Modern computer networks have evolved beyond traditional on-premise boundaries, creating a distributed environment with unique cybersecurity challenges and vulnerabilities.

Various security solutions have emerged to address the issues that cloud computing, remote work, and mobile access pose, but they lack cohesion.

They often operate in silos, leading to visibility gaps, increased complexity, and inconsistent policies. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) resolves these challenges by unifying security under one cloud-provided service to bolster security in software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN).

This cloud-native architecture offers robust protection and simplified security management while evolving to keep pace with adversaries, cyber-attack techniques, and new vectors.

A complete explanation of Secure Access Service Edge includes its architecture, components, benefits, and real-world use cases to understand how it promotes better network security in distributed environments.

SASE architecture and components

SASE architecture centralizes essential networking and security components, including:

• Cloud Access Security Broker: CASBs are critical gatekeepers between cloud applications and their users, helping prevent data leakage and enforce security policies. In SASE, these create control points to manage application access, regardless of user location.
• Firewall-as-a-Service: FWaaS is a digital iteration of traditional hardware firewalls that's more scalable, cost-effective, and flexible than the conventional option. In SASE, these solutions help detect cloud intrusions and safeguard against external threats.
• SD-WAN: SD-WAN optimizes network connectivity and application performance across distributed locations. In SASE, SD-WAN intelligently manages traffic and secure access to cloud-based resources for a consistent user experience.
• Secure Web Gateways: SWGs filter malware and unwanted software while supporting policy enforcement and compliance. In SASE, SWGs are cloud-delivered tools that help support secure web traffic and defend against internet-borne threats to ensure protection.
• Zero Trust Network Access: ZTNA offers granular access control capabilities based on context, device posture, and user identity. In SASE, ZTNA helps uphold security by continuously verifying access privileges and immediately revoking them if changes occur to minimize the attack surface.

Implementing SASE as part of a holistic approach to security has many advantages, including:

• Scalability: SASE is a fully scalable solution, allowing it to adapt quickly as circumstances change. Minimized hardware needs and SD-WAN tools make adding users, locations, or services faster and easier.
• Flexibility: Unlike rigid, hardware-based solutions, SASE is a customizable approach. Businesses can tailor their security components and networking architecture to meet their specific needs while maintaining the agility to adapt to evolving threats.
• Cost savings: SASE offers a compelling return on investment. This approach consolidates vendors, minimizes hardware needs, and boosts efficiency through optimized network traffic and application performance.
• Improved security: SASE addresses the limitations of legacy solutions and point products by consolidating disparate security solutions into a unified platform — a critical advantage since no one tool offers comprehensive stand-alone protection. Components like SWGs and firewalls can reach the network's outer edges to create stronger perimeter security.
• Reduced complexity: This approach helps limit the complexity and application sprawl inherent in legacy tools. Network security becomes easier to manage without manual monitoring of individual endpoints and time-intensive updating.

Practical use cases for SASE:

• Protection against ransomware: A holistic SASE solution can help defend against ransomware by preventing lateral movement across the network or between applications. Integrating components allows SASE to block malicious traffic, control server access, and limit ransomware spread.
• Detection of insider threats: Components of SASE, like SWGs and ZTNA, can help detect and prevent insider threats by managing access control and monitoring user behavior for signs of risky activities. CASB components can also aid in identification of data exfiltration attempts and other suspicious behaviors.
• Prevention against data loss: SASE forms a more comprehensive, edge-to-edge security net to safeguard data. Its tools inspect and control network traffic, provide encryption, and manage access to help stop data loss or unsecured transmission.

Successful SASE adoption and implementation rely on several key requirements, including:

• Cloud-native architecture: SASE is designed exclusively for cloud delivery. A cloud-native mindset is vital for upholding the agility, flexibility, and scalability that define this approach.
• Data security and loss prevention: Robust data security and loss prevention (DLP) approaches are essential to protect sensitive data, whether in transit or at rest.
• Integrated security functions: SASE means shifting from siloed security tools to a unified platform integrating core security functions. This approach supports simplified management, consistent policy enforcement, and improved threat visibility.
• Zero Trust principles: Preventing unauthorized access and minimizing attack surfaces requires tools that authenticate, authorize, and continuously verify all user identities and device health.

Implementing SASE can be complex, and understanding potential pitfalls and obstacles upfront is crucial for a successful deployment.

Poor planning

A successful implementation depends on the strength of your strategy. Collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to help ensure a comprehensive approach to planning that entails:

• Setting clear objectives and realistic expectations.
• Understanding of SASE components and how they integrate to improve network security.
• Determining and securing access to the necessary bandwidth for running SASE.
• Scheduling the implementation in phases.

Incomplete consideration

You've already heavily invested in your technology, so it's essential to consider it when thinking about an SASE implementation. There's no business value in changing just to change, especially if it means discarding effective tools you currently own. Further, every organization has specific cybersecurity areas where it excels and areas where gaps and vulnerabilities exist.

Conduct a thorough assessment of your maturity level and infrastructure to help:

• Maximize return on investment.
• Develop a customized SASE solution for your unique needs.
• Prevent application and tool sprawl that introduces complexity, increases cost, and can create additional silos.
• Identify where integration challenges may arise so you can address them.

Skills gaps

SASE is a newer approach to network security, so IT professionals may lack extensive experience with it.

Review your existing network security teams' skills to determine their readiness for SASE implementation. Evaluating your workforce's skills also reveals where gaps may exist so you can provide training opportunities to close them before deployment.

User experience impact

SASE implementation can substantially impact the user experience. Careful design of your SASE architecture and deployment strategy helps prevent:

• Latency that slows down application performance and dampens productivity.
• Disruptions to existing workflows that increase frustration and resistance.
• Too-restrictive approaches that result in limited application or resource access and reduce efficiency.
• Complex interfaces that decrease satisfaction and expand the potential for errors.
• Security fatigue that leaves users desensitized to alerts and warnings.
• Lack of a consistent user experience when accessing resources remotely.

Unpredictable and expanded attack surfaces

As a cloud-native solution, SASE faces unpredictable attack surfaces created by:

• A dynamic environment: New vulnerabilities and misconfigurations can emerge in the cloud anytime, reinforcing the need for continuous monitoring and vulnerability scanning.
• Bring-your-own-device and remote work policies: Personal devices expand the attack surface and often lack the stringent security controls of company-owned equipment. Ensure your policies enforce strong device health checks and access controls.
• The Internet of Things and Operational Technology: As more devices and mission-critical Operational Technology connect to the Internet, the attack surface grows and becomes more challenging to secure. Consider network segmentation and advanced threat detection technology to bolster defenses.
• Shadow IT: Unsanctioned applications and services can create blind spots in the SASE architecture. Design a solution for discovering and controlling any shadow IT on your network.

Using SASE as a stand-alone solution

SASE has limitations and is best applied in conjunction with — and not as a substitute for — network detection and response (NDR).

Pairing SASE and NDR creates stronger defenses against unknown, novel, and insider threats, empowering faster threat detection and containment. This combination also transforms network security into a proactive activity by enhancing visibility and providing valuable context about threats that can inform future investigations.

Today’s enterprise networks are more complex than ever, spanning cloud, on-prem, and remote environments. While SASE offers secure access at the edge, it can leave blind spots without deep network visibility. This blog explores how combining SASE with Network Detection and Response (NDR) delivers end-to-end coverage and stronger security outcomes.

Read the blog to learn:

• Why SASE alone isn’t enough to secure modern hybrid environments
• How NDR fills critical visibility and detection gaps in SASE architectures
• Real-world examples of NDR and SASE working together to stop advanced threats
• How Darktrace’s AI-native approach unifies edge and network security for faster response

Read the full blog here