The Internet has been around long before the world first heard of SD-WAN and its benefits. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that millions of homes and offices connected through broadband to the Web on a 24/7 basis. To adapt to an increasing demand of Internet connectivity and guarantee stable networks, enterprises, since then, have opted for Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) solutions.
Fundamentally, MPLS allows a router to place a ‘label’ on packets of Internet traffic, each label explaining where the information needs to go next. This, in turn, reduces processing time at each router – a speed augmentation that was welcomed by big business twenty years ago.
But the year is 2023, and the challenges businesses face today are unprecedented to say the least. In the early 2000s, digital transformation was unknown, corporate applications were not in the cloud, and users were not accessing the Internet from mobile devices. MPLS was an adequate solution for yesterday’s challenges, but not todays. Cloud-fuelled global enterprises demand a high-performance, application-agnostic managed network solution – that’s where SD-WAN comes into play.
By 2025, 30%of new firewall deployments will switch to FWaaS |
More than 60%of SD-WAN customers will have SASE by 2024 |
By 2025, 30%of companies ban the installation of unapproved apps |
116%CAGR growth in SASE market over the next five years |
SASE at a glance
Glossary of security terms
Provides next-generation firewall features in the cloud, removing the need for physical hardware. SASE integrates FWaaS into its cloud-based platform, allowing simplified management and deployment. |
This technology gives organization’s visibility into where their data resides, enforces company policies for user access and protects data against unauthorized access. SASE integrates CASB services into a single cloud-based platform so stakeholders can easily manage access to apps and data.
Prevents employees and devices from accessing malicious websites, enforce acceptable use policies before users can access the internet, and block inappropriate content. A SASE solution includes SWG to protect users no matter their location.
Requires every user to authenticate to access the cloud, restricting access and minimising the risk of data loss. Moving to a cloud-based SASE infrastructure eliminates the complexity of connecting to a gateway. Users, devices and apps are identified no matter where they connect from.
The evolution of cloud web application firewall services, expanding scope and security depth. A WAAP actually resides at the outer edge of a network in front of the public side of a web application and analyses incoming traffic
DNS was not designed with security in mind, and there are many types of attacks created to exploit vulnerabilities in the DNS system. DNS security protects against attacks by digitally signing data to help ensure its validity.
Separates browsing activity from endpoint hardware, thereby reducing the device’s attack surface. When a user accesses a web page or app, it is loaded onto a remote browser that serves a rendering of the webpage to the user. The page operates normally, but only pixels are delivered to the user.
Glossary of networking terms
These devices provide easier connectivity for branch offices. With SASE, these devices are connected to a cloud-based infrastructure rather than to physical SD-WAN hubs located in other locations for reduced complexity and improved interconnectivity.
A telecommunications carrier network is the collection of devices and underlying infrastructure used to transmit data from one location to another.
A geographically distributed group of servers, working together to provide fast delivery of internet content.
The goal of WAN optimisation is to increase the speed with which end users can access business-critical applications and information, by overcoming network latency, minimising packet loss and mitigating capacity limitations.
A cloud service model in which customers rent networking services from a cloud provider, allowing customers to operate their own networks without maintaining their own networking infrastructure.
A comprehensive solution that boosts network data rates and flexibility, enhances performance of high bandwidth applications and enables network usage to grow cost efficiently.
“Instead of the security perimeter being entombed in a box at the data centre edge, the perimeter is now everywhere an enterprise needs it to be – a dynamically created, policy-based secure access service edge.”
Gartner, The Future of Network Security is in the Cloud
key benefits of sase
Digital transformation initiatives such as mobility and the cloud promise greater productivity, efficiency and competitiveness. But deploying them can compromise security, visibility and control, and add complexity, increase costs and impact performance. SASE helps solve these problems by converging network and security-as-a-service into a cloud-delivered service model. New business demands such as higher adoption of cloud applications and the future need for remote working are driving the need for SASE, so you need to understand how your customers’ businesses are changing and identify the resulting gaps in their security architecture.
key benefits for you
Differentiation
- Offer the most relevant and holistic solution for today’s enterprise challenges
Better coverage
- Additional security use cases that are identity-, cloud-, data- and app-driven instead of network- or data centre-driven
Increased stickiness
- Get closer to your customers’ business transformation processes
- Become a trusted IT strategy adviser and position yourself as an extension to your customers’ decision-making team
Recurring revenues
- Value-driven service offering based on security policy management instead of low-cost hardware installation and management services.
- Shift your business model from project-driven one-off business to license-based monthly, quarterly or annual income for increased scalability and stability
key benefits for your customers
Simplified management and operations
- Converge networking and network security capabilities into a single, cloud-delivered service, managed from a single console
- Automate deployment for branch locations and ongoing management
- Use machine learning and data science methodologies to simplify network operations and reduce network trouble tickets
Infinite scale and performance
- Leverage cloud-native architecture that supports elastic scale on a global, high-performance network of a high number of locations
- Deliver branch services from the cloud, simplifying WAN management and providing increased ROI
- Enrich visibility, policy, and path decisions with Layer 7 application-defined intelligence
Exceptional user experience
- Ensure consistent security and compliance, no matter where users are
- Deliver on SLAs for all apps, including cloud, SaaS and UCaaS
Why choose Synergi-ICT as a Partner
Technologies
Our approach to the SASE opportunity for channel partners is proactive and built on a comprehensive vendor portfolio to meet every SASE requirement.
Next Generation Solutions
Synergi-ICT NGS offers the solutions that enable a secure path to digital transformation. With this solution-driven, problem-solving sales motion, we put customer requirements first and vendor logos second.
Services
Thanks to our cross-vendor expertise, our services pave the way for partners to provide smooth deployments, adoption, maintenance and operation of SASE infrastructure.
Financing
Complex solutions such as SASE can include licenses by bandwidth (WAN/SD-WAN) or per user per year. Westcon's flexible financing options streamline customer payments and reduce financial risks to our partners.
Self-assessment tool
Are you SASE ready?
You may be using some SASE components and principles already. Take our quick assessment to discover where you stand on your SASE journey and get a roadmap laying out your next steps.
- Complete in five minutes
- Discover your SASE score
- Get a personalised assessment
SASE Simplified channel business event – on demand
Watch our on-demand session to:
- Understand the basics of SASE
- Understand its strategic importance to the channel
- Get directly actionable insights from our channel leadership panel
