SASE Meaning That’s Easy to Understand

Traditionally, companies have had to invest heavily in hardware to manage their networks and security. In today’s world, that’s just not sufficient anymore. Because so many people are working remotely, they need access to data and applications from anywhere in the world to be productive  — and that means companies need a reliable way to secure their networks and data as it travels from the end-user to its destination..

This is where SASE comes into the picture. But are you wondering about SASE’s meaning? SASE stands for Secure Access Service Edge, a cloud-based model that integrates network and security functions into a single service.

SASE Meaning: Understanding the Terms

SASE enables businesses to provide their employees with a unified and seamless connection to their local or cloud applications.

The SASE concept combines SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) with modern, cloud-based security features like zero-trust networking and CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker).

But what do these terms mean?

SD-WAN is a way to manage the flow of data between locations. It allows an enterprise to build a virtual network on top of the physical network that connects their locations and resources. With SD-WAN, network administrators can decide which traffic gets priority and how much bandwidth each application can access at any given time. The term software-defined means that this kind of network configuration works with help from software rather than hardware.

Zero Trust Networking means that organizations should not implicitly trust any component of their networks — including servers, devices, endpoints, or users — and should instead verify the identity of every user and device before granting them access to resources or services. Zero trust is one of the essential principles for SASE.

Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) are tools that help businesses leverage cloud computing without putting their data at risk. CASB products provide monitoring and cloud security by securing traffic between the cloud vendor and the user, detecting and preventing threats, enforcing policies, and providing visibility into the health of a business’s cloud applications.

Related: Understanding SD-WAN and SD-WAN Vendors

SASE Meaning: Combining SD-WAN and ZTN with CASB

SASE’s meaning is really about the combined capabilities of SD-WAN and CASB—and zero-trust networking is just one part of that.

You can think of SD-WAN and CASB as two-tiered systems. At the top, you have SD-WAN, which helps you secure connectivity from your end-users to your enterprise application. At the bottom, you have CASB, which enables you to secure your cloud applications and data. Zero trust networking isn’t part of this equation —  it’s a methodology that helps you secure the data once it gets there.

Alternatively, think of a castle design. The drawbridge helps to keep out intruders (this is like SD-WAN). Once inside, there’s a moat around the castle itself (this is like CASB). And finally, inside the castle are all sorts of security measures in place so that if an intruder does make it in, they’re not able to access any of the critical stuff (this is zero trust networking).

By combining these three approaches, companies can make their networks more secure and reliable while giving end-users more access to their services. Companies can use CASB on top of SD-WAN to extend their data security and access management capabilities to the cloud where these business critical applications reside. These combined tools help companies control how users access sensitive data and applications while allowing employees to work from anywhere without worrying about putting data at risk.

SASE Meaning: The Story of SASE

SASE was first described in a paper from Gartner in 2019, and it has already gained massive traction because of the number of businesses that need secure remote access for their employees working from home. Experts expect the SASE market to grow with increments of 30% every year until it hits a massive $10 billion by 2025.

SASE is here to stay.

Companies have had to use multiple tools to manage their network security in the past. For example, they needed one device to detect intrusion, another to scan for software programs and server vulnerabilities, and another to deploy firewalls.

Companies can now rely on a secure access service edge (SASE) solution to handle all those functions with a single tool. Instead of installing multiple solutions on-premises and then training employees on each one, companies now have only one SASE solution that they can configure for their needs and roll out through the cloud.

SASE Meaning: Why Do Companies Need SASE to Enhance How They Communicate?

In a nutshell, SASE enables companies to secure connections between their data and their cloud-based applications.

Several businesses have been moving towards the cloud for numerous reasons, including cost savings, productivity, flexibility, and scalability.

However, moving to the cloud has traditionally meant increased network complexity and vulnerability. This is where SASE comes in. Its security measures are flexible enough to match the ever-evolving needs of your business.

In fact, with its focus on security and centralization, SASE can provide significant benefits to your company:

Data Center Consolidation: Connects remote offices and data centers without investing in expensive hardware or software at each site. It can help you save money, improve efficiency, and reduce operating costs.

Enhanced Productivity: Allows employees to work from anywhere on any device, increasing productivity.

Empowered Workforce: Enables digital transformation by allowing people to work from anywhere on any device. You don’t have to worry about your office being closed because of a natural disaster if you have set up a remote access solution (such as SASE).

Improved Security: SASE combines improved security with improved performance. It is because SASE provides strong encryption and authentication protocols that keep your network secure from hackers, malware, and viruses—all faster and easier than traditional VPNs.

Enables Network Access from Any Location: With SASE, you have a flexible setup where remote workers can connect to the network from anywhere in the world. They don’t need to only be in one specific office or building. Instead, they can work on their laptop or smartphone on the road and still have full access to your company’s network.

SASE Meaning: How Does SASE Compare to SD-WAN?

While both solutions can help improve the performance and reliability of your network, it’s essential to understand the differences between them.

SASE brings together a variety of security and networking functions into one service delivered over the internet. It provides secure remote access to various applications and services, including those in the cloud. The service can also help with monitoring your network traffic to find potential security risks and get the most out of your bandwidth.

On the other hand, SD-WAN focuses on making your wide-area network more efficient. In particular, SD-WAN helps you manage several internet connections so that as much traffic as possible flows over high-quality links. The goal is to ensure that all of your users have quality access to the applications they need without investing in expensive private lines or other dedicated solutions for wide-area connectivity.

The two services are different, but they can work together. SASE could use an SD-WAN solution to provide secure remote access to applications.

Related: What Goes into an SD-WAN Implementation Plan?

How To Get SASE With Powerful SD-WAN

SASE is flexible and dynamic, enabling businesses to keep up with the new ways people work, learn, and serve customers. SASE transforms how companies do business by combining the best of software-defined wide-area networks (SD-WAN) with security.

In a nutshell, SASE improves your network performance by connecting to the cloud in real-time. That means it can integrate with any system or application hosted in the cloud or on-prem — even one built by a third party.

And it’s not just about speed; SASE offers an extra layer of security for your data and applications. Security features include firewalls, identity authentication systems, and virus protection software. And that’s just scratching the surface.

But how do you get there? You need to work with a technological solutions company with enough experience to take the complexity out of business communications and deliver a world-class experience with every human connection. That way, you’ll be able to adopt  cutting-edge technology without worrying about managing it yourself or hiring someone who knows how to do it for you.

Why Enterprises Should Be Using SASE Today

SASE is an emerging technology that transforms the way enterprises connect to their networks and collaborate with remote employees and partners, as well as what services they can access.

Essentially, SASE enables organizations to securely connect users to any application or service from any location in real-time. It does this by merging SD-WAN and network security into a single, cloud-based solution. And while this might sound complicated, it’s very cost-effective and easy to install—all you need is an internet connection!

Ready to learn more about what SASE can do for your organization? Contact BCM One today!