3 min read

Why Security Service Edge is the Future of Network Security

Why Security Service Edge is the Future of Network Security

 

Insights from Gartner’s Latest Report – Read the Report Below

In today’s digital world, network security is a critical concern for enterprises. Traditional approaches to network security are no longer effective in securing the distributed enterprise network. Security Service Edge (SSE) is emerging as a comprehensive and efficient approach to securing enterprise networks. Gartner’s latest report, “Critical Capabilities for Security Service Edge,” provides insights on the key capabilities that an SSE solution should possess. In this article, we summarise the key takeaways from the report and explain why SSE is the future of network security.

 

The Limitations of Traditional Network Security

Traditional network security solutions were designed to protect the enterprise network perimeter, assuming all critical applications and data reside within the corporate data centre. However, with the increasing adoption of cloud services and the rise of remote workforces, enterprise networks have become more distributed and complex, making them vulnerable to new threats. Traditional security solutions are not designed to handle these new challenges, resulting in limited visibility and control over the enterprise network.

 

“In the era of hybrid and flexible working arrangements, characterised by the proliferation of IoT solutions and the dominance of SaaS and cloud services, we are confronted with the paradigm of borderless environments. The limitations of traditional network and security boundaries are insufficient in effectively safeguarding our customers’ networks. To overcome this challenge, it is imperative that we adapt and transcend previous constraints. The adoption of cutting-edge solutions such as Security Service Edge (SSE) becomes paramount, as it offers robust security measures and enhances resilience in this dynamic and ever-evolving landscape.” Julian Dagher, CTO, Secure Agility.

 

Introducing Security Service Edge

SSE is a cloud-based security architecture that delivers network security functions from the cloud edge, rather than from traditional on-premises appliances. SSE provides a comprehensive and efficient approach to securing the distributed enterprise network, including branch offices, remote workers, and cloud applications. SSE enables security to be delivered as a service, allowing enterprises to focus on their core business activities, rather than on managing security infrastructure.

 

Key Capabilities of SSE

Gartner’s report identifies five critical capabilities that an SSE solution should possess:

  1. Network security: An SSE solution should provide comprehensive network security functions, such as firewalling, intrusion detection and prevention, and secure web gateway capabilities. To minimise latency, it should also support traffic inspection and filtering at the cloud edge.
  2. Cloud security: An SSE solution should deliver cloud-delivered security services, such as cloud access security brokers (CASBs) and cloud workload protection platforms (CWPPs), to secure cloud-based applications and data.
  3. Performance: An SSE solution should deliver high performance and low latency to support the increasing volume of traffic and reduce the risk of security breaches.
  4. Scalability: An SSE solution should be able to scale up or down based on the changing needs of the enterprise network without compromising on performance or security.
  5. Integration: An SSE solution should integrate seamlessly with other security solutions, such as identity and access management (IAM), security information and event management (SIEM), and endpoint protection platforms (EPPs), to provide a comprehensive security posture.

 

Benefits of SSE

SSE provides several benefits over traditional network security solutions, including:

  1. Improved security posture: SSE provides a comprehensive and efficient approach to securing the distributed enterprise network, including branch offices, remote workers, and cloud applications, resulting in a stronger security posture.
  2. Reduced complexity: SSE eliminates the need for on-premises security appliances, reducing complexity and the associated costs of managing and maintaining these appliances.
  3. Lower total cost of ownership: SSE is a cloud-based solution that delivers security as a service, eliminating the need for enterprises to invest in expensive security infrastructure.

 

“In today’s perimeter-less, cloud-first world, a new security approach is needed to protect data and users everywhere without complicating operations or hindering business productivity. The Netskope security cloud provides unrivalled visibility and inline data and threat protection when accessing cloud services, websites, and private applications from anywhere on any device. Netskope uniquely understands the cloud and provides a data-centric, consolidated architecture using one of the world’s largest and fastest security networks, empowering security operations teams with the protection, availability and speed they need to build a modern, Security Service Edge (SSE)-enabled environment and safely accelerate their business.” – Scott Reeves, Business Systems Analyst, Netskope.

 

SSE Adoption Trends

Gartner predicts that by 2024, 60% of enterprises will have replaced their remote access virtual private network (VPN) with SSE solutions. SSE adoption is driven by the need for a more comprehensive and efficient approach to securing the distributed enterprise network, as well as the benefits of reduced complexity and lower total cost of ownership.

In conclusion, Gartner’s latest report “Critical Capabilities for Security Service Edge” highlights the importance of SSE in addressing the limitations of traditional network security solutions. SSE provides a comprehensive and efficient approach to securing the distributed enterprise network, including branch offices, remote workers, and cloud applications. It delivers security as a service, eliminating the need for enterprises to invest in expensive security infrastructure. SSE adoption is driven by the need for a more comprehensive and efficient approach to securing the distributed enterprise network, as well as the benefits of reduced complexity and lower total cost of ownership.

 

Summary:

  • Traditional network security solutions are no longer effective in securing the distributed enterprise network.
  • Security Service Edge (SSE) is emerging as a comprehensive and efficient approach to securing enterprise networks.
  • Gartner’s latest report on “Critical Capabilities for Security Service Edge” identifies five critical capabilities that an SSE solution should possess: network security, cloud security, performance, scalability, and integration.
  • SSE provides several benefits over traditional network security solutions, including improved security posture, reduced complexity, and lower total cost of ownership.
  • Gartner predicts that by 2024, 60% of enterprises will have replaced their remote access VPN with SSE solutions.
  • SSE is the future of network security, providing a comprehensive and efficient approach to securing the distributed enterprise network.

 

Click here to Read Gartner’s Latest Report

Shoring up skills in a changed information security landscape

Shoring up skills in a changed information security landscape

3 lessons from a top infosec specialist By Secure Agility

Read More
Is your security best practice? Uncover ISO 27001 to find out

Is your security best practice? Uncover ISO 27001 to find out

Discover how to implement and leverage ISO 27001 for better information security

Read More