Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Checklist

What is SASE?

In 2019, Gartner introduced SASE (pronounced “sassy”) as “an emerging offering combining comprehensive WAN capabilities with comprehensive network security functions to support the dynamic secure access needs of digital enterprises.”

Key components to look for

• DNS-layer security — the first line of defence, stopping attacks before users connect to risky destinations.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) — verifies user identity and device trust before granting access to authorised applications.
• Secure Web Gateway (SWG) — inspects web traffic with malware detection, SSL decryption, filtering and data loss prevention.
• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) — consistent, centralised, cloud-delivered firewall policy across all locations.
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) — auto-discovers cloud apps and enforces security policy for SaaS.
• SD-WAN — securely connects users to network locations across any combination of transport services.

A SASE solution consolidates these capabilities into a single, cloud-delivered service — eliminating the cost and complexity of multiple standalone point products at every location.