Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
What is SASE?
Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE, is an enterprise networking and security category introduced by Gartner. SASE converges SD-WAN and Security Service Edge (SSE) functions, including FWaaS, CASB, DLP, SWG, and ZTNA, into a unified, cloud-native service.
With SASE, enterprises can eliminate the effort and costs required to maintain complex and fragmented infrastructure made of point solutions, reduce the risk for breach and data loss with optimal security posture, enable secure work from anywhere, and improve access to global applications on premises and in the cloud.
Why is SASE Necessary?
Gartner Predictions
The transition to remote work and the emergence of a cloud-first culture are having a major impact on enterprise networks and information security. Networking patterns have changed, and organizations need to deploy new services and cater to new requirements faster than ever before.
A SASE architecture provides the agility and flexibility needed in this new environment. SASE makes it possible to deploy new branches remotely with low overhead. It also provides the security stack to ensure employees and contractors can access systems securely from anywhere.
As a result, Gartner predicts that 20% of organizations will soon use SWG, ZTNA, and FWaas from the same vendor (learn more about SASE components below). By 2024, at least 40% of organizations will have an official SASE adoption strategy.
How Does SASE Work?
SASE provides a single cloud-based network that connects and secures any physical, cloud, or mobile enterprise resource, in any location. A SASE architecture has four main characteristics:
Identity-driven
User and resource identities determine the level of access, networking experience, and quality of service for every network connection, based on a unified organizational policy.
Cloud-native
SASE is elastic, self-healing, and self-maintaining. Its cloud native nature allows it to rapidly adapt to business needs and make network services available from any location.
Support for all edges
SASE can equally service any edge including on-premise data centers, branch offices, cloud resources, and mobile users on the go.
Globally distributed
SASE operates on a global scale to deliver all networking and security capabilities with high performance and low latency experience for all edges.
What are the key components of SASE?
Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN)
SD-WAN enables optimal WAN management. SASE leverages SD-WAN capabilities to provide optimized network routing, global connectivity, WAN and Internet security, cloud acceleration, and remote access
Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN)
SD-WAN enables optimal WAN management. SASE leverages SD-WAN capabilities to provide optimized network routing, global connectivity, WAN and Internet security, cloud acceleration, and remote access
Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
A firewall is the foundation of any network security stack. SASE includes FWaaS to provide the scalability and elasticity needed for the digital business and to extend a full network security stack wherever needed
Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
A firewall is the foundation of any network security stack. SASE includes FWaaS to provide the scalability and elasticity needed for the digital business and to extend a full network security stack wherever needed
Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
ZTNA offers a modern approach to securing application access for users. It embraces a zero-trust policy, where application access dynamically adjusts based on user identity, location, device type, and more
Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
ZTNA offers a modern approach to securing application access for users. It embraces a zero-trust policy, where application access dynamically adjusts based on user identity, location, device type, and more
Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
CASB helps enterprises adapt to the new threats that come with cloud computing. When delivered as part of a SASE service, the complexity of integrating CASB with other point security solutions is eliminated
Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
CASB helps enterprises adapt to the new threats that come with cloud computing. When delivered as part of a SASE service, the complexity of integrating CASB with other point security solutions is eliminated
Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
SWG solutions protect users against malware, phishing, and other web-borne threats. SASE offers SWG protection to all users, at all locations, and eliminates the need to maintain policies across multiple point solutions
Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
SWG solutions protect users against malware, phishing, and other web-borne threats. SASE offers SWG protection to all users, at all locations, and eliminates the need to maintain policies across multiple point solutions
Unified Management
SASE solves the complexity of managing multiple disparate products. A true SASE allows users to monitor and manage all network and security solutions from a single pane of glass.
Unified Management
SASE solves the complexity of managing multiple disparate products. A true SASE allows users to monitor and manage all network and security solutions from a single pane of glass.
What are the Benefits of SASE?
Improving agility
With SASE, it is easy to deploy new resources. All you need is to deploy an edge client and connect it to the SASE platform. There is no need to maintain on-premise infrastructure.
Improving security
via unified policies
SASE provides a full security stack, protecting all resources with a unified security policy. It provides full visibility into WAN and Internet traffic with no blind spots.
Simplifying the network stack
SASE provides a simpler network and security stack by consolidating multiple point solutions. It reduces upfront costs and eliminates the need for in-house management.
Cato Networks is the World’s First SASE Platform
Cato SASE Cloud is a proven SASE platform you can deploy today. Cato’s cloud-native architecture converges SD-WAN, a global private backbone, a full network security stack, and seamless support for cloud resources and mobile devices.
Customers easily connect physical locations, cloud resources, and mobile users to Cato SASE Cloud, and IT teams immediately benefit from the agility of a unified network and security service managed through a single, self-service console.
With Cato, we got the functionality of SD-WAN, a global backbone, and security service for our sites and mobile users integrated together and at a fraction of the cost.
Challenge
Point Solutions for Networking and Security are too Complex to Manage and Costly to Own
Current networking and security solutions such as VPN remote access are incompatible with the cloud-centric and mobile-first digital business. The network is rigid and static, and security is heavily fragmented across multiple domains. Together, networking and security are slowing down the business instead of enabling innovation and agility.
Current networking and security solutions such as VPN remote access are incompatible with the cloud-centric and mobile-first digital business. The network is rigid and static, and security is heavily fragmented across multiple domains. Together, networking and security are slowing down the business instead of enabling innovation and agility.
Cato Solution
Cloud-native Convergence of Networking and Security enables Simplicity, Agility, and Lower Costs
Cato is delivering the world’s first SASE platform, (and has been recognized by Gartner as a “Sample Vendor” in the SASE category of the “Hype Cycle for Enterprise Networking, 2019”) through a globally distributed cloud service that provides enterprise network and security capabilities to all edges.
Cato is delivering the world’s first SASE platform, (and has been recognized by Gartner as a “Sample Vendor” in the SASE category of the “Hype Cycle for Enterprise Networking, 2019”) through a globally distributed cloud service that provides enterprise network and security capabilities to all edges.
Legacy
Legacy
Cato SASE Cloud
Cato SASE Cloud
Service Agility
Legacy
Slow and Cumbersome
IT teams have to configure multiple solutions through multiple consoles, struggling to maintain consistency and control of the infrastructure. Provisioning new resources is slow and dependent on complex multi-product integrations.
Cato SASE Cloud
Quick and Easy
Cato enables IT teams to deliver optimized networking and powerful security to all sites, applications, and users regardless of location. Provisioning new resources is fast and simple with the full range of Cato’s optimization and security capabilities instantly available.
Visibility and Control
Legacy
The Dreaded Silos
Technical silos created by point solutions limit collaboration across teams. Lack of visibility and fragmented control leads to slower troubleshooting, increased security exposure, and overall lower satisfaction levels from the business.
Cato SASE Cloud
Teamwork, Regained
IT teams leverage Cato’s converged software stack to maximize visibility into network traffic and security events. From the same interface, IT professionals configure and enforce corporate policies across the business. This enables better cross-team collaboration, improving overall service delivery to the business.
Infrastructure Management
Legacy
Boatload of Busy Work
Owning and managing multiple on-premise solutions for networking and security forces IT teams to spend a lot of time on generic, day-to-day management, scaling, sizing, and upgrading of products. This leaves them little to no time to get business-specific projects done.
Cato SASE Cloud
Focus on the Business
With Cato, IT teams are relieved of the grunt work of maintaining the infrastructure. Cato ensures the service is up-to-date and ready to optimize and secure all customer network traffic everywhere. This enables IT to focus precious resources and skills on business-specific requirements.
Cost Effectiveness
Legacy
Complexity is Expensive
Buying, integrating and maintaining multiple products is costly. Each product has to be sized to support current needs and future growth and often requires upgrades as requirements change. As the number of point products grow, complexity increases exponentially. And, moving complexity to the service providers only increases their costs, leading enterprises paying more or suffering lower quality of service.
Cato SASE Cloud
Simplicity Costs Less
Cato dramatically simplifies the delivery of networking and security to the business. The capabilities you require are built in not bolted on and there is no need to size, scale, or maintain the Cato service. Cato’s converged, cloud-based platform and flexible management options enables significant cost reduction.
Legacy
Cato SASE Cloud
Service Agility
Slow and Cumbersome
IT teams have to configure multiple solutions through multiple consoles, struggling to maintain consistency and control of the infrastructure. Provisioning new resources is slow and dependent on complex multi-product integrations.
Quick and Easy
Cato enables IT teams to deliver optimized networking and powerful security to all sites, applications, and users regardless of location. Provisioning new resources is fast and simple with the full range of Cato’s optimization and security capabilities instantly available.
Visibility and Control
The Dreaded Silos
Technical silos created by point solutions limit collaboration across teams. Lack of visibility and fragmented control leads to slower troubleshooting, increased security exposure, and overall lower satisfaction levels from the business.
Teamwork, Regained
IT teams leverage Cato’s converged software stack to maximize visibility into network traffic and security events. From the same interface, IT professionals configure and enforce corporate policies across the business. This enables better cross-team collaboration, improving overall service delivery to the business.
Infrastructure Management
Boatload of Busy Work
Owning and managing multiple on-premise solutions for networking and security forces IT teams to spend a lot of time on generic, day-to-day management, scaling, sizing, and upgrading of products. This leaves them little to no time to get business-specific projects done.
Focus on the Business
With Cato, IT teams are relieved of the grunt work of maintaining the infrastructure. Cato ensures the service is up-to-date and ready to optimize and secure all customer network traffic everywhere. This enables IT to focus precious resources and skills on business-specific requirements.
Cost Effectiveness
Complexity is Expensive
Buying, integrating and maintaining multiple products is costly. Each product has to be sized to support current needs and future growth and often requires upgrades as requirements change. As the number of point products grow, complexity increases exponentially. And, moving complexity to the service providers only increases their costs, leading enterprises paying more or suffering lower quality of service.
Simplicity Costs Less
Cato dramatically simplifies the delivery of networking and security to the business. The capabilities you require are built in not bolted on and there is no need to size, scale, or maintain the Cato service. Cato’s converged, cloud-based platform and flexible management options enables significant cost reduction.
SASE Value for WAN Transformation
Digital transformation and the WAN transformation it mandates doesn’t happen overnight. It is often comprised of multiple projects involving SD-WAN, Internet security, cloud migration, mobile access, and more.
When considering your next incremental investment in your network (SD-WAN, a global connectivity solution, or a security solution), ask yourself if the right decision is choosing a point solution that addresses the current project needs, or a strategic SASE platform that can address both current and future projects requirements.
Replace MPLS /
Increase BW
Global
Connectivity
Secure
DIA
Optimize
Cloud Access
Optimize
Mobile Access
Really Simple
Management
SASE
Edge SD-WAN
Private Global Backbone
NGFW / UTM
SWGs
SASE: A single platform that can support your current and future IT projects
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What is SASE used for?
Secure access service edge (SASE) is used to deliver converged enterprise network and security services from a globally distributed cloud service. SASE overcomes the cost, complexity and rigidity of loosely integrated and geographically bound point solutions. When combined with a global private backbone, SASE can also address WAN and cloud connectivity challenges.
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What is the difference between point solutions (SD-WAN, NGFW, SWG, VPN) and SASE?
Point solutions such as SD-WAN, NGFW, SWG, and VPN address specific networking and security requirements. The need to buy, size, scale, and maintain each solution separately, makes IT infrastructure complex and costly. SASE is a transformational alternative to those legacy technological silos. It provides as a globally distributed cloud service that replaces physical and virtual point solution with a cost effective, scalable and agile alternative.
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What is the difference between SD-WAN and SASE?
SD-WAN is a key component of the SASE platform that connects branch locations and datacenters to the SASE cloud service. SASE extends SD-WAN to address the full WAN transformation journey that includes security, cloud, and mobility at a global scale.
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Why is SASE important?
SASE is important because the convergence of network and security into a cloud-native service allows IT teams to connect and secure all business locations and users in an agile, cost-effective and scalable way.
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Is SASE better than point solutions (SD-WAN, NGFW, SWG, VPN)?
As a result of the move to the cloud and an increasing mobile workforce, point solutions can only deliver the capabilities the business needs at a growing complexity and costs. SASE’s converged, cloud-native, and globally distributed architecture easily delvers the capabilities the business needs to all users and locations everywhere. SASE therefore overcomes the cost, complexity and high overhead of running numerous legacy point solutions.
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Is SASE better than SD WAN?
SD-WAN is just the first step in the WAN transformation journey. It lacks key security functions, global connectivity capabilities, and support for cloud resources and mobile users. A full SASE platform can support the entire WAN transformation journey, as it enables IT to provide the network and security functions the business needs in an agile and cost-effective way.
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How secure is SASE?
SASE is secured end-to-end. All communication across the SASE platform is encrypted. Threat prevention capabilities including decryption, firewalling, URL filtering, anti-malware, and IPS are natively integrated into SASE, and are globally available to all connected edges.
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What is not a SASE?
SASE is a cloud service that is identity-driven, cloud-native, globally distributed, and supports all edges. Alternative architectures, such as service chaining appliances, hosting appliances and virtual machines, and telco bundles, are based on point solutions not a converged software stack designed for the cloud.