote users, devices, and applications, this edge renders VPNs unnecessary. As the services become more simplified and integrated, this form of network traffic control can minimize latency.

The sessions are often created to contain a range of significant network security features, including identity-based access, zero trust restrictions, and more. Before allowing access, the identity of the user or device is confirmed during a connection request, and predefined compliance and security measures are enforced. To maintain security, risk assessments are conducted continuously while keeping an eye on things like the device’s condition or the resource’s sensitivity.

In what ways does SASE differ from conventional networking?

Data and applications are housed in a central data center in a conventional network arrangement. Users, branch offices, and apps connect to the data center via a localized private network or another network that often links to the major one through a secure leased line or VPN to access those resources.

The development of distributed workforces and the complexity brought on by cloud-based services like software-as-a-service (SaaS) have shown this approach to be unprepared to manage them. If apps and data are housed in the cloud, it is no longer practicable to redirect all traffic through a single data center.

What are the four main SASE security elements?

Four essential security elements make up SASE:

Safe web gateways (SWG): An SWG guards against online risks and data breaches by filtering undesirable web traffic, preventing unauthorized user activity, and enforcing organizational security guidelines. SWGs are the best choice for safeguarding remote workforces since they can be set up anywhere.

Security broker for cloud access (CASB): A CASB handles several security tasks for cloud-hosted services, such as exposing shadow IT (unauthorized business systems), protecting sensitive data through access control and data loss prevention (DLP), and guaranteeing compliance with data privacy laws.

Zero trust network access (ZTNA): ZTNA solutions need real-time authentication of each person and device attempting to access a protected application, locking off internal resources from public view and assisting in the defense against possible data breaches.

FWaaS: Firewalls provided as a service from the cloud are referred to as firewalls-as-a-service (FWaaS). FWaaS defends against online threats to cloud-based platforms, networks, and software. In contrast to conventional firewalls, FWaaS is not a physical device but rather a collection of security features that include URL filtering, intrusion prevention, and unified policy administration across all network traffic.

Benefits of SASE – Why is SASE Important?

The major three advantages of SASE have enhanced security, larger cost savings, and improved performance.

Fast and efficient performance

This method of building network architecture is very effective and versatile. From any location, all of your workers may easily and securely connect to all the resources they require. You may simply grow this approach to meet your changing requirements as additional team members are added or as more apps are added. SASE reduces the number of security solutions your company requires and combines them into a single service, resulting in time savings, integration advantages, and administrative ease. Additionally, as network traffic follows the edge of the cloud and employs route optimization, it can reduce latency and slow performance. 

Additional Cost Savings

Reduce the number of third-party services that need to be acquired, monitored, and maintained by integrating security services directly into your network architecture. Your IT team can manage both the infrastructure and the security services within it with less time and effort by leveraging the one platform that SASE offers. All of these advantages result in immediate cost reductions for your business.

Strengthened Security

To allow for customization to your organization’s needs, SASE offers flexibility in the security services that may be incorporated. You may incorporate many kinds of security services, such as threat protection, web filtering, sandboxing, data loss prevention, and more. Data protection policies can assist restrict access to sensitive data, and content inspection integration in SASE systems can help give more visibility and better security.

Conclusion

Your networking and network security tasks are combined into a single, cloud-based solution by SASE. The typical hub-and-spoke architecture, which gives your network advantages like decreased network latency, is not used in this network infrastructure model. The SASE technique can also save money, boost flexibility and performance, simplify network management and security, and enhance security. Building your SASE infrastructure may present some hurdles, but by coordinating your network and security specialists’ efforts and collaborating with a SASE supplier, you can assist to avoid any possible issues.