What Is SASE Technology?

Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE, is a cloud-based model that converges networking and security functions to modernize connectivity and simplify security for organizations with highly distributed environments. SASE technology enables organizations to provide security capabilities via the cloud to users in any location.

As a cloud-native solution, SASE technology brings security once delivered through a patchwork of point products into the cloud. With organizations and workforces more distributed than ever, it’s no longer viable to install security hardware at every location or backhaul traffic through a central hub for security inspection. 

Core SASE Technology usually includes Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) as well as security technologies like Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) and Secure Web Gateways (SWG).
 

The rapid evolution of workforces and IT networks has created new security challenges for organizations and their IT teams. A hybrid workforce expects to connect to corporate resources from anywhere without compromising speed or performance. Businesses are moving more data and processes to the cloud, obliterating the traditional notion of a network perimeter. At the same time, cyber threats continue to proliferate as attackers find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities and breach systems in highly distributed networks.

SASE solutions are ideally suited to the realities of modern IT networks. SASE converges networking security capabilities into a single-service, cloud-native, globally distributed architecture that shifts the focus of security from inspecting traffic to authenticating identities. 

As a result, SASE embeds security into the global network fabric and makes it available to users working anywhere, accessing any application or resource and using any combination of connections. With SASE, VPN technology and difficult-to-manage point solutions no longer need to be part of the security stack. 

While SASE can be architected in various ways, four core components are common to most implementations.

• Software-Defined Wide-Area Networking (SD-WAN) uses software-defined networking to automate, simplify and lower the costs of wide-area networking. SD-WAN creates a virtual architecture that lets network teams use any combination of transport services – including low-cost commodity connections like fiber and DSL – to securely connect users and applications. SD-WAN technology automatically steers traffic through the optimal connections to improve connectivity and security while simplifying management, reducing costs and delivering a better user experience.
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is a service or application that sits between a cloud provider and an organization’s on-premises infrastructure, serving as a gatekeeper to enforce security policies as users access cloud resources. CASBs may offer firewalls to identify and block malware, authentication services to manage user credentials and control access, web application firewalls to stop malware at the application level and data loss prevention capabilities.
• Secure Web Gateway (SWG) sits between users and the internet to monitor and block malicious traffic and prevent users from accessing malicious or suspicious web resources. SWGs can block access to malicious websites intent on duping users into sharing personal information or clicking on a harmful link. A Secure Web Gateway can also enforce security and acceptable use policies by examining web requests and blocking any attempts to access sites or resources known to be malicious. A Secure Web Gateway features include URL filtering, malware detection, data loss prevention and application control.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) provides authorized users with secure access to specific internal applications rather than a company’s entire network. By authorizing access on a need-only basis based on identity and context, ZTNA solutions reduce risk and prevent lateral movement attacks.

By streamlining networking and improving security, a SASE solution offers substantial benefits for organizations and IT teams.

• Stronger defenses against advanced threats. SASE products offer comprehensive protection against various threats and enable teams to centrally manage policy to eliminate security gaps.
• Reduced costs. By converging networking and security functions, the SASE framework eliminates the need for – and the cost of – multiple vendors, point solutions, subscriptions and miscellaneous security equipment. Streamlined management enables budget-constrained security teams to accomplish more without adding headcount.
• Better performance. SASE software reduces latency by routing traffic along the fastest network path and eliminating the need to backhaul traffic through a network hub for inspection. Users can access cloud apps and services with greater speed and convenience.
• Simplified policy management. The SASE framework allows teams to centrally enforce security and access policies for all locations, users, applications and devices rather than juggling different approaches for various places and environments.

Forcepoint, a global security leader, offers a single-vendor SASE platform that combines Forcepoint FlexEdge Secure SD-WAN with Forcepoint ONE, which contains its ZTNA, SWG and CASB solutions. 

With Forcepoint’s SASE technology, distributed businesses and government agencies can connect and protect their hybrid workforces with centrally managed networking and security solutions sourced and supported by one company.

Forcepoint’s approach to SASE technology combines SASE control and protection with cutting-edge data security to enable security policy enforcement across all of an organization’s critical channels.

As a leading SASE vendor, Forcepoint offers comprehensive SASE technology that includes:

• FlexEdge Secure SD-WAN for safely connecting offices, branches and remote sites to the cloud, managed from a single console.
• Forcepoint ONE ZTNA, providing remote workers with safe access to private applications without the bottlenecks, complexities and risks of VPNs.
• Forcepoint ONE CASB, offering protection for using SaaS and IaaS solutions.
• Forcepoint ONE SWG, providing cloud-native SASE protection for the use of the public web, complete with world-class data loss prevention technology in the cloud.