The Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) paradigm revolutionizes networking and security. SASE converges wide-area networking (WAN) and network security services into a single, cloud-delivered solution to securely and efficiently provide access to users, devices, and applications.
Though sase is simple, there's still some work to do. Adoption can often be stymied through roadblocks that prevent fully enjoying its benefits. In this article, we explore these challenges and present actionable solutions to overcome them.
Understanding SASE
Now that we know what we are diving into, let's understand what SASE is. SASE is a cloud-native architecture that bundles several networking and security capabilities from the likes of SD-WAN, Secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), and zero-trust network access (ZTNA), to name a few.
It protects networks while facilitating easy remote access to remote workers and distributed branches. For information on sase and its components, see this in-depth guide on SASE.
Top SASE Challenges
1. Unclear about what the requirements and goals are.
When adopting SASE, many organizations have a tough time defining their exact goals. Without established objectives it becomes hard to discern how does SASE relate to the organization's current infrastructure and security strategy.
Solution:
Start your attack on your current network and security posture. Find pain points — is your remote access lackluster or do you have gaps in security? Define clear goals like better remote access, better threat detection, or reduced number of tools by bringing too many tools into one platform. Work with important stakeholders to align SASE adoption with business objectives.
2. Integrating Legacy Systems is a Problem of Complexity.
Many organizations run legacy infrastructure and use processes that were not designed to integrate with more modern technological SASE solutions. Such an incompatibility can cause delays and cost more when implementing.
Solution:
Migrate in a phased approach. Begin by including key areas of SASE, e.g., SD-WAN or ZTNA and not interrupt current systems. Choose a SASE vendor that can deploy in a way that fits your needs, and will work with your existing systems instead of forcing you to tear everything down and start fresh.
3. Lack of Internal Expertise
To implement SASE, you must know both networking and security very well. Unfortunately, most IT teams do not have the required proficiency in specialized knowledge to design and roll out the full SASE framework.
Solution:
Ensure that your IT staff is given the attention and training to become upskilled on SASE technologies and best practices. You can alternatively partner with a managed service provider (MSP) or SASE vendor that provides end–to–end deployment support. It makes for a smoother transition, as it removes the pace of strategic decisions from your team.
4. Resistance to Change
While stakeholders are expecting legacy system behavior, shifting to a cloud-native SASE architecture often faces resistance. But this resistance tends to slow down the adoption process.
Solution:
Stakeholders engage them early in the decision-making. Draw out the constraints of current systems and accentuate the long-term benefits of SASE like cost savings, better performance and better security. Communicate clearly and train easily.
5. Managing Costs
Although SASE can lower your operational expenses in the long run, it's an upfront cost that can initially be a major hurdle for many businesses since it requires new hardware, software, and employee training.
Solution:
You should first develop a clear budget and ROI analysis prior to your SASE journey. A number of vendors' pricing models support this with scalable pricing — you could, for example, incrementally start adopting SASE. Select a solution that fits your budget but should be able to meet your requirements.
6. Consistent Performance Across Locations
SASE implementation causes organizations with distributed teams and global operations to have inconsistent network performance.
Solution:
Choose a SASE provider with a rich Points of Presence (PoPs) global network. Thus, it's low-latency connections with a predictable performance, regardless of the user's location. And use SD-WAN's intelligent traffic routing to optimize performance.
7. Adapting to Evolving Threat Landscapes
Being able to protect your organization from new threats is especially difficult because cybersecurity threats are also dynamic.
Solution:
Go with a SASE vendor that leverages advanced threat intelligence and regularly refreshed security capabilities. Seek out solutions that use machine learning and automation to proactively detect and respond to threats.
Facing Implementation Challenges
SASE has to be done right. The implementation of SASE needs careful planning, collaboration, and the right vendor partnership to be done successfully. The hurdles of SASE are common, and with the right strategy and an open mind, organizations can realize the full power of SASE while securing, simplifying, and growing a modern network for their organization.
Yet, as organizations adopt digital transformation, SASE emerges as an important enabler for securing and making use of efficient connectivity. If prepared adequately and with the right resources, you can overcome these challenges and set your organization up for success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.