Answering executives’ questions about SASE

The landscape of modern digital companies is in constant flux, necessitating that network and security architectures evolve in tandem. This evolution calls for new architectures that are agile, flexible, highly scalable, and robustly secure. Secure access service edge (SASE) is a technology that meets these requirements.

Transitioning from traditional IT infrastructure to a SASE model may present challenges and raise questions for even the most visionary chief executives. While many executives grasp the benefits of SASE and some are aware of the prerequisites for its deployment, there is a need for further clarity and understanding regarding SASE methodologies, requirements, and expectations.

Choosing the right SASE solution is crucial for fostering long-term success and operational resilience. An informed and strategic choice can significantly enhance your organisation's security and productivity, aligning closely with your overarching business objectives. However, a decision that doesn't fully consider your unique needs and challenges may lead to suboptimal outcomes, potentially undermining your security posture and operational efficiency.

To ask the correct questions, you must first understand the problems that the company is attempting to solve. Before beginning any IT project, consider new security models, working with a partner that has the right expertise, and the potential trade-offs with alternative technologies.

Addressing executives’ questions about SASE

Knowing which questions are relevant to affect a purchasing choice and acting on them is where a reliable IT services provider excels. While the following questions are just a sample of the many that executives may ask, they will help to justify the potential of a SASE cloud solution to solve crucial problems.

Is this appropriate for our use cases and what else do we need to validate?

IT solutions should always address certain challenges and create a compelling use case. First, you need to understand what isn't working, why it isn't working and what success looks like. This will guide you to the right choice. Use cases tend to fall into one of three major categories:

1) Simplifying network and security needs

2) Secure access and remote work

3) Optimising systems for the cloud and security

The right SASE setup will address all three of these needs for enterprises. It can be a great way to improve networking and security issues while establishing a strong system for remote or hybrid work environments.

How can we align with this new model and how will our IT system be structured?

It is natural to wonder about the extent of cloud skills needed when migrating to a 100% cloud-delivered SASE system. It is possible for IT staff to readily adjust and adapt to a SASE cloud solution, however this may require some training. IT engineers expect to work on strategic, thought-provoking projects that can test their creative and innovative abilities. SASE cloud solutions help these engineers fulfil their vision while also allowing enterprises to reconsider the role of IT teams within the company.

Since the SASE cloud provider owns the network infrastructure, traditional jobs such as infrastructure and capacity planning, upgrading, patching and fixing now fall to the provider. This frees up time for IT teams to focus on their core roles and responsibilities without mundane tasks getting in the way. By transferring ordinary day-to-day support activities to their SASE cloud provider, IT teams can now focus on more strategic projects that drive the business forward.

How can all security services be efficiently delivered and what are the risks of doing everything on the cloud?

Traditional network appliances may be comfortable for IT teams to manage because they can see and touch it. Shifting all security policies to the cloud might be concerning and some executives may question whether hosting all policies on the cloud is a good idea and if this will provide complete security coverage.

There is a reason why many executives turn to SASE solutions. They've realised that their legacy network architecture is unsustainable. The correct SASE cloud platform accomplishes will combine access, networking and security into a unified software stack.

All technologies are integrated into a single code base and work together to provide more comprehensive security. SASE cloud also provides consistent policy enforcement wherever the user is, thanks to a global private network of SASE PoPs. This straightforward technique of providing security as a service makes sense to modern executives.

What will the SASE deployment process include and how straightforward will it be?

Traditional network and security setups are incredibly difficult to manage. They require the use of hardware, extensive troubleshooting and other unknown concerns. These include integrating cloud environments, ensuring cloud and on-premises security policies are compatible, the impact on routine operations, as well as licensing and maintenance contracts.

Most executives are focused on mitigating the risks associated with on-premises installations. SASE cloud solutions are quick and straightforward, with most clients gaining a clear understanding of their journey based on their use cases. The best part is that customers can see how SASE operates in their environment and how it fits into their existing production network. This alleviates any fears they may have about their new SASE architecture.

What quantitative and qualitative sacrifices does SASE make?

When it comes to acquiring new technology, executives face challenging decisions and SASE is no exception. They must decide how to prioritise and make necessary concessions - it’s all about weighing up the pros and cons. Traditional solutions may incur unforeseen expenditures due to ancillary technology or resource requirements.

While pros and cons are subjective, establishing the "must-have," "should-have," and "nice-to-have" criteria for a certain environment can help uncover potential trade-offs. You need to test and validate your use cases against these requirements in collaboration with your SASE provider.

How do we get buy-in from the board?

SASE is a strategic business investment as much as an architectural one. The approach an executive takes in this regard will define their overall level of success. Obtaining board-level support is key and arguably the most critical component of their strategy.

To enable corporate development, executives must convey the strategic business benefits of combining access, networking and security operations into a single cloud-native software stack with infinite scalability. One clear advantage is how SASE accelerates and optimises access to important applications while also increasing user experiences and efficiency.

SEACOM is a reliable and experienced ICT services provider in South Africa. As such, we offer SASE deployments to enterprises throughout the region, including the design, set-up and oversight of these modern network systems. For more information about our SASE services or to get a quote, email us at marketing@seacom.com or leave us a message.

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