Fact check of the five most common SASE misconceptions

Remote working, cloud usage, IoT and the use of mobile devices are just a few examples of how the world of work has changed. Hand in hand with this new reality is the question of how companies can ensure security in decentralized and cloud-based environments. The answer is provided by the as-a-service approach for SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), which combines network and security functions in a cloud-native architecture. Because there are still persistent myths surrounding the topic, the Open Systems the five biggest prejudices to a fact check.

1. SASE is equal to SD-WAN. Not quite, SASE combines SD-WAN and SSE in one integrated solution. SASE represents a redefinition of cloud networking, focusing on the least privilege principle of zero trust resource access delivered as a scalable service model. Managed SASE is a holistic security architecture that adds SSE to the capabilities of SD-WAN with components such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG) and Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB).
2. SASE is a pure cloud service. Wrong, the concept is based on a cloud-native architecture that can be used both in the cloud and on-premises. For this reason, SASE strategies are ideally suited to hybrid network infrastructures.
3. SASE alone is enough. Given the sheer volume of threats and the constantly changing nature of cyber attacks, this statement is also wrong. However, the SASE concept is the basis for one of the most advanced methods of IT security, XDR (Extended Detection and Response). As the name suggests, prevention is never 100 percent effective and always presupposes a successful attack. Complex AI tools are used for rule-based analysis, for which SASE can provide initial data.
4. Anyone can manage SASE. One of the most common misconceptions. The truth is different, because SASE is never a one-size-fits-all solution, but requires continuous fine-tuning and a variety of configurations based on individual networks and requirements. The rampant shortage of cybersecurity specialists is one of the main reasons why many companies opt for SASE solutions as a managed service.
5. SASE replaces fast connections. Although a SASE architecture offers clear benefits in terms of connectivity and security, these are still largely dependent on the performance of the physical network connections. While a SASE strategy alone cannot work miracles, it enables organizations to take advantage of advanced and unconventional connectivity concepts and move away from traditional types such as MPLS or VPN.

"The successful implementation of a managed SASE solution depends on the architecture and understanding the completely new way of thinking that the concept entails," says Stefan Keller, Chief Product Officer at Open Systems. "But only if we know what SASE means at its core, what the best practices are and where we reach our limits, can we implement the concept with the greatest possible added value - to do this, we have to clear up any misconceptions."