Back before cloud services and SaaS became significant in business operations, companies had a clear perimeter that defines and operates trusted and untrusted domains. But there is an increasing amount of remote users and cloud applications which automatically multiply the number of endpoints; thus, business networks are all over this ‘untrusted area’.
There are novel technologies to provide secure access to these endpoints, such as Security Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). Some people may think that there is a ‘versus’ relationship between the two, whereas they are actually complementary. You wonder how? Let’s talk about why SASE is the key to unlocking Zero Trust adoption.
How are SASE and Zero Trust different?
Some people may think that these are two different security solutions or frameworks, two different cyber security understandings that rival each other. However, they are different in terms of their nature.
Zero Trust is a strategy or a principle that believes companies should operate their company network with a ‘zero trust’ approach that doesn’t believe in continuous and limitless access but repeated and dynamic verification. Zero Trust is not a specific cybersecurity framework; it is simply a general strategy.
On the other hand, SASE is a framework and a cyber security solution that has direct rules and practices a company should follow. SASE is a detailed model of how maximum protection can be guaranteed on a corporate network. It is a holistic solution that ensures overall security in every single operation of a company. People seeking to deepen their understanding of cybersecurity can explore Cyber Security Course in Mumbai
How is SASE complementary to Zero Trust?
If companies want to implement a complete Zero Trust approach to their security operations, deploying a SASE security solution is of great importance to ensure success. A combined SASE and Zero Trust implementation is complementary and practically necessary; let’s see how these two make things easier and more secure for each other.
Zero Trust is a core element of the SASE model
Companies provide a number of applications for their employees to facilitate business operations. These can be cloud-based applications or on-premise SaaS services. Providing a secure connection between employees and these applications regardless of location, device, or perimeter is an integral part of the SASE model.
As SASE solutions are based on the transition of the security processes from network or servers to the endpoint user, Zero Trust principles become a core element of this model. In other words, SASE is the context and the boundaries where the Zero Trust principles apply. If you implement SASE, you’ll have a playground to maximize the benefits of the Zero Trust.
SASE ensures full practicality of the Zero Trust
Zero Trust is an excellent approach to cyber security, and it has the potential to be the single most important thing for a company’s security policies. Zero Trust can ensure security on the access to a business application or network. But there is also traffic it can’t detect, for example, when an employee surfs on the internet.
On the other hand, SASE can collect information on the browsed websites or detect malicious sources and anomalies. This ensures the full practicality and security of the Zero Trust as it can use the information from SASE to block traffic from malicious sources or IP addresses. A robust SASE structure can lead the way to the things to which Zero Trust restricts access.
Ultimate mobility and minimum network complexity
SASE architecture is becoming more and more popular as it allows companies to implement the hybrid work model by providing security all across the corporate network, from HQ servers to cloud applications.
Zero Trust also allows better and safer remote access by authenticating the endpoint user’s identity. However, if a company doesn’t implement Zero Trust on every part of its network structure, it can increase the network complexity and harm the mobility of the employees.
Adopting a SASE model will ensure that all the tools used in business operations are on the same line, and Zero Trust access can now be applied to every edge of the company network. The combination of the two will help you benefit from the Zero Trust without increasing the network complexity that can potentially decrease productivity.
SASE and Zero Trust together for seamless & resilient cyber security
SASE and Zero Trust might seem like completely different cyber security approaches at first, but this is actually not true. They are like two peas in a pod which together create an impenetrable security system.
If you are looking to adopt the Zero Trust model to your company’s cybersecurity practices, having a SASE architecture might be the key to seamless and more resilient cyber security.
Implementing both can increase the security across your corporate network by providing the same level of access restriction and threat detection. Zero Trust can use the information collected by the SASE and block the access accordingly. SASE is a backbone to any business that desires to adopt Zero Trust.
