Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
Converging Networking and Security
What is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)?
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is an architecture that converges networking and security policies. It is a new approach to providing secure access to cloud applications, data, and services from any location and offers the scalability, performance, and cost-effectiveness required for today’s digital landscape. By building on existing SD-WAN offerings to add cloud-scale security enterprises can securely support a hybrid workforce.
How SASE works: architecture and security convergence
Key benefits of SASE for enterprise networks
Enabling enterprises to completely rethink their security strategy, SASE offers several benefits including:
Consistent security policies and standards
Over the entire network including cloud-based applications, data, and services from any location.
Increased network performance and end-user experience
Cost savings
Simplified management
Due to the integration of network and security components into one unified solution.
Seamless scalability and flexibility
Through leveraging the software-as-a-service consumption model, enterprises can pay for what they need, when they need it.
SASE use cases for modern enterprises
SASE addresses a broad set of enterprise networking and security challenges, from supporting hybrid workers to securing distributed branch environments and simplifying cloud access for globally dispersed teams.
Hybrid and remote work
SASE extends consistent security policies to users working from home, in offices, or on the road, without requiring traffic to backhaul through a central location. We explore this in depth in The Importance of Telco-Independent SASE in a Hybrid Working World.
Cloud and SaaS security
Enterprises using Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and other cloud platforms can enforce consistent access, security, and data protection policies regardless of where users connect from.
Manufacturing and OT security
Industrial environments face unique challenges in securing both IT and OT environments across factory floors and distributed sites. SASE can provide a unified approach to securing both environments through a single cloud-delivered framework, a topic covered in our webinar: Simplifying your Security Infrastructure with SASE.
Securing distributed branch and edge sites
SASE enables enterprises to apply consistent network and security policies across multiple sites, reducing operational complexity and helping minimize the reliance on legacy hardware appliances at each location.
Single-vendor vs multi-vendor SASE
One of the most common decisions enterprises tend to face when adopting SASE is whether to consolidate with a single vendor or build an integrated solution using best-of-breed components from multiple vendors.
| Aspect | Single-Vendor SASE | Multi-Vendor SASE |
| Architecture | All components from one provider | Components integrated from multiple providers |
| Procurement | Simpler. One contract, one relationship | More complex. Multiple vendors to manage |
| Flexibility | Limited by vendor’s roadmap and portfolio | High. Each component can be selected and replaced independently |
| Vendor lock-in risk | Higher | Lower |
| Management overhead | Lower | Higher initially, reduced with good orchestration |
| Best for | Enterprises prioritising simplicity, standardization, and speed of deployment | Enterprises prioritizing flexibility and specialized capability |
Single-vendor SASE
A converged, single-vendor approach bundles SD-WAN, ZTNA, SWG, and CASB into one platform from a single provider. This can simplify procurement, deployment and management, but it may limit flexibility and create dependency on the vendor’s roadmap, feature set, and commercial model.
Multi-vendor SASE
An integrated, multi-vendor approach allows enterprises to combine capabilities from different providers and integrate them into a unified architecture. This provides greater flexibility, avoids lock-in, and allows each capability to be selected and optimized according to evolving business and technical requirements. For an in-depth look at this model, see our overview of integrated multi-vendor SASE solutions.
Coevolve’s telco-independent model supports both approaches, enabling enterprises to choose the architecture that best aligns with their security strategy and commercial requirements.
SASE vs SSE: understanding the difference
Security Service Edge (SSE) is a subset of SASE that focuses specifically on cloud-delivered security capabilities such as: ZTNA, SWG, and CASB, without the SD-WAN networking layer. Many enterprises use SSE as a starting point on the path to full SASE adoption, particularly if they already have an existing SD-WAN deployment in place.
| Aspect | SASE | SSE |
| Full form | Secure Access Service Edge | Security Service Edge |
| Scope | Converged networking and security | Security only |
| Includes SD-WAN capabilities | Yes | No |
| Best for | Enterprises modernizing networking and security together | Enterprises seeking to strengthen network security while retaining existing networking investments |
| Adoption path | Full transformation from the ground up | Common steppingstone towards SASE |
The key distinction is that SASE converges networking and security into a unified cloud-delivered model, while SSE addresses only the security side. For enterprises evaluating which architecture best fits their current environment, our article on emerging trends in SD-WAN, SASE, and multi-cloud covers both architectures in more detail.
SASE vs. SD-WAN
How to adopt SASE: business case and deployment
With so much buzz around the term SASE, and the wide range of vendors with different security backgrounds such as network-centric, firewall-centric, security-centric, and pureplay, it’s essential for enterprises to understand SASE’s capabilities against the business problems they aim for SASE to address. This will help determine if SASE is an appropriate solution, quantify the benefits, and provide the ability to compare any SASE transformation.
While completing the business use case, enterprises may find alternative security architectures like Security Service Edge (SSE) more suitable or even the steppingstone towards. From here, enterprises can focus on the technical architecture and operational model, including managed services.
Coevolve has worked with clients all over the world and understands that over-complicating the business case and technical architecture can be counter-productive in the race to meet business expectations and requirements. With our professional services we help enterprises perform tasks and offer dynamic and specialized support in the design, implementation and management of SASE solutions.
Telco-independent SASE: why it matters
Enterprises evaluating SASE should consider not only the security platform itself, but also how it will integrate with their wider network architecture. Carrier-led approaches often bundle connectivity and security services within a single commercial framework, while a telco-independent model allows these decisions to be made separately.
Coevolve’s telco-independent approach enables organizations to combine SASE with the connectivity providers and network services that best fit their geographic, operational, and commercial requirements. This can provide greater flexibility when adapting network and security architectures over time, while helping avoid unnecessary dependence on any single carrier relationship.
SASE FAQs
What is SASE in simple terms?
SASE is a cloud-delivered approach that combines wide area networking and security into a scalable, unified model. It helps enterprises provide secure, consistent access to applications regardless of where they are located.
How does SASE support hybrid and remote workers?
SASE helps organizations provide secure access to applications and resources for users working from home, in the office, or on the road. By delivering security controls closer to users and applications through the cloud, it can simplify access, support consistent policy enforcement, and improve the user experience across distributed environments.
How does SASE relate to SD-WAN?
How can SASE simplify security for manufacturing and industrial environments?
Manufacturers face the unique challenge of securing IT and OT across factory floors and distributed sites. SASE can help simplify the delivery of security policies, improve visibility across distributed environments, ensure that security controls are applied consistently, and support secure access to applications and resources.
How do I know if my enterprise is ready for SASE?
The right approach depends on factors such as your existing network architecture, cloud adoption strategy, security requirements, user access patterns, and operational model. Many organizations begin by assessing these areas to determine whether SASE aligns with their broader networking and security objectives. Coevolve’s SASE readiness assessment helps enterprises evaluate technical, operational, and commercial considerations before defining a transformation roadmap.