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SASE Uncovered: Benefits of Converging Network and Security Breadcrumb Home Insights Blog SASE Uncovered: Benefits of Converging Network and Security June 05, 2025 In today’s enterprise landscape, it’s nearly impossible to have a conversation about networking and security without the term “SASE” entering the mix. Secure access service edge, SASE for short, has become a fixture in industry dialogue, though too often as a vague marketing term rather than a clear architectural strategy. Yet beneath the hype, SASE holds real promise for organizations seeking to streamline network security, improve user experience and adopt modern cloud-first infrastructure. At its core, SASE represents a convergence of networking and security functions delivered from the cloud. Traditional models often relied on disparate solutions — on-prem firewalls, legacy VPNs, standalone secure web gateways (SWGs), cloud access security brokers (CASBs) and more — that introduced complexity, scalability issues and poor user experience. SASE reimagines this approach. Let's talk about it. Prefer to watch? Find this SASE discussion, featuring Optiv’s Chris Dexter and Paul Herrmann, by visiting the link below. Redefining SASE: How to Successfully Converge Network and Security Breaking Free from Legacy Constraints The shift to remote work during the pandemic accelerated cloud adoption across industries. In that environment, traditional network architectures, especially those built on hairpinning remote user traffic back to centralized data centers, quickly revealed their limitations. SASE offers a cleaner, more efficient alternative. Instead of routing traffic through on-prem concentrators, SASE enables direct-to-cloud access for users, regardless of location. Policies are applied inline at globally distributed points of presence, which means someone working from Pittsburgh can access cloud services with the same security policies and low latency as a user sitting in a corporate office in Florida. This shift is more than just about convenience. It introduces real architectural change. By decoupling security enforcement from physical infrastructure and embracing cloud-native microservices, SASE platforms eliminate the need for constant hardware upgrades and localized deployment headaches. Organizations can now scale their environments based on licensing and usage. Enhancing the Remote User Experience SASE also improves remote user experiences. Traditional VPNs created bottlenecks and offered limited context for access decisions. With SASE, the paradigm shifts to identity-based access. Users are evaluated based on who they are, what they need to access and whether their device and context meet security requirements. Instead of maintaining always-on VPN tunnels, SASE solutions enable dynamic, on-demand connections. If a user needs to access SAP, a secure tunnel is established in real-time, only for the necessary duration and only if the policy conditions are met. This not only improves performance but reduces unnecessary exposure. Additionally, SASE supports contextual awareness. Policies can be granularly defined, down to specific user groups or geographic regions,and dynamically enforced. As a result, remote users gain fast, secure access while organizations maintain visibility and control. SASE and Zero Trust: A Strategic Alliance There’s often confusion between SASE and Zero Trust. They’re not synonymous, but they do complement each other. Zero Trust is a security philosophy centered on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” SASE provides the architecture to put those principles into action. Using identity as the primary perimeter, SASE enables Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to replace legacy VPNs. Policies are enforced based on user identity, device posture and behavioral context. For example, if a user’s agent isn’t running or their device fails compliance checks, access can be denied, regardless of whether their credentials are valid. This adaptive approach continues with user behavior analytics. If a user suddenly downloads large volumes of data or engages in risky behavior, their risk score can drop, triggering tighter restrictions or automatic lockouts. These capabilities allow security teams to proactively detect and respond to threats before they escalate. Flexibility and Scalability for Modern Business Needs The cloud-native nature of SASE enables it to scale rapidly with the needs of the business. Whether it's supporting a global workforce or adapting to mergers and acquisitions, SASE platforms simplify what used to be complex, months-long transitions. For example, when organizations acquire or spin off business units, traditional infrastructure requires extensive planning and physical reconfiguration. With SASE, policies and access controls can be deployed to new tenants or environments in days. Traffic can be routed through new enforcement points without disrupting existing users. This agility is a game-changer for enterprises undergoing digital transformation. Additionally, the pace of innovation within SASE platforms themselves is accelerating. Many providers roll out new features regularly, sometimes monthly, without requiring customers to buy new products or licenses. Organizations can tap into advanced DLP capabilities, automation tools or API integrations as their needs evolve. Simplifying Management in an Overburdened IT World Modern IT teams are stretched thin, dealing with multiple responsibilities with limited resources. SASE directly addresses this challenge by consolidating tools and streamlining management. Instead of managing separate consoles for VPNs, SWGs, data loss prevention (DLP) and CASBs, SASE unifies these under a single interface. Support teams benefit from faster troubleshooting, reduced ticket volume and improved visibility. Operational overhead decreases, freeing staff to focus on higher-value initiatives. Centralized logging and analytics add further value, enabling better policy decisions and easier integration with existing SOC tools. Whether it’s auto-remediating a misconfigured endpoint or dynamically adjusting policies based on user behavior, SASE’s integration capabilities drive real operational efficiencies. The Path to Adoption Despite its benefits, SASE adoption can be overwhelming. It's not an “easy button” solution. It requires planning, stakeholder alignment and a thoughtful roadmap. Most organizations begin with security service edge (SSE) capabilities such as secure web gateway or ZTNA, which replace legacy VPNs and enable remote access. These early wins build the foundation for broader integration. Organizations also benefit from working with experts to assess their current state, define use cases and identify capability gaps. Maturity services can help tailor SASE deployments to unique environments and business needs. From governance and risk alignment to DLP policy development and identity strategy, expert guidance ensures smoother, more impactful implementation. Moving Beyond the Hype SASE may be a popular buzzword, but its real value lies in its ability to simplify infrastructure, improve security and enhance user experiences. When approached with a strategic mindset, it becomes a powerful enabler for modern enterprises, one that aligns with the realities of today’s distributed workforce and cloud-first world. The journey may be complex, but the destination offers clear, tangible benefits for organizations willing to take the leap. To learn more about how your organization can successfully converge network and security, reach out to an Optiv expert. By: Christopher Dexter Domain Security Architect By: Paul Herrmann Technical Manager Share: SASE Secure Access Service Edge Network Security