Every enterprise that uses cloud-based applications to manage its data needs to prioritize its security. Operating a remote workforce requires enterprises to open internal access to their security perimeter, but hackers see this as an opportunity to steal valuable data. SASE solutions provide IT teams with the right tools to create a cybersecurity framework for their enterprise while meeting business needs.
Threats arise from malware that makes its way to the internal systems via a spear phishing attack that bypasses security. With SASE, you can create a network edge with end-to-end security that allows your employees to connect to the enterprise network for their daily tasks. If your business is about to start its cloud migration, SASE must be an integral part of your strategy.
What makes SASE perfect for a distributed workforce?
Secure Access Service Edge is an effective cybersecurity solution that integrates security according to users and their roles. Therefore, SASE is an all-in-one solution that includes the following components:
SD-WAN
Software Defined Wide Area Network acts as a foundation to enable optimized network routing and enhance the performance of a SASE solution. For enterprises working with remote workforces, SD-WAN provides an alternative explanation for VPNs because it’s equipped with capabilities like:
- Latency optimization
- Traffic rerouting
- Globally distributed gateways
- Secure incoming and outgoing traffic
- Encrypt all traffic
ZTNA
Zero Trust Network Access is a security strategy that maintains the integrity of the cloud, as numerous users use it for their business needs. ZTNA operates on the premise of “never trust, always verify” to ensure that every user is continuously authenticated and authorized to use the cloud with the least privileges per their role.
Enterprises benefit from the granular control that ZTNA offers by instantly updating access privileges if a remote employee leaves the organization. Therefore, ZTNA is a natural fit for SASE as it can adapt to changes in business due to its reliable and resilient security posture.
CASB
A Cloud Access Security Broker is an intermediary between users and cloud service providers. CASB is designed to protect the organization’s cloud-based application as it operates in a highly complex security environment by enforcing numerous security policies.
The CASB applies all of your policies to every device connecting to your cloud, regardless of where the user is accessing it. Even if a remote employee decides to use a new device, CASB will recognize it, log the device ID, and apply security policies defined by the enterprise.
FWaaS
Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) delivers advanced next-generation firewall capabilities to the cloud, which include:
- URL filtering
- Advanced threat protection
- Intrusion prevention system
- DNS security
Since traditional firewalls are not designed for cloud applications, the traffic has to be rerouted to a firewall installed at the enterprise’s data centre. The influx of remote employees has created a gap in the security perimeter. FWaaS delivers firewall capabilities directly to the cloud environment and eliminates the need for adding physical firewalls for protection.
SWG
A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) protects users who access the internet through the enterprise’s cloud by filtering malicious traffic and applying security policies to keep devices infection free. If your enterprise implements a robust SWG, it will provide your remote workforce with:
- Data loss and leak prevention
- Malicious-code detection
- Remote browser isolation
- Application identification and control capabilities
SASE uses SWG to ensure remote employees use the enterprise’s cloud applications in compliance with security policies while protecting the network from security breaches and malware.
Benefits of a SASE security structure
Here are ten key benefits of deploying SASE to protect your enterprise:
- Clear insights into hybrid environments
- Easy governance of users and cloud applications
- Centralized role-based access control
- Consistent edge-to-edge security
- Reduction in costs
- Less effort to manage security
- Reduction in dependencies
- Better reliable service
- Perpetual data protection
- Reduction in security complexity
Why is SASE necessary for enterprises
SASE combines all integral networking and security capabilities into a unique cloud-native service. It is designed for a globally distributed architecture by shifting the focus of security to an identity-centric approach. SASE is a complete package that embeds surface security into a mesh, which is always available.
Now, enterprises operate in a client-to-cloud era, and the employees are no longer working in the same physical building that consists of corporate resources or data centers. CIOs require secure, reliable, scalable, and simple solutions to combat cyber threats that SASE can deliver efficiently.
Here are some reasons why SASE is becoming necessary for enterprises to keep themselves secure.
Widespread cloud adoption
According to Gartner, traditional enterprises have started moving their data center outside their physical buildings as an IaaS cloud or SaaS application. Therefore, maintaining an in-house data center is no longer a priority due to digital transformational initiatives and widespread cloud adaptation.
Currently, IT enterprises are focusing on:
- Increasing user work-based performance and relocating sensitive data outside of the traditional security perimeter.
- Delegating more workload to the cloud instead of the enterprise data center.
- Using SaaS applications more frequently.
- Driving more traffic toward the public cloud than the data center.
Consistent client-to-cloud performance for the remote workforce
Remote employees need to access the enterprise’s cloud from anywhere. Traditionally, remote workers could connect via a VPN and authenticate a user once before granting system-wide access after passing through firewalls located in hub locations. This model was full of scalability meltdown, complexity, and security threats.
A SASE architecture continuously authenticates and applies security policies before granting least-privilege access only. Therefore, even if a hacker gains access to the cloud by using compromised credentials, SASE will limit their access to the privileges defined by the administrator.
The enterprise can take full advantage of the cloud-native flexibility SASE offers by applying consistent policies for optimal productivity for all users regardless of their location while accessing the cloud.
Network Perimeter expansion
The main objective of SASE is to secure network edges as enterprises increase their remote workforce and access to cloud resources. Simply deploying a security policy is not enough; SASE follows your remote employees and:
- Enforces policies from wherever they access the cloud.
- Detects the device ID.
- Logs the activity of the user.
- Encrypts all types of traffic.
In short, SASE converts the traditional perimeter into a Software Defined Wide Area Network and keeps it secure by authenticating, authorizing, and logging activities over the cloud.
Conclusion
Remote work is here to stay, so enterprises need to deploy a robust network and security posture that addresses the needs of a distributed workforce. SASE offers a dynamic cloud-based security structure that fully integrates with a remote workforce to enforce policies. With a SASE cybersecurity solution protecting your enterprise, you can quickly scale whenever required because it is an efficient, manageable, and cost-effective model.
