SASE (pronounced “sassy”) stands for Secure Access Service Edge. In plain terms, it moves your network security out of the office and into the cloud, so it protects your people and data wherever they work.
Why the old model is under strain
For years, security worked like a castle. Your applications and data lived inside your own buildings and data centre, and a firewall at the edge kept threats out. People connected from home through a VPN that brought them back inside the walls. That model struggles today because:
Many of your applications are cloud services, not systems in your data centre
Many of your people work from home, client sites or on the road
Sending all that traffic back through head office to be checked slows everything down
What SASE does differently
SASE brings networking and security together as cloud-delivered services, from one provider or a small number that work together. Instead of sending traffic to your firewall, each user and each office connects to the nearest point of a provider’s cloud, where security checks are applied on the way to the internet and cloud applications. A SASE platform usually brings together:
SD-WAN, to connect offices efficiently
Secure web gateway, to filter harmful websites and downloads
Cloud access security broker (CASB), to control how cloud applications and data are used
Zero trust network access, to replace the traditional VPN and give each person access only to the applications they need
Firewall as a service, to apply firewall rules in the cloud
The security services on their own, without SD-WAN, are often sold as Security Service Edge (SSE). You may see both terms in vendor proposals.
What it means for the business
When it’s well planned, SASE can offer:
Consistent protection: the same security rules apply whether someone works at head office, at home or in an airport
Better experience: people reach cloud applications more directly, without everything detouring through head office
Simpler operations: fewer separate security products and appliances to buy, patch and manage
Easier growth: new offices and new staff can be connected and protected faster
Questions to ask before you invest
Most organizations adopt SASE in stages rather than all at once. Before committing, leaders should ask:
Where do our people work, and which applications do they use most?
What security tools do we already own, and when do those contracts end?
Do we want one provider for everything, or best-of-breed products that work together?
How will we move from our current setup without disrupting the business?
How will we measure success: cost, user experience, fewer incidents, or all three?
The bottom line
SASE is designed for people who work in the cloud and from many locations. The right approach depends on your current network, your existing tools and your priorities, which is why a clear, vendor-neutral roadmap matters before choosing a platform.
SFA Systems helps leaders understand SASE and plan the move from legacy networks with vendor-neutral assessments, executive training and roadmaps. Book a consultation