Haven’t heard of SASE before? You’re not alone. Standing for Secure Access Service Edge, SASE is a new buzzword in IT security. This article explains SASE in plain English so anyone can understand it. We’ll cover what it is, why it matters, who needs it, top vendors, deployment considerations, and address common questions. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
SASE stands for Secure Access Service Edge. It’s a security model that brings together software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) capabilities with cloud-based security services.
SASE delivers integrated networking and security functions from the cloud to users across an organization. So remote employees, on-site staff, devices, and cloud apps are all protected by one umbrella solution.
In the past, companies relied on a patchwork of different security products – some lived physically on corporate premises, others came from various cloud providers.
SASE changes this by bundling critical networking and security services into one cohesive cloud-based offering. Capabilities like firewalls, threat analysis, data encryption, VPNs, and more all reside in the cloud instead of on-site hardware.
A complete SASE platform contains several key ingredients:
By combining these tools natively into one integrated suite, SASE closes security gaps that can come from piecing together standalone products.
There are several compelling reasons companies are considering SASE adoption:
Nearly any organization can benefit from SASE capabilities, but it offers particular advantages for:
Major players in the SASE market include VMware, Cato Networks, Cisco, and Palo Alto Networks.
VMware provides extremely robust features focused on large enterprises. Cato excels at threat prevention for small/medium businesses. Cisco and Palo Alto land in the middle with solid capabilities for moderate pricing.
While promising, adopting SASE introduces certain changes that may prove difficult:
Careful planning and execution can help overcome these hurdles:
SASE delivers integrated networking and security from the cloud to users everywhere. It promises improved protection, faster performance, and lower costs compared to legacy models. Leading options come from VMware, Cato, Cisco, and Palo Alto. Methodical evaluation and deployment helps maximize benefits while minimizing disruption across organizations.
SASE = Secure Access Service Edge
No. SASE incorporates SD-WAN as a component but also includes security tools like SWG, CASB, ZTNA, and FWaaS.
Leading vendors include VMware, Cato, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks. Many smaller providers exist too.
Not necessarily. SASE often complements parts of the existing stack. Hybrid deployments are common.
Distributed organizations like retail chains, manufacturers, financial services firms, hospitals, and insurers.
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