Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
What is SASE?
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a cloud-delivered service that combines network and security functions with WAN capabilities to support the dynamic, secure access needs of today’s hybrid organizations. Conceptually, SASE extends networking and security capabilities beyond where they’re typically available. This lets users, regardless of location, to take advantage of firewall as a service (FWaaS), secure web gateway (SWG), zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and a medley of threat detection functions.
The term SASE (pronounced “sassy”) was first described by Gartner in an August 2019 report called, “The Future of Network Security in the Cloud.” Gartner notes that in the SASE market trend report, "Customer demands for simplicity, scalability, flexibility, low latency, and pervasive security force convergence of the WAN edge and network security markets.”
Why is SASE necessary?
Enterprise networks are increasingly reliant on cloud-based applications to run their businesses and support distributed workflows to support remote and mobile users. This has resulted in the conventional enterprise network to rapidly grow beyond the conventional network edge, challenging infrastructure leaders to secure and manage an ever-expanding attack surface. While networks have advanced rapidly enough to support the workflows of these remote endpoints, most security tools have not kept pace, rendering VPN-only solutions obsolete. For organizations to remain competitive, all endpoints must be secured and managed with the same security and networking policies as their on-premises infrastructure, regardless of where they’re located.
Benefits of SASE
When properly implemented, a SASE approach allows organizations to apply for secure access no matter where their users, workloads, devices, or applications are located. This becomes a critically important advantage as more users join a remote workforce, SaaS applications see rapid adoption, and data move rapidly among data centers, branch offices, and hybrid- and multi-cloud environments.
SASE Offers:
- Flexible, consistent security: Deliver a comprehensive range of security services, from threat prevention to NGFW policies, to any edge, ensuring zero-trust network access to know who is on your network, know what is on your network, and protect assets both on and off the network
- Reduced total cost of ownership: Conquer point product sprawl once and for all by using a single platform approach and reducing or eliminating capex and opex costs
- Reduced complexity: Simplify your architecture by consolidating key networking and security functions from disparate point products into single solutions, all easily managed from a single-pane-of-glass management system
- Optimized performance: Leveraging cloud availability, your team members easily and securely connect to the Internet, applications, and corporate resources wherever they are located.
SASE and the Fortinet Advantage
Fortinet is the only SASE vendor to provide consistent, enterprise-grade protection across every network edge based on the security-driven networking strategy. FortiSASE delivers its advanced security via cloud-based consumption, eliminating common security gaps with no impact to workflow operations. And because every element is part of the same FortiOS deployment, a full-featured FortiSASE solution is also fast to deploy and intuitive to manage.
FortiSASE delivers on the promise of the Fortinet Security Fabric by reducing risk profiles and optimizing hybrid enterprise networks to support and secure users wherever they are located, providing consistent protection at every network edge.
