In 2019, Gartner predicted that the "future of network security is in the cloud." Fast forward to today, and it seems that the future of networking has already arrived in the form of Secure Access Service Edge or SASE. Driven by the growth of hybrid work, SASE technology will continue to post healthy growth rates in 2023 and beyond. The latest analysis reveals that the global market size for SASE will grow from $1.9 billion in 2023 to $5.9 billion by 2028.
The Convergence of Networking and Security
SASE represents a fundamental shift in how organizations approach networking and security. By converging network and security functions into a single, cloud-delivered service, SASE eliminates the need for disparate point solutions and simplifies IT operations.
Key Components of SASE
- SD-WAN - Software-defined wide area networking for optimal traffic routing
- SWG - Secure Web Gateway for web filtering and threat protection
- CASB - Cloud Access Security Broker for SaaS security
- ZTNA - Zero Trust Network Access replacing traditional VPNs
- FWaaS - Firewall as a Service for cloud-based protection
Benefits of SASE Adoption
- Reduced complexity with unified management
- Improved performance with optimized routing
- Enhanced security posture with consistent policies
- Cost savings through consolidation
- Better support for remote and mobile workers
SASE Implementation Considerations
Organizations should consider:
- Current infrastructure and migration path
- Single-vendor vs. multi-vendor approach
- Integration with existing security tools
- User experience and performance requirements
- Compliance and regulatory needs
The Road Ahead
As organizations continue their digital transformation, SASE will become the de facto architecture for enterprise networking. The integration of AI/ML for threat detection, enhanced visibility across hybrid environments, and tighter integration with DevOps workflows will further drive SASE adoption.
At Incrux, we help organizations navigate their SASE journey. Contact us to discuss your networking and security transformation.