- Claire McRobert
Within today’s digital landscape, securing and optimizing wide area networks (WANs) has become a major priority for enterprises to accelerate cloud adoption and support increasingly distributed workforces.
With this change, traditional WAN architecture built around fixed perimeters is no longer sufficient in a world where users, applications, and data exist everywhere. For example, in this environment, on-premises firewalls alone are no longer enough. Enterprises must integrate them with a broader set of cloud-delivered security capabilities as the traditional network perimeter continues to dissolve.
This shift is driving the adoption of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), a modern architectural approach that converges networking and security into a unified, cloud-based platform. SASE enables consistent security policies and seamless connectivity. Building on the foundations of SD-WAN, it embeds advanced security directly into the network architecture.
Benefits of a converged single-vendor SASE architecture
The move towards SASE reflects a broader evolution in enterprise networking. There is an increasing shift away from siloed systems and toward a unified model where networking and security are delivered together, closer to users and applications.
A converged, single-vendor SASE architecture is a strong fit for enterprises wanting to replace their legacy MPLS network, as it includes a built-in backbone to support seamless connectivity between regions. Forrester notes that a single-vendor approach is increasingly popular among today’s enterprises, as it can strengthen security posture, streamline administration, and lower operational costs.
A single-vendor SASE solution also enables enterprises to manage networking and security through a ‘single pane of glass’ and apply consistent policies across all environments and users. With consistent policies, deployment is simplified, ultimately making it easier for organizations to scale and operate in complex, distributed environments.
Replacing MPLS with SASE: global connectivity for distributed teams
For many enterprises, moving away from MPLS is about overcoming the operational limitations of legacy network design.
As highlighted in the 2025 Globe Newswire SASE report, more than 80% of organizations now support hybrid or remote work environments. The modern way of working fundamentally reshapes how enterprise networks are designed and delivered. In this new reality, static, fixed connectivity models are no longer sufficient, driving the need for more flexible, scalable approaches.
Key motivations behind replacing legacy MPLS:
Lack of agility | MPLS networks are slow to provision and difficult to modify, making it hard for organizations to respond quickly to changing business needs, new sites, evolving user demands, or the nature of cloud environments. |
Rising costs and inefficiencies | Maintaining private MPLS circuits across multiple regions can be expensive, especially compared to more flexible, internet-based connectivity models. |
Limited support for cloud and SaaS traffic | MPLS architectures were designed for centralized data centers, not direct-to-cloud access often resulting in inefficient traffic routing and poorer application performance. |
Fragmented security | In MPLS environments, security is typically handled through separate, on-premises tools layered onto the network. This creates silos, increases complexity, and makes it harder to enforce consistent policies across users, locations, and applications. |
Scaling challenges for distributed workforces | As organizations expand and support more remote and hybrid users, MPLS networks become increasingly difficult to scale efficiently. Adding new sites or users often requires time-consuming provisioning and additional infrastructure, slowing down growth and increasing operational overhead. |
Simplifying SASE migration with co-managed services
As organizations race to adopt SASE, many encounter friction as it requires a fundamental shift in how the enterprise network is designed, operated, and governed. Moving away from legacy infrastructure can be difficult; it’s more than replacing the technology. It involves rethinking architectures, redefining policies, and aligning network and security teams.
Managed Services Providers like Coevolve can help by integrating SASE into existing environments, ensuring networking and security policies work seamlessly together, and that network performance isn’t compromised. By supporting every stage of the journey from design and implementation to ongoing management and optimization, Coevolve enables enterprises to transform global networks with confidence and expert guidance.