Cyberattacks on corporate networks are relentless. Almost as quickly as software is updated to stop the latest attack, a new attack vector is created. Secure access service edge (SASE) empowers organizations to quickly and securely connect employees, customers, and business partners using cloud-native services. By leveraging a secure access service edge solution, risk is reduced while compliance is maintained. This is done by combining identity management, threat protection, anti-malware solutions, and other digital infrastructure into one unified solution.
One critical way to protect your network from attacks is by deploying MetTel’s award-winning secure SASE solution, which delivers a speedy, stable network by integrating wide-area networking and security. MetTel’s SASE solution delivers best-of-breed technologies including managed SD-WAN, Firewall as a Service, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and more. These efficiencies provide branch office and remote users the ability to prioritize business-critical traffic and alleviate network issues.
I asked MetTel’s VP of enterprise solutions and security expert, Zachary Grant, to join me on the Techie & the Biz podcast to better understand network security. Specifically, how SASE benefits employees and consumers with a cybersecurity strategy that keeps companies’ costs down and protects assets, data, and personal information.
The following are excerpts from the conversation.
SASE stands for Secure Access Service Edge. Can you explain it in basic form? What exactly is SASE?
Yes, SASE is a replacement for traditional routers and firewalls that are protecting our fixed assets within a centralized security model. So, instead of having your security stack in one location and forcing all your traffic to that centralized location, SASE allows us to take that centralized security model and distribute it to all the endpoints. Those endpoints are identified as SASE.
Why are we seeing so much growth and traction with SASE?
It started with SD-WAN, which makes network traffic more efficient. SASE takes SD-WAN’s centralized security policy and distributes it to as many endpoints as possible. Therefore, those endpoints can communicate directly, bypass lengthy network segments and long transit hauls to get to the applications. Deploying SASE allows the network to become extra secure, faster, efficient, and extremely user-friendly.
How does SASE benefit everyday employees or consumers?
SASE is a cybersecurity strategy that is going to continue to keep companies’ costs down. It is going to protect customers’ assets, information, and personal information, which is everywhere—no matter where we go. In today’s world, your name, your date of birth, and your social security number are distributed, and so for MetTel, protecting that data is about protecting all of us.
Another term we keep hearing about is Zero Trust. What is the difference between SASE and Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is centered around mobility assets and SASE is meant to protect fixed assets. So, if you look at a company, whether it is small, medium, or enterprise, they need SASE to protect fixed assets. These assets can range from printers to TVs, and items that do not have software or an operating system that can be installed to protect them. Zero Trust is a software application that protects assets that do have those capabilities, like laptops and cell phones.
So besides securing mobile assets, are there other benefits to Zero Trust?
Yes, efficiency is one of the main benefits. By enabling Zero Trust, we can leverage other technologies like SD-WAN. We are not sacrificing security for convenience, and we are not sacrificing convenience for security. Making the network more efficient benefits everyone while keeping it secure.
To learn more about SASE or any other MetTel services, go to mettel.net or contact your MetTel sales representative.
