In recent years, the cybersecurity landscape has evolved drastically, with new threats and challenges constantly emerging. As organizations increasingly adopt cloud technologies, embrace remote workforces and expand their digital footprints, the need for comprehensive and integrated security solutions has become paramount. SASE, or Secure Access Service Edge, first coined by Gartner, has emerged in response to these evolving needs.
SASE offers a unified and holistic approach to security, consolidating various independent security areas into a single platform. Its importance in securing the modern enterprise cannot be understated, as it provides several key benefits that address the complex security challenges faced by organizations today.
“SASE is modular based. Clients will select different security options based on existing investments or integrations that suit their needs. But SASE is a single solution that addresses the complete network, from data security to identity and cloud,” says Syam Thommandru, Vice President – Strategic Partnerships, HCLTech.
Simplifying security
“One of the primary advantages of SASE is its ability to simplify security management and reduce complexity. Traditionally, organizations have employed several disparate security solutions to protect their networks, such as firewalls, proxy VPNs, CASBs and SDNs,” continues Thommandru.
Managing and integrating these solutions can be time-consuming and complicated. SASE streamlines this process by consolidating these security services into an easy-to-use single platform, allowing organizations to manage their security infrastructure more efficiently. With a centralized management console, administrators can monitor and control their security policies from a single interface, eliminating the need for multiple disjointed systems.
Driving higher ROI
Another significant benefit of SASE is its potential to offer organizations a higher return on investment (ROI). By integrating multiple security services into a single platform, SASE eliminates the need for separate investments in various solutions. This consolidation reduces the cost of purchasing and maintaining multiple solutions and lowers operational expenses associated with managing and supporting these disparate systems.
In addition, the seamless integration of security services in SASE translates to a streamlined workflow for end-users, enhancing productivity and minimizing disruptions. Ultimately, SASE’s cost savings and improved efficiency help organizations achieve a higher ROI on their security investments.
A growing cybersecurity trend
The market for SASE will grow tremendously in the coming years. Analysts predict a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% between 2023 and 2028, reflecting the increasing demand for integrated security solutions. As organizations continue to embrace cloud technologies and expand their digital footprints, the need for secure and seamless connectivity has never been greater. SASE provides the ideal solution, offering a comprehensive framework that ensures secure access to applications and resources, regardless of location or device.
HCLTech, an IT services industry leader, recognizes the importance of SASE in securing the modern enterprise. Through strategic partnerships with market-leading solutions providers like Zscaler and Palo Alto Networks, HCLTech has built the necessary expertise and capabilities to implement SASE solutions effectively. By collaborating closely with customers, HCLTech has demonstrated the real-world value of SASE in various use cases, enabling organizations to achieve greater control, reduced complexity and seamless security for their hybrid workforces.
“Not every client has combined the various cybersecurity services that makeup SASE. Eventually, there will be a huge total addressable market for SASE. The architecture drives a lot of consolidation and ROI back to the customer,” says Thommandru.
The importance of zero trust and usability
Zero trust is a critical component of SASE that further enhances its security capabilities. Zero trust revolves around not trusting anyone and verifying access requests at every level. With traditional security models, once users are authenticated, they are often granted broad access to resources within the network. However, zero trust, combined with SASE, takes a more granular approach, continuously validating access requests from any source. Zero trust ensures that only authorized users gain access to specific resources and helps prevent lateral movement within the network in case of a breach.
Organizations must adopt a user-centric approach to ensure a robust user experience and successful implementation of SASE. From the end-users' perspective, the SASE solution should be transparent and seamless, without imposing unnecessary restrictions or complexities. Users should be able to access applications and resources without experiencing disruptions or latency. Building a unified platform consolidating various security services and ensuring a seamless experience for end-users starts with a user-centric design of SASE. This approach enhances productivity and promotes a positive security culture within the organization.
“Zero trust is all about combining everything to ensure seamless access to the network,” adds Thommandru.
A secure future with SASE
SASE represents a paradigm shift in the way organizations approach security. With its unified and integrated approach, SASE addresses the evolving security challenges the modern enterprise faces.
By consolidating multiple security services into a single platform, organizations can simplify security management, reduce complexity and achieve better control over their security infrastructure. SASE’s cost savings, improved efficiency and enhanced security make it an indispensable solution for organizations in today's digital landscape.
"There are more sophisticated threats and as a result, there is a rising requirement for integrated networks and security to work together in a hybrid work environment. That can come with a single SASE vendor or multiple vendor SASE solutions. Overall, there is a shift in enterprise preferences to a single, integrated security solution that brings in tools and solutions from multiple vendors,” says Thommandru.
As the demand for secure and seamless connectivity grows, SASE will undoubtedly play a crucial role in safeguarding the modern enterprise.
