SASE vs. VPN: Which Is Better for Remote Access?
Secure remote access is increasingly vital as organizations support remote and hybrid workforces and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) programs. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are two solutions that offer authenticated, encrypted remote access to the corporate network.
SASE and VPNs were designed at different times for different iterations of the corporate network (cloud vs. on-prem), and this article explores the differences between the technologies in terms of performance, scalability, security, and manageability.
Understanding SASE vs VPN
VPNs are secure remote access tools that encrypt traffic between a remote device or site and the corporate network. They operate at the network level, routing all traffic through a VPN endpoint, which decrypts the traffic and may apply additional security controls. The point-to-point nature of VPNs means that they often require significant configuration and maintenance, especially for large workforces and distributed IT architectures.
SASE is a technology that converges Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) and cloud-delivered security services — Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) – into a unified service. SASE uses a network of distributed PoPs to enforce security at the network edge and route traffic intelligently.
How a VPN Works
VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between two points, using IPsec, SSL, or other security protocols to wrap data in an encrypted envelope. This encryption persists between the two endpoints of the VPN connection.
Traffic to the corporate network is routed through a VPN endpoint, where it is decrypted and routed to its destination. This enables organizations to apply perimeter-based security models to remote users, but can introduce bottlenecks and network latency. Additionally, since VPNs lack built-in security and give access to the network as a whole, compromised credentials expose all of an organization’s systems to potential attack.
How SASE Works Compared to VPN
While SASE offers secure remote access like VPNs, it also provides a range of converged networking and security capabilities. SASE’s distributed PoPs implement SD-WAN, SWG, ZTNA, CASB, and FWaaS functionality to offer optimized routing, zero trust policy enforcement, and enterprise-grade threat prevention for every connection.
By routing traffic through a network of distributed PoPs, SASE eliminates the need for backhauling and the potential bottlenecks of VPNs. Instead, traffic passes through the nearest PoP and is intelligently routed through the WAN to its destination.
SASE vs. VPN: Key Differences in Architecture, Security, and Scalability
SASE is a modern alternative to legacy VPNs, which were designed for traditional, on-prem networks. This redesign of secure remote access offers numerous advantages when compared to VPNs.
Performance and Latency
VPNs attempt to extend the traditional perimeter-based security model for a distributed workforce. By backhauling traffic through the enterprise network for inspection, they increase network latency. Additionally, routing all traffic through the VPN endpoint can create bottlenecks that further impair performance.
SASE PoPs are globally distributed and intelligently route traffic to its intended destination. By eliminating backhauling and avoiding the need to route all traffic through a single location, they improve scalability and performance under load. Additionally, a network of globally distributed PoPs ensures that a PoP is always geographically near to remote sites and workers.
Security Capabilities
While both VPNs and SASE offer secure remote access, the level of security that they provide varies. VPNs encrypt traffic, protecting against eavesdropping and unauthorized modifications. However, it doesn’t inspect the traffic for potential threats, such as malware or data leaks.
SASE, in contrast, both encrypts traffic and provides protection against malware, phishing, and other threats. Additionally, it offers zero trust policy enforcement and support for least privilege access management. This allows it to restrict remote users’ access to only what is needed, rather than providing full network access like a VPN does.
Scalability and Management
VPNs are point-to-point solutions, meaning that a discrete connection is needed for each potential destination that must be individually configured and managed. This fact, along with the fact that systems must be manually configured and deployed, introduces significant overhead and limits scalability.
In contrast, SASE is a centrally managed, cloud-based solution that integrates multiple capabilities into a single-vendor platform. By eliminating hardware and individual configuration of different connections and security tools, SASE dramatically reduces IT overhead.
Why SASE Is Replacing VPN for Remote Access
As corporate environments transition to support cloud deployments, hybrid work, and BYOD, a growing number of corporate IT assets and workers are outside of the traditional network perimeter. This introduces potential security risks to the organization since direct-to-cloud traffic can bypass corporate perimeter-based security solutions, and unmanaged devices have increased exposure to malware infection and phishing attacks.
VPNs lack the ability to perform application-level access control and lack visibility into direct-to-cloud traffic. In contrast, SASE has visibility into all WAN traffic and enforces security policies at the network edge with no performance impacts. As a result, companies are increasingly adopting SASE to manage their security risk exposure and compliance responsibilities.
SASE vs. VPN: Which Should You Choose?
When choosing between VPNs and SASE, VPNs are the logical choice if required by niche legacy applications. However, organizations adopting cloud, embracing remote work, and rolling out zero trust would benefit from deploying SASE instead. Key benefits include enhanced security, performance, scalability, and simplicity due to converged networking and security capabilities delivered via a cloud-native architecture.
FAQ
Is SASE more secure than VPN?
While both VPNs and SASE offer traffic encryption, SASE also offers protection against malicious content in network traffic. Integrated capabilities include advanced threat protection, ZTNA, and cloud-focused security controls.
Can SASE replace my VPN entirely?
SASE is designed as a modern replacement for VPNs, offering support for cloud environments and hybrid work with enhanced security and performance. For example, the Cato SASE Cloud Platform integrates SD-WAN with cloud-based security solutions for enterprise-grade security and network optimization.
Does SASE work for on-premises apps?
Yes, SASE PoPs inspect network traffic and intelligently route it to its intended destination. This allows it to support on-prem and cloud apps alike.
What is the cost difference between SASE and VPN?
SASE converges networking and security capabilities into a centrally-managed, cloud-based solution. This can make it a more cost-effective solution than VPNs by eliminating hardware requirements and reducing management overhead.
How quickly can SASE be deployed compared to a VPN?
SASE is a cloud-based service that converges several key capabilities into a single-vendor platform. The Cato SASE Cloud Platform can be rolled out in days rather than the weeks or months needed to deploy and configure hardware-based VPN solutions.
SASE: The Clear Choice for Secure Remote Access
SASE is designed as a modern alternative to the VPN, offering enhanced performance, scalability, and security for distributed IT environments. While VPNs may be required for niche or legacy systems, SASE is a superior choice for organizations with cloud deployments, hybrid workforces, or BYOD policies.
The Cato SASE Cloud Platform converges SD-WAN and key security capabilities into an easily-managed cloud service. Cato’s global network of PoPs is also backed by a dedicated private backbone, offering superior network performance and routing compared to solutions dependent on the public Internet.
Ready to move beyond VPN limitations? See how Cato Networks delivers a single-vendor SASE solution that replaces VPNs with faster, more secure access for your hybrid workforce by requesting a demo today.