Secure Access Service Edge, often referred to as SASE, (reads like “sassy”), is designed to protect the businesses of today.
Think of companies that have a remote workforce, need to keep sensitive data safe, are worried about persistent cyber threats, and scale with the help of complex cloud environments.
SASE was designed for them.
Let’s dive into how it protects users, remote employees, and sensitive data.
What is SASE, anyway?
SASE is an umbrella term for versatile united security solutions on the cloud. It combines the capabilities of:
- Data loss prevention (DLP)Â
- Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
- Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
- Integrated Advanced Threat Prevention
- Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
- Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
As a result, it covers the entire infrastructure with layers upon layers of cyber protection.Â
What does that mean, essentially?Â
One flaw is not enough for the hacker to get into the deepest end of your network.
For example, allowing a trusted third-party cloud provider to take care of your data is what most companies do.Â
But you do have to make sure that access to the cloud is protected with strong passwords and authorization controls.
Convincing employees to use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication can be a challenge. In 2021, the research showed that 17% of customers would rather watch paint dry than set unique passwords for every account they use.
Many people still use passwords that are easy to guess, don’t change them for months (or years even), and are reused for multiple services.
SASE counts on this. It enforces zero trust network access. The Zero Trust policy assumes that anyone trying to log in could be a malicious hacker.
Compared to basic traditional cybersecurity tools, SASE is designed for companies that grow, and it offers more than just a first line of defense. It can stop a hacker who tries to sneak in with stolen credentials.
More than a cybersecurity solution
A lot of the SASE capabilities work together to keep your company’s data safe or prevent employees from installing malware on their work devices. However, SASE is also about better connectivity.
One of the specialties of SASE is that it seeks the best route for your traffic to pass through. It has a knack for finding both the fastest and most reliable route.
What does that mean for you?
No more lag or frustrated global users and remote employees.
Cyber threats that SASE can nip in the bud
Modern businesses face more hacking threats than ever before. Even companies that have IT teams to manage security struggle to keep up with the volume. Some of the common hacking attacks that SASE can prevent are:
- Phishing
- Malware attacks (e.g. ransomware)
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
We tend to give cybercriminals too much credit. Most hacking attempts are not that sophisticated. 91% of hacks start with phishing because it’s easier to exploit people than to find technical flaws.
How does it work?
A call, email, or text message is sent to employees. It urges them to click on an infected link or share their password. If they believe that someone from IT is on the other end of the line or that a boss sent them an email, most will share sensitive data, such as their credentials.
Malware (or malicious software) is designed to harm your devices. This wide term covers a variety of different viruses, trojans, and worms that are continually evolving to bypass security solutions.
Once installed on devices, malware can steal data, monitor activity, record your keystrokes, or spam you with ads.
One strain of malware that has been on the rise in the last couple of years is ransomware. It’s a basic strain that can lock your data. After that, the hackers seek the ransom, promising the key to decrypt your files after you pay.
DDoS floods the application, network, or web servers with traffic, making it slow and unusable or resulting in its crash.
Identifying cyber threats on time
The cost of a cyberattack adds up quickly— especially if it takes business weeks to find the hacker. The longer it takes for you to discover illicit access or a vulnerability, the more advantage the criminal has. And the more it costs your business.
Hacking incidents result in expensive investigations, long downtimes for businesses, and additional investments needed to secure the infrastructure.
As mentioned, cyber threats that affect businesses are evolving and numerous. For companies, it’s a question of when they’ll be the hacking victim rather than if they ever will be.
SASE is designed to discover unauthorized access or malware early. It’s automated and continually scans the infrastructure to find anomalies and signs of hacking.
Simplifying cybersecurity for companies
Once upon a time, companies would keep their networks and assets on the premises. With remote work, businesses keep adding new cloud elements to their environment, making their infrastructure complex.
Every element that is added has to be protected against cyber threats. Since businesses kept adding more and more security tools, many ended up with more protective tools than they could ever keep up and manage.
SASE unites the functionality of multiple (previously separate) security tools in one solution with a single platform.
 It’s easier to manage security if your IT professionals don’t have multiple disconnected interfaces to consult when finding critical threats in the system.