There has been a massive change in the level of security over the past decade. This awareness is a perfect starting point in figuring out the cause of this change, which is why establishing the SASE model. However, before this security technique can be adopted, it is important to discuss SASE and the technologies that make it up?
SASE is the short form for secure access service edge, and it is a new way of tackling this ancient security challenge at a time when the old security models are falling in the face of progressively advanced threats.
SASE is a growing area of cyber-security that is expected to be in high demand in the future. It acts as a framework in the cloud edge to provide protection and ease of performance to administrative services.
It is an effective type of technology that is based in the cloud. It helps users get quick access to a corporate network and protects the data services adopted by an organization’s network.
So, what is SASE? SASE was coined by Gartner, a global research and advisory firm. It is described as a cloud-based IT model, a collection of software-defined networking and network security functions delivered from a single service provider.
This approach provides better control and visibility into the data, traffic, and users seeking access to an organization’s network. In addition, SASE allows for flexibility and scalability of networks built with it and provides a connection to globally distributed offices and workers in any location through any device.
SASE Purpose
Considering the world, we now live in, the rise in remote-based workers, the high rate of data movement, and the increase in the use of. SaaS( Software as a service application), with the constant need for users to access corporate networks and resources.
The SASE technology is made up of simplicity, seeing it comprises every service user’s need with the corporate resources. It also contains cyber security attributes because it helps manage access to an organization’s network. It secures and controls both the user’s and organization’s data.
SASE Architecture
The structure of the security access service edge can identify each user on the corporate network. It also recognizes the devices used on the web and adopts security based-policies for the corporate network.
The access control area of this technology protects users and gives them controlled access from anywhere.
What Are The Technologies That Makeup SASE?
As earlier explained, SASE is bent on unifying networking and cyber security as part of a single-service structure whose platform is the cloud; hence it does not leave out a single technology; instead, it’s a collection of them.
Security is available network-wide, intending to protect every user that requires access to an application or resource. To accomplish this, SASE systems contain these principal components:
Zero Trust Network Access
This component is straightforward and effective in running on a mantra of “never trust, always verify.” This implies anyone can be comprised; hence, no one should be trusted, so any user or device seeking access to the network must be verified.
Just as every company staff is physically identified through their identity cards even though they have been working in the organization for years, they get checked each time they are to check in to the company.
With this approach in place, users’ identities must be verified and confirmed as trustworthy before access is granted to assets, resources, and applications. With Zero Trust Network access, no security is taken for granted, and everyone who requests access is perceived to be a potential threat,
The multi-factor authentication technique is adopted to help organizations minimize unauthorized access, security breaches, and the mobility of an attacker in case they manage to access a network.
Software-Defined Wide Area Network. (SD-WAN)
SD-WAN functions as a virtual vast area network that allows corporate bodies to use different traffic services to create a secured link with a network to the advantage of a user.
This includes 5G, broadband, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), Cellular Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and more. Among these, you can select the optimal option while making the entire management simpler.
Domain Name System Layer Security.
The domain name system is first verified anytime a user requests access to a website or an online application. This means that with SASE, cyber security is handled at the level of IP and DNS, which have become the core obstacles for a threat actor who seeks to compromise an organization’s system.
Secure Web Gateway
A secure Web gateway or cloud-based web proxy offers security functions like content filtering, data loss prevention, Secure Sockets Layer decryption, file sandboxing, malware detection, and dynamic threat intelligence to prevent any web-based threats.
Firewall As A Service(FWaaS)
FWaaS is a cloud-based provision of firewall services designed for securing traffic. This comprises the control of Layer 3 and 4 with IP anonymization and rules for Layer 7.
Cloud Access Security Broker
CASBs-cloud access security brokers are responsible for managing and securing access to SaaS. With them, a business can handle its security policies and ensure compliance with the regulations.
These brokers provide helpful insights into how cloud-based applications are used across the platforms. In addition, due to its automatic discovery functions, every unauthorized use of cloud applications will be discovered quickly.
Finally, a data loss protection feature is part of the alert system if an anomaly is discovered.
Conclusion
SASE has come to stay, and Its potency will not be secured by its approach to tackling security but by the permanently changing environment that SASE has implemented. Hybrid remote work models, fluid workforce, increasing cloud adoption, higher network, and data traffic make competing security models outdated. Bearing in mind that SASE is a means of thinking and visualizing security, having a clear picture of how it works before its implementation
SASE combines network security functions and networking into a single, cloud-based service. A network infrastructure model that does not adopt a traditional hub-and-spoke approach delivers benefits such as lower network latency.
In addition, the SASE approach will increase the simplicity of securing and managing the network, increase flexibility and performance, save money, and improve security.
