Companies must secure remote workers and SaaS applications as the network becomes more distributed. SASE offers a converged infrastructure with networking and security capabilities that work together to reduce operational complexity and risk.

A global fabric of points of presence delivers low-latency connectivity while supporting network security based on user, device, and context. That means that security can be deployed closer to users, making it more effective and efficient for IT teams.

Security

SASE is a powerful security solution that can help enterprises break down tech siloes, eliminate outdated technologies like VPNs and automate mundane networking and security chores. It combines SD-WAN and network security functions into one cohesive service that can be deployed at the network edge. It enables the network to be threat-aware and safeguard users, applications, and infrastructure. 

A SASE platform provides a Zero Trust Access Network that delivers secure remote access for users, devices, and services. It allows access to enterprise data and SaaS apps without redirecting traffic through a centralized security server or the internet. This approach reduces the threat surface and simplifies connectivity for remote workers. What are the capabilities of SASE? 

Integrated security capabilities in SASE include firewall as a service (FWaaS), Secure Web Gateways (SWG), and antivirus/malware inspection, all delivered via a single cloud-delivered instance at the network edge. It helps simplify deployment, management, and operations and offloads many security chores from the IT team.

SWGs inspect encrypted traffic for threats such as phishing sites that exfiltrate data, botnet command-and-control servers, and other malicious activities that evade traditional security controls. Bundling SWG into a unified network security service with other network protection capabilities offers improved visibility, rich telemetry, and granular policy control. It also simplifies deployment, management, and operations and enhances manageability.

Connectivity

The underlying infrastructure of SASE makes it possible to connect users, devices, applications, and data across networks using secure Internet connections. It eliminates the need for costly Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) lines and reduces the complexity of network infrastructure. SASE also offers a cloud-based model that is easier to manage and maintain than traditional solutions.

With SASE, security is based on identity rather than site, allowing enterprises to provide more flexible access for employees and remote systems while providing the same level of protection for all users. This approach is especially appropriate for mobile workforces. In addition, SASE reduces the risk of compromised VPNs and DMZs becoming beachheads for attacks on internal systems because it routes traffic to POPs that are nearest to the user.

SASE vendors offer various connectivity capabilities, including SD-WAN, CDN, caching, network-as-a-service, SaaS acceleration, and bandwidth aggregation. They may also provide hardware appliances to connect edge users and devices to nearby SASE points of presence, but the bulk of their connectivity is delivered as software.

A SASE solution should provide a single integrated platform to deliver firewall-as-a-service, URL filtering, and real-time anti-malware scanning. It simplifies the management of multiple tools and enables IT staff to spend less time on configuration and maintenance chores and more time on higher-level tasks.

Scalability

Unlike traditional security, which relies on creating a secure perimeter, SASE moves the processing of information close to entities like users. By analyzing network requests and matching them with an organization’s security policies, SASE dynamically allows or denies access to applications and services. This method decreases the attack surface and reduces the chance of lateral network movement.

SASE technology enables enterprises to scale and adapt to changing network conditions without costly upgrades or migrations to new infrastructure. This scalability reduces the need for expensive networking hardware and software, making it easier for IT teams to manage the performance of their SASE architecture.

Enterprises can use a unified SASE solution to secure access for branch offices, remote workers, and mobile employees. By incorporating SD-WAN capabilities, SASE offers low latency regardless of network location and eliminates backhauling costs. It also supports cost-effective transport choices by securing data center aggregation and optimizing client-to-cloud delays.

By reducing the number of point solutions used to manage networks, SASE improves organizational efficiency and helps IT become a business enabler rather than a bottleneck. It means less time spent juggling multiple tools and more energy invested in achieving business goals. It also lowers operational costs by eliminating the need for hardware at remote offices and reducing the number of agents required on end-user devices.

Ease of Management

In addition to eliminating the need for a patchwork of physical and virtual appliances, SASE also centralizes security and connectivity management. The result is less downtime from managing multiple hardware systems and reduced operational costs by reducing the number of vendors enterprises deal with and the number of agents on endpoint devices.

The SASE platform flips the security model and moves network protection closer to users, leveraging the concept of edge computing that processes information close to where it’s needed. It helps keep threats from spreading, as security and access decisions are made based on the identity of the connecting user or device, the context around them, and their role, rather than trying to establish a secure perimeter that is breached more easily.

SASE integrates networking and security capabilities like secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), and zero trust network access (ZTNA) as unified services, making it easier for IT teams to manage, set consistent policies, spot anomalies and spot potential breaches. It reduces the time it takes to address threats, allowing organizations to respond more quickly and get workers back online.

Intel’s breadth of expertise across the cloud and edge-to-enterprise infrastructure enables us to bring a cohesive, full-featured solution that works with your existing systems and provides an easy path to upgrade over time. From data center servers to workstations to mobile devices, Intel offers the performance you need today with the scale and capability you’ll need to enable secure, agile, optimized, and scalable enterprise connectivity.

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