# Navigating the SASE Maze
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-10-04
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: The Future of Remote Working: Securing Cloud Strategies
Meta Description: Learn how the shift to cloud-based operations is changing the way we work and the importance of implementing secure infrastructure for remote success.
URL: https://financedigest.com/navigating-the-sase-mazehtml

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_By **Jonathan Lee,** Senior Product Manager, Menlo Security_

![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/picture1345-450x517-1736837718044-compressed.jpg)

You would have to rewind to 1726 to find the world’s first office. Originally the result of the British empire expanding and engaging in growing levels of trade, it has become the template from which the vast majority of white-collar work has been completed for the near three centuries since.

Yet, since 2020, the traditional role of the office has been called into question.

The pandemic has had a [profound impact](https://www.financedigest.com/stanchart-ceo-says-at1-bond-wipeout-has-profound-impact.html "StanChart CEO says AT1 bond wipeout has profound impact") that will shape the operations and models of organisations around the world for decades to come. In the case of the workplace, these were previously considered to be vital hubs of productivity; the defining cores of organizational culture and a [key factor in securing talent and business](https://www.financedigest.com/could-ai-hold-the-key-to-business-recovery.html "Could AI hold the key to business recovery?").

However, as [vaccination campaigns](https://www.financedigest.com/immunization-campaigns-to-boost-the-demand-for-vaccines.html "Immunization Campaigns To Boost The Demand For Vaccines") around the world begin to gather momentum, offering up the key to unlocking societies, communities and economies once more, it seems unlikely that many of these buildings will revert entirely to their original purpose.

During the UK’s initial lockdown, the number of those working exclusively at home rose eightfold from 5.7% in January/February 2020 to 43.1% in April 2020. And as we muddle through 2021, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this “new normal” is, at least in part, here to stay – not just in the UK, but globally.

According to [Strategy Analytics](https://www.ringcentral.co.uk/gb/en/blog/the-top-25-remote-work-statistics-what-this-means-for-hybrid-working/), the mobile workforce around the world is anticipated to be 1.82 billion strong come 2022, which will account for 42.5% of the total global working population.

It seems, therefore, that [hybrid and remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/how-has-hybrid-working-impacted-the-gender-gap.html "How has hybrid working impacted the gender gap?") models may well prevail. But within this [shifting physical to digital dynamic](https://www.financedigest.com/new-research-from-impact-com-shows-shifting-power-dynamic-that-puts-influencers-at-the-centre-of-the-brand-consumer-relationship.html "New Research from impact.com Shows Shifting Power Dynamic that Puts Influencers at the Centre of the Brand-Consumer Relationship"), various considerations need to be made to maximise the benefits of such operations.

It is not a case of simply flicking a switch – for companies to continue operating successfully on a physically disparate basis, the right preparations and infrastructure needs to be implemented that can [support the challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/new-business-launches-to-support-it-professionalsfacing-mission-critcial-sector-challenges.html "NEW BUSINESS LAUNCHES TO SUPPORT IT PROFESSIONALSFACING MISSION CRITCIAL SECTOR CHALLENGES") of remote working.

Security is one such challenge, and of paramount [importance to any business](https://www.financedigest.com/the-importance-of-intuition-in-business.html "The Importance of Intuition in Business ").

Let’s consider the context: Many [companies were forced to turn to the cloud almost overnight in order to sustain](https://www.financedigest.com/green-cloud-one-way-your-company-can-commit-to-sustainability.html "Green Cloud: one way your company can commit to sustainability") operations remotely, and since have reaped the rewards, their employees able to conduct work and access productivity enhancing applications with ease.

Ordinarily, with so much sensitive information hosted on these platforms, security should not just be a consideration, but rather the front and centre of such a [cloud strategy](https://www.financedigest.com/spiralling-azure-costs-dont-necessarily-mean-your-cloud-strategy-is-off-course.html "Spiralling Azure costs don’t necessarily mean your cloud strategy is off course"). There are signs, however, that it has all too often been overlooked.

Where [enterprises have shifted to cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/enterprise-training-and-the-future-of-cloud-computing.html "Enterprise Training and the Future of Cloud Computing") operating models, they have retained the same security practices and policies that were designed for the physical office setups, often supported by on-premises servers – policies that aren’t adequate in a remote arena.

Indeed, a lack of coherent cloud-based security has created vulnerabilities. Somewhat haphazardly, many [companies have been relaying network](https://www.financedigest.com/hackers-hit-italian-oil-company-enis-computer-networks.html "Hackers hit Italian oil company Eni’s computer networks") traffic between multiple checkpoints like firewalls, interrupting traffic flow and creating unwanted exposure.

Some have turned to virtual [private networks](https://www.financedigest.com/the-new-wifi-how-private-5g-networks-could-revolutionise-business.html "The New WiFi? How Private 5G Networks Could Revolutionise Business") (VPNs) as a resolution, but these are flawed. Not only do they fail to scale, but they can easily create traffic bottlenecks, adversely impacting productivity and compromising security.

So, what’s the solution?

**[Secure Access Service](https://www.financedigest.com/securing-a-new-era-of-collaboration-in-financial-services.html "Securing a new era of collaboration in financial services") Edge**

A term coined by Gartner, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) refers to the simplification of networking and [security that is achieved by delivering both elements as a cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/cloud-security-and-the-department-of-go.html "Cloud security and the ‘department of go’") service to the source of a connection directly, rather than via an enterprise data centre.

It entails the integration of software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) capabilities with network security functions such as CASB, Cloud SWG, ZTNA/VPN, WAAPaaS, FWaaS, DNS and RBI. In doing so, and potentially by integrating with 5G as well, it provides organisations with the opportunity to create frameworks that support today’s dynamic, [secure access needs](https://www.financedigest.com/what-banks-need-to-do-right-now-to-improve-their-digital-services-without-sacrificing-security.html "What Banks Need to Do Right Now to Improve Their Digital Services Without Sacrificing Security ").

From a more technical perspective, it relies on a [distributed group of cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/managing-cloud-costs-with-distributed-clouds.html "Managing Cloud Costs with Distributed Clouds") gateways, also known as local points of presence (POPs), that receive traffic from other locations running SD-WAN devices. Within each POP, all [security functions and policies](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-finance-regulators-should-pay-heed-to-energy-security-policy-says-sunak.html "UK finance regulators should pay heed to energy security policy, says Sunak") – be it web and email security or firewall and access control – are implemented.

Within this framework, [security becomes an extension](https://www.financedigest.com/hermes-secures-long-term-contract-extension-with-kingstown-associates.html "Hermes secures long-term contract extension with kingstown associates") of the user – their data and applications – while visibility and control are maintained regardless of location or device type.

Unlike VPNs and other legacy solutions, SASE has been built with a cloud-first mindset.

Instead of trying to force a square peg into a round hole, resulting in failed [remote or hybrid working](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-protect-your-employees-mental-health-while-remote-working.html "How to protect your employees’ mental health while remote working") models suffering from hampered SaaS adoption, it provides complete, seamless protection while equally prioritising productivity.

Indeed, the benefits that it offers are noteworthy.

Take data, for instance. SASE’s integration of [networking and security capabilities allows organisations](https://www.financedigest.com/6-steps-to-organising-an-introvert-friendly-networking-event.html "6 Steps to organising an introvert-friendly networking event ") to guard against sophisticated threats while reducing the potential for unplanned data loss.

Productivity is also increased, SASE seamlessly enabling [employees to work](https://www.financedigest.com/voice-quality-matters-quarter-of-employees-working-from-home-still-experiencing-regular-connectivity-issues.html "Voice Quality Matters: Quarter of Employees Working From Home Still Experiencing Regular Connectivity Issues") wherever they are and use the applications that they need without delay or failure. In turn, frustrations with potential bottlenecks that could cause employees to attempt to find workarounds will be eliminated, ensuring an organisation is not inadvertently put at risk.

It is said that SASE is becoming much more of a [business enabler for this very reason](https://www.financedigest.com/reasons-why-you-should-hire-a-business-broker-to-sell-your-business.html "Reasons Why You Should Hire a Business Broker to Sell Your Business"), helping to move security away from its traditional stereotype as a roadblock in many organisations and towards a new status as a facilitator, allowing companies to capitalise on the advancements of cloud and SaaS applications without having to enforce changes to user behaviours.

SASE isn’t limited to a desktop or laptop either. Mobile [devices are often overlooked in security](https://www.financedigest.com/education-security-in-2022-hybrid-cloud-device-management-drives-it-challenges.html "Education Security in 2022: Hybrid-Cloud, Device Management Drives IT Challenges") protocols, but it is vitally important that they are protected – these are also potential gateways for hackers. With an integrated [cloud security](https://www.financedigest.com/how-cloud-is-driving-forward-implementation-of-zero-trust-security.html "How Cloud is Driving Forward Implementation of Zero Trust Security") solution that focuses on the device, protective security experiences can also be rolled out on more portable devices that have become part and parcel of remote and hybrid working environments.

**Should I consider SASE?**

SASE is causing a buzz right now, and for good reason.

Be it bolstered security, [enhanced productivity or an improved user experience](https://www.financedigest.com/enhancing-the-guest-experience-in-hospitality.html "Enhancing the guest experience in hospitality"), enterprises leveraging it have been empowered.

There are some [challenges which need to be overcome](https://www.financedigest.com/5-challenges-to-overcome-in-governance-risk-and-compliance-magazine.html "5 Challenges to Overcome in Governance, Risk and Compliance-Magazine") before SASE can be implemented. The cloud platform needs to be smart, dynamic and scalable enough to [deliver secure](https://www.financedigest.com/taming-the-new-wild-west-how-biometrics-can-help-the-ecb-deliver-a-secure-digital-euro.html "Taming the ‘new wild west’: how biometrics can help the ECB deliver a secure digital euro") access to resources, for example, no matter where an end user might be located. Therefore, putting the time and resources into ensuring you partner with the right vendor will pay dividends in ensuring a [smooth transition](https://www.financedigest.com/achieving-a-smooth-transition-from-legacy-infrastructure-to-hybrid-cloud.html "Achieving a Smooth Transition from Legacy Infrastructure to Hybrid Cloud").

Further, it is unlikely that the best [approach for businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/why-businesses-need-to-shift-their-e-invoicing-approach-from-local-and-tactical-to-scalable-and-strategic.html "Why businesses need to shift their e-invoicing approach – from local and tactical to scalable and strategic") would be to buy all the different components of SASE from a single vendor. While a [limited number of companies](https://www.financedigest.com/why-it-pays-for-companies-to-hold-physical-assets-in-separate-limited-companies.html "Why it pays for companies to hold physical assets in separate limited companies") do offer an all-in-one SASE solution, such may result in vendor lock in and significant compromises. Multiple vendors may, therefore, need to be consulted in order to achieve an effective, fully integrated SASE-ecosystem.

What is certain, however, is that for many, this transition could be the key to unlocking their business’s potential in the new, hybrid or [remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/the-psychology-of-long-term-remote-working-productivity-vs-inclusivity.html "The psychology of long-term remote working: Productivity vs. Inclusivity") normal.

As of 2021, according to the latest [CyberEdge Cyberthreat Report](https://info.menlosecurity.com/Report-Defense-Cyberthreat-2021.html), 74% of IT security decision makers are currently adopting technology capable of supporting SASE architecture, with these foundations likely to lead down this path.

While Gartner had originally made predictions that it would take 10 [years for SASE to become](https://www.financedigest.com/scottys-little-soldiers-become-incentive-fm-groups-chosen-charity-in-three-year-partnership.html "Scotty’s Little Soldiers Become Incentive FM Group’s Chosen Charity In Three Year Partnership") mainstream, the pandemic has accelerated adoption by between three and five years, meaning it has very much become a reality in the here and now.

Many are looking to adopt it much quicker and embrace its sweeping benefits. Those that do will be well positioned to advance their [business on hybrid working platforms for years](https://www.financedigest.com/2018-is-a-year-of-regulation-is-your-business-ready.html "2018 is a year of regulation – is your business ready?") to come, transforming their organisations into more competitive and exciting prospects.

Those that don’t, however, could be faced with an uphill battle against limited [security for users](https://www.financedigest.com/ai-is-the-new-password-security-and-ease-for-finance-users.html "AI is the new password: security and ease for finance users ") and stifled productivity.


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