The traditional network architecture that was once sufficient to secure the operations of large organisations is increasingly being put to the test by modern threats and new ways of working. This is where the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) concept comes into play, integrating network and security functions into a unified, cloud-based platform to provide a holistic response to cyber security challenges.
The threat landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Companies are not only facing a growing number of cyber attacks, but also the fact that these attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Ransomware attacks that can paralyse entire companies are just the tip of the iceberg. There are also threats from phishing, advanced persistent threats (APTs), insider threats and more. Due to the dependence on digital infrastructures, the impact is also becoming increasingly serious.
In the latest "Cost of Data Breach 2024" report, IBM puts the average damage from data breaches at the equivalent of 4.9 million euros - a jump of 14 per cent within one year. In individual cases, such as the ransomware attack on the shipping company Maersk in 2017, costs of several hundred million dollars have already been recorded. And there have already been several cases of company insolvencies in which medium-sized companies did not survive a hacker attack economically, including the German bicycle manufacturer Prophete and the Danish cloud provider Cloudnordic.
These developments, as well as stricter legal requirements such as the EU NIS2 Directive, which has been in force since October 2020, are forcing companies to continuously rethink and adapt their security strategies. As corporate networks become increasingly decentralised and more and more employees work remotely or on the move, protecting the network at the "edges" is becoming more and more difficult. This is where SASE comes in, bringing together security and network configurations and enabling a coherent, cloud-based security strategy.
SASE: security at all levels
One of the strengths of SASE lies in its modular architecture, which integrates various cloud-based security components. They are summarised under the term SSE (Security Service Edge). The central components, which offer comprehensive protection, include:
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): The zero trust model assumes that no user, device or service can be trusted by default, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the company network. ZTNA continuously checks the identity and context of access to ensure that only authorised users can access specific resources.
- Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): CASBs act as security intermediaries between users and cloud services. They enforce security policies, monitor data traffic and prevent security breaches in SaaS, PaaS and IaaS environments.
- Secure Web Gateway (SWG): An SWG filters and monitors web traffic to prevent threats such as malware, phishing and unauthorised traffic. By placing it between the user and the internet, it prevents access to dangerous websites and blocks the download of malicious files.
- Firewall as a Service (FWaaS): This cloud-based firewall solution provides protection against a wide range of threats by analysing network traffic and blocking unwanted activity. The FWaaS integrates seamlessly into the SASE architecture and offers functions such as Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDS/IPS) and Advanced Threat Protection (ATP).
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): DLP technologies protect sensitive data by preventing its unauthorised outflow. This is particularly important at a time when data is considered one of an organisation's most valuable assets.
- Remote Browser Isolation (RBI): RBI technologies provide additional protection by performing web browsing in an isolated environment. This prevents potentially harmful content from reaching the user's end device.
The benefits of an integrated security strategy
One of the biggest advantages of SASE is the integration of all these security functions into a single platform. This not only reduces complexity, but also improves responsiveness to threats. By combining security functions in a unified architecture, organisations can respond faster to new threats, centrally manage security policies and simplify monitoring of the entire network.
SASE's integrated security architecture also provides improved visibility and control over network traffic. As all security and network configurations are managed from a centralised management console, IT administrators can quickly identify potential threats and take action before they cause damage.
Summary
The security architecture of the future requires a holistic and integrated approach that ensures both the protection of the network and the flexibility of modern business processes. SASE offers a pioneering solution that enables companies to strengthen their network security while reducing the complexity of their IT infrastructure. By combining security and network configurations in a cloud-based platform, SASE is able to respond to the constantly evolving threats of cyber security and prepare companies for the challenges of the digital future.
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