In late 2019, Gartner gave birth to a new acronym that has since taken the SD-WAN market by storm–SASE (Secure Access Service Edge). Now, every SD-WAN player is suddenly announcing their SASE solution. These rapid transitions make the market ripe for misstatements and misunderstanding, which trigger more critical questions.
Masergy is fielding lots of them, helping IT professionals and consultants get a handle on what SASE is and what it’s not. In this series of SASE Straight Talk articles, we step through the most common questions we’re hearing from business leaders, providing an in-depth explanation for each.
Ask people what SASE is and you’ll likely get 10 different answers. While the newness of SASE is a factor here, various definitions are also the result of just how dynamic and multifaceted SASE is.
Ultimately, it was Gartner’s foresight that turned into a conceptual framework that is now manifesting into new solution offerings. People talk across these different facets individually without bringing them all together into one view, hence the vast explanations. Security professionals describe it as “a security platform for network services” while network professionals describe it as “a network platform for security services”–so you can see how it’s all in one’s perspective.
For the record, here’s how Gartner defined SASE in their original Hype Cycle for Enterprise Networking report:
“SASE are emerging converged offerings combining WAN capabilities with network security functions (such as secure web gateway, CASB and SDP) to support the needs of digital enterprises … These capabilities are delivered as a service based upon the identity of the entity, real time context and security/compliance policies. Identities can be associated with people, devices, IoT or edge computing locations.”
A vision for network and security convergence: SASE is a concept born under the pretenses that the IT environment has dramatically changed, demanding a new way of addressing the needs of the network and security. These changes include WAN workloads shifting to the cloud, networks plagued by cloud performance issues as well as trends like edge computing, remote workforces, and the fact that security and the network need to work in unison.
Gartner recognizes that the data center is no longer the heart of the IT architecture and companies everywhere are trying to tackle an ocean of network and security capabilities individually. But point solutions and a myriad of different vendors is an approach that lacks intelligent integration, increases IT complexity, and requires a forklift effort. When there must be a better way, SASE arguably represents Gartner’s way of challenging the industry to solve the biggest problems in IT. And it’s working. The industry is already shaping itself accordingly.
A solution offering and a framework for building next-generation IT services: Gartner generally describes SASE as solutions that unify SD-WAN and security into one cloud-based service from a single provider. Thus, SASE acts as a model or framework for building the next generation of IT services, and yet, Gartner hasn’t prescriptively provided a detailed checklist of every last technology required. They only provide five core capability areas. That’s because SASE is still an emerging market in the early stages of development. If you’re like me and you just want the most tangible list of what SASE is, here are the core capabilities and the four primary tenets:
Beyond these capabilities, the market lacks defined feature standardization. So, there are wide variations in product offerings. This makes it all the more important to understand what SASE is not.
It’s not a matter of compliance. People ask, “Is your solution SASE compliant?” But it’s really not a matter of regulatory compliance–no federal laws are associated with SASE. Its loose framework makes it difficult for providers to offer a consistent checkbox list of requirements met. Gartner offers more best practice guidance than hard-lined definitions and laundry lists of technical prerequisites. Thus, it’s more about asking each provider how they interpret and approach SASE.
It’s not just network and security convergence. SASE makes sense to IT professionals who are familiar with the trend of network and security convergence, but it reaches beyond the concept of consolidation to define how converged solutions should look, operate, and what they should value–namely cloud-based services, identity analytics, globally distributed capabilities, and edge flexibility. SASE calls for convergence with a strong emphasis on a cloud-based services model from one provider.
Ready for more? Read all the articles in the SASE Straight Talk series:
Call us now to arrange a consultation (866) 588-5885.
Or arrange for a consultation through our request form.
CASB serves as of one of SASE’s fundamental purposes. Here’s how it works within a SASE framework to mitigate security risks.
Here’s a look at Masergy’s approach to SASE, the enhancements we have made, and how we’re leaning into network-security convergence.
Masergy, the software-defined network and cloud platform for the digital enterprise, announced that it is strengthening its SD-WAN Secure solution to offer Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) capabilities
Masergy Named Most Innovative Managed SD-WAN Service Provider by Frost & Sullivan
Do SASE solutions reach far enough? Here’s a look at what’s inside the SASE framework today, and where it could go in the future.
Healthcare IT leaders are reducing the complexity of digital transformation by addressing UC, the network, and security in one unified strategy.
Want to switch from SD-WAN to SASE midstream? These RFP questions can help you roll your IT modernization project into a larger investment.
While IT leaders are enabling the remote workforce, they are also building an autonomous network. Leverage your investments today for innovation tomorrow.
Why do businesses need SASE and more importantly does it help with work from home? Here’s how SASE solutions deliver real value.
Masergy Launches SD-WAN Work From Anywhere Solutions, which extend the value of Masergy SD-WAN Secure to Home and Mobile Users
Planning a move toward SASE? Here are three ways to make apples-to-apples comparisons, teasing out the differences in solutions.
SASE is consolidating best-of-breed technologies into one cloud service, and it’s here where the Masergy-Fortinet offering stands above the rest.
Are firewalls becoming a dividing line between SASE strategies? Why some IT leaders choose a cloud-managed approach over a cloud-native one.
When it comes to SASE validity, there are lots of opinions. Here’s a look from all sides and tips for how to evaluate SASE architecture.
What’s the difference between a fully managed SD-WAN service and a co-managed service? Here’s how to get the best out of shared responsibilities.
Data shows remote work has triggered a modernization of business operations and the network. Explore the highlights from the new IDG study.
Masergy’s new SD-WAN portfolio gives companies of every size unrivaled application performance along with more flexibility and choice.
ZK Research data shows IT spending is up, and the value of the network has increased. Don’t miss the latest SD-WAN strategies in this online event.
SD-WAN has redefined network management, and how you deploy it can impact success. Get the six elements of SD-orchestration and key considerations.
Networks are on their way to becoming “self-driving.” Understand the current state of networking automation and what’s needed to reach full autonomy.
SD-WAN solutions are now platforms, but what does that mean? Moreover, what differentiates platforms from solution sets? Here’s the hidden secret.
With SD-WAN’s many connectivity options, when do you deploy 4G and 5G links and when should you avoid them? Here’s how Masergy advises its clients.
The idea of converting all your private network connections into public ones is being challenged. Attitudes are shifting. Here’s what it shows us.
Research from European enterprises surveyed as the pandemic lockdown began helps IT leaders identify new trends and what businesses need now.
SD-WAN is giving way for terms like SD-Branch. Understand the benefits and how SD-Branch is addressing security challenges at the network edge.
Here’s a guide to understanding the value of user identity analytics and why these details are increasingly important for security today and network automation tomorrow.
SD-WAN management portals typically track only IP traffic for entire sites, but Masergy’s SD-WAN gives you per-user analytics as a standard offering.
Masergy's CTO, Chris MacFarland, teaches you how to reach the milestone of true autonomy. This article originally appeared in Forbes.
See how Masergy’s network is changing in light of Coronavirus. Get tips for fast VPNs and understand shifts in digital transformation priorities.
Learn how Masergy is acting with urgency to protect employees, clients, and business continuity. We explain how Masergy helps clients respond and how he virtualized the company.
With 20 years of history, Masergy is full of fun factoids. Explore the pioneering moments, pivotal transformations, and tales from the startup days.
Get a free copy of Gartner's report. Learn how Masergy pioneered software-defined networks and is building the autonomous networks of tomorrow.
Many technologies are uniting under SD-WAN. Learn what’s changed and why new additions are starting to look like autonomous networking.
2020 marks Masergy’s 20th anniversary. The celebration starts with our top innovation landmarks and where we’re going next.
In celebration of Masergy’s 20th anniversary, we’re honoring our greatest leaders and key players. Here’s the story of Terry Traina, Masergy’s Chief Digital Officer.
AIOps puts a virtual network engineer on your team, but it’s also paving the way for autonomous networking. Get the requirements and four next steps.
Here’s a fully managed SD-WAN solution that helps organizations truly transform the WAN edge with a security-driven approach.
Think you only have 30-40 apps running on your network? It’s probably more like 900+. Here’s a quick guide to handling the blind spots of shadow IT.
By