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SASE: Network Security on a Human Scale

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One of the biggest challenges today for IT teams? Securing more devices for more remote users and more SaaS applications without increasing complexity or hindering operations.

Traditional data-center-based security perimeters are no longer enough to protect users connecting from anywhere, or to secure data in transit or apps downloaded from the cloud.

The attack surface has expanded, giving criminals more points of entry to exploit and more opportunities to pierce your defenses wherever they’re weakest. Problems occur practically every day. Ransom- and other malware are proliferating as data breaches and their associated costs hit new heights.

Relying on a data center to anchor your security strategy may hamstring your organization and squeeze growth.
Our experts can assist you in
Enter SASE. It transforms your ability to grow in complete and total security.

What’s in an acronym?

SASE—pronounced “sassy”—stands for Secure Access Service Edge. It is a roadmap developed by Gartner, comprised of two main components:

Secure Access (SA)

First, it’s about making sure users, their connections, and the content they access are secure at all times. This is achieved through various technologies:

  • Network security
  • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
  • Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
  • Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF)
  • Domain Name System (DNS)
  • Remote Browser Isolation (RBI)
Service Edge (SE)

Second, SASE delivers network access and protection in the cloud effectively, automatically, and securely, whatever your location. It does this using the following:

  • Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WANs)
  • Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
  • Content Deliver Network (CDN)
  • Wide Area Network Optimization (WAN Optimization)
  • Network as a Service
  • Network manufacturers

Combine network security and functionality

That means SASE combines what your WAN can do with superior security features. And it all comes to you in the cloud to meet your organization’s flexibility and mobility requirements.

The result is better performance, lower latency for accessing applications and data, and a more human-centered experiencey, both for users and IT administrators.

 

The Benefits of SASE

  • More Mobility
    Your employees and consultants have a secure connection to company resources, wherever they happen to be.
  • Simplified Management
    Consolidating all the solutions on all your devices in a single solution delivered as a cloud computing service eliminates silos, gives you a comprehensive picture, and simplifies oversight of your IT assets.
  • Improved User Experience
    SASE checks endpoint and user compliance at login and has centralized security policies, taking you another step closer to Zero Trust. Users also get a better experience thanks to direct access and improved performance.
  • Superior Security and Control
    The cloud-based architecture protects WAN and Internet access of all users. It also gives you a better visibility of your organization’s overall security status with a single interface.
  • Deeper Integration
    SASE is a cloud-native service and supports multicloud environments. It’s also integrated with SD-WANs and WAFs to improve and secure traffic between sites.

The Three Steps to SASE

Phase 1

The first step is to deploy the core services of the SASE model, such as ZTNA, content filtering, cyberthreat prevention, SD-WAN, and network security.

Phase 2

The next step is extending and building on those services by adding behavioral protection, Security as a Service, and browser, network access, and device controls.

Phase 3

The arrival point for SASE comes with centralized SD-WAN organization, cloud-based application protection, and Security as a Service including firewalls and event management support.

One step at a time

By combining multiple network and cybersecurity technologies in a single cloud-based solution, SASE makes IT more comprehensive while restoring human control. It also becomes the key to your digital transformation by successfully dealing with today’s security and mobility challenges.

Your organization can adopt the model gradually by deploying solutions such as Cisco Umbrella and Cisco Duo to make users and remote connection secure while also opting for a Zero Trust approach.

Aks our experts to assist you in your transition to SASE

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