The Advantages of Integrating Networking and Security with SASE for Today’s Organizations

The Advantages of Integrating Networking and Security with SASE for Today’s Organizations

The security approaches we counted on to secure our networks and protect our IT resources against attackers are no longer up to the task. As proof, you don’t have to look far to see that some of the most devastating cyberattacks ever have occurred over the past year, with the Colonial Pipeline and SolarWinds attacks being a couple of the most well known in a long list. It is clear that the decades old platforms founded on our businesses on and their vulnerabilities exploited by today’s sophisticated attacks are contributing to existing network weaknesses. Wide-Area-Network (WAN) technology, for example, hasn’t changed much in more than 20 years.

With the integration of personal apps and business-critical apps on user devices, it is time to redesign the network for the future, but with current network foundations so established the futureproofing of our networks could prove to be a significant undertaking.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), a term Gartner introduced in 2019, has quickly become a popular and well-established solution in organizations’ journeys to update the security and functionality of their networks required in today’s work-from-anywhere environment.

SASE is the integration of networking capabilities and security solutions, along with analytics, in one unified platform – for example, the joining of software-as-a-service (SaaS) and firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS). While rapidly emerging, this approach is proving successful as organizations roll out more secure and higher performing networks.

The Post-2020 Journey 
For years, enterprises have migrated from traditional on-premises security and networking platforms to more agile solutions. The events of 2020 highlighted the new work-from-anywhere needs for organizations and accelerated this migration. The new networking and security needs of an instant remote workforce forced businesses to quickly refocus their efforts and rapidly adapt.

Traditional SD-WAN solutions have long been the popular software-defined architecture for delivering on these types of requirements, but they no longer address all challenges faced by organizations, particularly when it comes to security. The need for further evolution has opened the door for new solutions, such as SASE, to emerge to address these growing needs.

SASE Proves up To Today’s Challenges
The capabilities delivered by highly integrated and full-functions SASE solutions position organizations well in the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. Agility and flexibility are key advantages for SASE, deployed through the cloud, enabling organizations to apply security controls in any area of the network, across multiple locations. These advantages help strengthen a company’s line of defense by eliminating the risk of security gaps, deploying consistent policies and controls, as well as reducing the overall cost because organizations eliminate the need to pay for multiple solutions for each area of the network.

According to a survey earlier this year, 87% of organizations have already adopted VPNs or SASE, or are considering adopting SASE within the next year. With 32% of organizations surveyed worried about protecting the company network from security threats, it is clear how the priorities are stacking up for leaders faced with these challenges.

Not only does SASE enhance the level of network security applied, but also it ensures the required service levels of the network are met across the board. In today’s remote and work-from-anywhere environments, the ability to manage both network performance and security from a single platform proves advantageous.

The Integrated Solution Advantages
SASE is a proven approach for any organization, especially because of how easy it is to apply to the network. With just one existing SASE solution, organizations can simply expand their service to cover more areas of the company. Adopting SASE is not a major endeavor, which involves rip and replace of the entire network. Instead, teams can start small and tackle one area at a time, adding SASE services as they expand.

Awareness is critical for the progress of SASE, and it is important that organizations take the time to understand different solutions, and what is available. As it stands, according to the survey only 31% of teams can correctly define what SASE is, and 13% of organizations not deploying SASE admitted to not knowing the service’s actual benefits.

To support long-term work-from-anywhere workforces effectively, organizations need to invest in future-proof solutions that enable them to operate both physically and digitally to keep up with the changing networking and security needs of the business. One of the most important advantages organizations can leverage is not having networking management responsibilities and security as two separate entities. With advanced SASE solutions tightly integrating these functions, organizations automatically reduce the amount of time and resources needed to run them, and can instead focus on other high-priority areas of the business.

Featured

  • Facing Facts for Facilities

    Despite the proliferation of constantly evolving security solutions, there remains a troubling trend among many facility operators who often neglect the most important security assets within their organization. Keys and shared devices like radios, laptops and tablets are crucial to successful operations, yet many operators are managing them haphazardly through outdated storage systems like pegboards and notebooks. Read Now

  • Report Reveals Security Training Reduces Global Phishing Click Rates by 86%

    KnowBe4, the cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, today launched its “Phishing by Industry Benchmarking Report 2025” which measures an organization’s Phish-prone Percentage (PPP) — the percentage of employees likely to fall for social engineering or phishing attacks, indicating the organization’s overall susceptibility to phishing threats. This year’s report found a global average baseline PPP of 33.1%, meaning a third of employees interact with phishing simulations before taking part in best-practice security awareness training (SAT).COVER 2025-PIB-NA-Report_EN-US Read Now

  • TSA Begins REAL ID Full Enforcement Today

    Today, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the imminent implementation of its REAL ID enforcement measures at TSA checkpoints nationwide. Read Now

  • Body-Worn Cameras on the Rise

    On the evening of Oct. 29, 2024, the owner of 300 Guard based in Houston, was shot while on duty at a convenience store. He returned fire. He was wearing a plated vest and thankfully recovered in the hospital. Read Now

  • Brazil Port Enhances Surveillance and Supports Wildlife Conservation with Sustainable Technology

    Ferroport, which operates the iron ore terminal at the Port of Açu in São João da Barra, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has deployed state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras from Axis Communications to enhance nighttime security and visibility, while decreasing environmental impact and prioritizing sustainability. With cutting-edge technology, the port now has precise surveillance cameras that capture high-quality nighttime images, while reducing the amount of artificial lighting that negatively impacts the surrounding ecosystem. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.