SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a new enterprise architecture technology that converges all network and security needs, by design. By replacing all point solutions, SASE provides a unified, global and cloud-based network that supports all edges. As a result, SASE solutions improve organizational performance, business agility and connectivity. They also reduce IT overhead.

Ever since SASE was coined as a category by Gartner in 2019, the global adoption of SASE has grown significantly. Here are eight drivers and global trends that are driving this change.

8 SASE Drivers for Modern Enterprises

1. Enabling the “Branch Office of One”

Thanks to mobile devices and constant connectivity, employees can stay connected at all times and work from anywhere. This has turned them into a “branch office of one”, i.e a fully functional business unit, consisting of one person.

The remote working trend has been intensified by COVID-19, which has significantly enhanced its adoption. Some form of working from home is probably here to stay. McKinsey found that 52% of employees would prefer a flexible working model even after COVID.

Therefore, IT and security teams are adopting SASE solutions to enable these “branches of one” to work seamlessly and securely. SASE optimizes traffic to any edge while continuously inspecting traffic for threats and access control. This ensures all employees anywhere are productive, can access all company assets and can communicate with all employees and partners, at all times.

2. Direct-to-Internet Branch Access

Traditional branch offices are also evolving. Many employees have a constant need to communicate with others across the world and to connect to global cloud infrastructures,

platforms and applications. So while these employees might be sitting together physically, they are de facto a collection of branch offices of one, with intensive communication and security requirements.

IT and security teams are implementing SASE solutions to enable high-performance to the cloud for these employees. SASE provides SD-WAN capabilities and a global private backbone that replaces the costly MPLS and the erratic Internet.

3. Consolidating Vendors

The growing number of network and security requirements has flooded the market with vendors and point solutions. IT and security teams are having a difficult time figuring out which platform can answer their exact needs, both now and in the future. In addition, integrating and managing all these solutions creates time-consuming complexities and overhead.

SASE is being adopted as a single, user-friendly converged solution for all network and security needs, now and in the future. With a single console for configuration, management and reporting – visibility and management capabilities are improved. In addition, implementing one security solution enables enforcing a single set of policies across the entire network and reducing the attack surface.

4. Adopting Zero Trust

Zero trust is a security model in which users are continuously authenticated before they are given access to assets or apps. It is based on the premise of “never trust, always verify”, to ensure the principle of least privilege is enforced and attackers can’t gain access to sensitive assets. Zero trust is essential for securing a global, dispersed workforce that connects remotely and not from the physical, enterprise network.

The mindset of IT and security teams is shifting, from securing physical locations to connecting and securing users and devices. Zero trust is deployed as part of SASE as a solution to access needs. By using simple mobile client software or clientless browser access, users connect dynamically to the closest SASE PoP, where their traffic is routed optimally to the data center or application. There, it is authenticated before providing access.

Check out the full ebook to view the entire list and four additional SASE drivers.

The Future of Enterprise Networks

Agile solutions that provide secure, global access with high performance are driving global digital transformation. It is becoming evident, however, that point solutions can’t meet all the enterprise needs. These changes are driving the adoption of SASE, a convergence of network and security functions that drives traffic through a global network of local PoPs.

With SASE, traffic is sent to the local SASE PoP. Once traffic enters the PoP, SASE applies network and security policies and forwards it over an optimized, global, private backbone. The SASE cloud service takes care of delivering and managing a comprehensive security stack, including upgrades and security updates, for all connected users and cloud resources. The result is optimized, secure and high performing traffic that drives business agility.

CATO Networks is Driving SASE Globally

Symmetry is excited to be partnering with Cato, a leader and pioneer of converging networking and security into the cloud. Aligned with Gartner’s Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework, Cato’s vision is to deliver a next generation secure networking architecture that eliminates the complexity, costs, and risks associated with legacy IT approaches based on disjointed point solutions. With Cato, organizations securely and optimally connect any user to any application anywhere on the globe. Our cloud-first architecture enables Cato to rapidly deploy new capabilities and maintain optimum security posture, without any effort from the IT teams. With Cato, your IT organization and your business are ready for whatever comes next.

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