With the internet of things (IoT), mobile users, and 5G applications adding complexity to an enterprise IT environment that is increasingly based in the cloud, branch network security is a priority for security teams. One of the biggest trends shaping how security teams address concerns is secure access service edge (SASE) with effective software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) as its foundation.

The need for robust security must include not only data and asset protection, but also partnering security with automation. Given that security has been heavily focused on the data center and fragmented across branches, as well as cloud resources and mobile users, it’s no surprise that network and security have created silos across organizations. Deployed over the last couple of decades, these models encouraged functionality that has been simply tacked on as needed.

The SASE framework addresses branch network security in a single, cloud-based solution.

Defining SASE

Think of SASE as a framework that unifies security and networking in a single solution that offers protection from one edge to another, covering the data center as well as branch locations and mobile users.

SASE addresses issues around cyber security, many of which originated with the belief that security solutions must function at the center of networking in the data center. SD-WAN offers a new approach to network architecture to distribute processing and intelligence away from the center. SD-WAN functions as a pillar of SASE.

Some of the key benefits of SASE include its availability as a managed cloud service, as well as a foundational shift away from a traditional box-heavy approach to branch network security with a next-generation firewall and routers. Instead, SASE offers a virtual overlay through SD-WAN that shifts its weight into the cloud. This results in reduced costs and complexity, as well as the elimination of the management and troubleshooting associated with networking and security.

SD-WAN as the Foundation

When compared to the traditional hub-and-spoke model of legacy networking architectures, SD-WAN offers connectivity with superior features:

• The flexibility between multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) lines, broadband, and LTE
• Ease of management and automation with monitoring and analytics, as well as a centralized dashboard
• Business policy-based traffic segmentation and prioritization, and application-based optimization
• Scalability and agility for changes in volume and performance requirements

While an enterprise still holding on to mostly legacy and on-premise based applications may not see benefits as clearly, an organization that is prioritizing digital transformation and embracing a cloud-first strategy should also prioritize a move to SASE.

If your enterprise is considering how best to address branch network security as your cloud investment expands, contact us at eXemplify.