Just recently, Grand View Research released a report highlighting that the security access service edge (SASE) could reach $17.22 billion in the next few years. This comes when existing networking technologies have proved complex and challenging to manage while remaining susceptible to cyberattacks.
That’s not all; more individuals now prefer to work remotely, leading to a growing dependence on data centers, further increasing the risk of exposure. But this does not leave us without hope. Technologies like SASE have now emerged with the right infrastructure to help tackle such needs. And before we look at why Grand View Research expects its market size to increase rapidly, let’s first understand what it is and how it operates.
What is this technology about?
Simply put, SASE is a framework that combines cloud-native security functions and network capabilities into a service. It uses several technologies to prevent unauthorized access, limit an attacker’s movement on a network, contain breaches and so on. Here are a few technologies it uses:
- Zero trust network access to continuously validate users and entities and give them the least privileged access to complete their tasks
- Secure web gateway to filter unauthorized traffic from accessing a network by using technologies like URL filtering
- Firewall as a service (FWaas) to monitor and scan for malware
- Cloud access security broker (CASB) which acts as a mediator.
The good side of this infrastructure is that you can securely access corporate applications and data and work from anywhere, regardless of the location of the resources. By combining cloud-delivered security services with advanced networking abilities, it improves productivity for both remote and hybrid workers.
Why is SASE necessary?
The age of cyberattacks
Are you actually aware that, according to SentinelOne, about eight in ten companies have witnessed an increase in the occurrence of cloud attacks? As if that’s not enough, about 90% of data breaches primarily target servers, and cloud-based web app servers are the most affected. And now that a single data breach could cost you up to $4.35 million, you definitely don’t want to be a victim.
Plus, besides just incurring financial losses, cyberattacks can injure your brand reputation. In fact, several studies agree that a good number of customers will cut ties with a brand after a cyberattack. Wealth & Finance International, for instance, puts this figure at 75%. Business is becoming extremely competitive as the cost of acquiring new customers skyrockets, so you want to avoid any possible occurrences that could bring such losses.
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Good enough, SASE’s cloud-delivered security functions eliminate blind spots, thus maintaining consistent protection across the enterprise. And for companies operating multiple branch offices, this can be a cost-effective and secure way to link the offices. It works by replacing the traditional Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) connections with SD-WAN which is more scalable.
Meeting the growing demand for remote and hybrid work conditions
Everyone can agree that tech improvements have changed a lot of experiences and expectations in our contemporary world. Actually, according to some surveys, about nine in ten employees prefer partial or fully remote working conditions. In countries like the US, about 58% of white-collar employees prefer having at least three days every week for remote work.
Remember, such employee expectations are very important because they affect their morale. And you don’t want to miss out on the benefits of offering such experiences just because you don’t cater to changing preferences. However, as you keep adjusting to meet these preferences, dependence on the cloud increases, which can increase exposure to attacks.
You don’t just want employees to access your resources from anywhere; you also want them to do it securely. Thankfully, SASE combines SD-WAN and other security services to help you with that. It provides a unified cloud-based security platform that encrypts user traffic, implements strict authentication methods and applies security measures consistently across the network. This creates a secure tunnel for remote workers to access resources.
Reducing latency
Have you ever had an experience where you played a game, and when you were just about to shoot, the game became non-responsive? Well, if you have, you then understand the importance of low latency. In business, low latency allows for real-time communication and data processing, which can improve efficiency and productivity.
Such features are very important in ensuring the smooth operation of machinery and systems in industries like autonomous vehicles and manufacturing. Delays in signal transmission could put employees’ safety at risk, which might be detrimental to a company’s operation.
SASE helps to minimize latency by distributing security measures nearer to the end-users. It’s built on an extensive worldwide cloud network to provide all users and businesses with low-latency networking abilities.
What is the final word?
It’s true that a lot has changed in the contemporary business world. Employees no longer want to work entirely from the office; many now prefer hybrid working conditions. As if that were not enough, cyberattacks are evolving, and traditional infrastructures are proving insufficient to deal with these threats.
With all these factors put together, companies have to find new ways of surviving. And good enough, frameworks like SASE have emerged to cater to these pressing needs. So, seeing that Grand View Research actually expects its market size to increase should not surprise you at all because the framework offers features that are very relevant for modern businesses.
