What is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)?

In late 2024, a major financial services company fell victim to a sophisticated phishing attack, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive client information and significant financial losses. Despite robust traditional perimeter security measures, the attackers managed to breach the network by exploiting vulnerabilities introduced through remote work setups and cloud environments.

This incident highlights a critical reality: traditional network security methods, relying heavily on centralized data centers and perimeter defenses, struggle to protect businesses operating in increasingly dispersed and cloud-dependent environments. Secure Access Service Edge, an integrated, cloud-delivered security solution, has emerged as an essential model for addressing these evolving cybersecurity challenges.

In this article, we’ll explore what Secure Access Service Edge is, its core features and advantages, and how pairing SASE with complementary tools like Keepnet Labs' cybersecurity solutions can significantly reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen your overall security posture.

What is Secure Access Service Edge?

Secure Access Service Edge, first introduced by Gartner in 2019, combines network and security functions into a unified, cloud-native solution. It merges technologies like SD-WAN, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateways (SWG), and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) to enable secure and fast access to applications—regardless of user location. Unlike traditional architectures, SASE delivers security at the edge, ensuring real-time threat detection and improved performance for modern, remote-first organizations.

“We adopted SASE to gain agility across our hybrid workforce, but what really made the difference was pairing it with Keepnet’s phishing simulators and awareness training. That’s what helped us close the gap between technical security and human risk,” said Mert Cakici, IT Security Manager at Tirkayi.

SASE isn’t just a shift in technology—it’s a strategic evolution for organizations seeking to protect their assets in a world where remote access, SaaS adoption, and cyber threats are the new normal.

For further reading, check out our comprehensive guide on cybersecurity risk management.

Key Features of a SASE Framework

A SASE framework integrates advanced networking and security capabilities into one cloud-native solution:

• Cloud-Native Architecture: Scalable, agile, and designed for cloud environments.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Identity-based access controls to secure resources.
• Secure Web Gateway (SWG): Filters web threats and blocks malicious content.
• Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS): Delivers robust threat protection in the cloud.
• Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN): Enhances connectivity with optimized traffic routing.
• AI-Powered Threat Detection: Identifies and mitigates risks in real time.

Why is SASE Important for Modern Businesses?

Traditional security models built around centralized perimeters are ineffective for decentralized workforces and cloud-based systems. SASE overcomes these limitations by delivering secure, direct access to resources while ensuring efficient operations.

Cloud security threats are becoming more prevalent, with 83% of organizations expressing concern about their cloud security in 2024, according to Netgate.

These concerns reflect the vulnerabilities of cloud environments and the urgent need for frameworks like SASE to protect sensitive data and ensure seamless performance.

Enhancing Security in a Distributed Workforce

With employees accessing corporate systems from various locations, the attack surface for cybercriminals has widened. Secure Access Edge Service addresses these risks with real-time monitoring, dynamic access controls, and Zero Trust principles that verify every interaction between users, devices, and systems.

Learn how Security Awareness Training complements SASE by preparing employees to detect and mitigate cyber threats.

How Does SASE Work?

Secure Access Service Edge integrates networking and security into one unified, cloud-based solution. By merging these functions, SASE simplifies operations and enhances both performance and protection.

The Integration of Networking and Security

SASE combines SD-WAN with robust security services such as Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS), Secure Web Gateways (SWG), and ZTNA. This integration ensures seamless, secure access to applications and data across distributed environments.

How SASE Delivers Secure and Optimized Connections

Leveraging global edge locations, SASE platform minimizes latency and improves user experience. It uses AI-driven threat detection and real-time analytics to monitor network activity and respond to emerging risks effectively.

Explore how MFA Phishing Simulations can further strengthen your defenses alongside SASE.

What are the Benefits of Implementing SASE?

Adopting SASE is more than a security upgrade—it’s a transformational shift in how modern organizations manage connectivity, performance, and protection in a cloud-first world. With its distributed architecture, SASE offers a scalable and resilient solution for today’s increasingly mobile and remote workforce.

Below are some of the most impactful benefits of implementing SASE:

1. Consistent Security Across Users, Devices, and Locations

SASE enforces security policies at the edge, meaning threats are stopped before they reach critical infrastructure. By integrating Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateways (SWG), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB), and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS), SASE provides holistic, identity-driven protection—no matter where users connect from.

2. Optimized Network Performance

Traditional network architectures often route traffic through central data centers, creating bottlenecks and latency issues. SASE eliminates these inefficiencies by enabling direct-to-cloud connections, reducing delays and improving the user experience across SaaS platforms, video conferencing, and cloud storage services.

3. Simplified IT Infrastructure and Operations

By converging multiple tools into one cloud-native platform, SASE reduces the need for costly, complex hardware stacks and manual configuration. IT teams can manage network and security policies from a unified interface, streamlining day-to-day operations and freeing up time for strategic initiatives.

4. Built-in Scalability for Remote and Hybrid Workforces

SASE is designed for flexibility. Whether your team operates from multiple office locations, remote homes, or international branches, SASE ensures that policies and protections scale with ease—without requiring additional infrastructure rollouts or site-specific appliances.

5. Improved Visibility and Compliance Readiness

Modern compliance frameworks require continuous monitoring and granular visibility into user behavior and data flows. SASE solutions offer centralized dashboards and detailed analytics, making it easier to enforce regulatory policies, detect anomalies, and generate audit-ready reports.

6. Faster Incident Detection and Response

With integrated AI-driven threat detection, SASE solutions can monitor traffic patterns in real-time and automatically respond to suspicious activity. This proactive approach shortens response times and helps limit the scope of potential breaches.

What are the Key Components of a SASE Architecture?

At its core, SASE combines network performance with security enforcement—delivered directly from the cloud. Instead of deploying separate tools across different environments, SASE unifies them into a single, scalable architecture. Below are the essential building blocks that make up an effective SASE framework:

1. Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN)

Purpose: Optimizes the routing of network traffic across multiple connection types (e.g., MPLS, LTE, broadband).

How it works: SD-WAN intelligently directs traffic based on application type, user location, and network conditions—improving performance and minimizing outages.

Why it matters: It ensures seamless access to cloud-based applications, even under heavy network loads.

2. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

Purpose: Replaces traditional VPNs with identity- and context-based access controls.

How it works: ZTNA continuously verifies users and devices before granting access to resources—based on role, device posture, and location.

Why it matters: It reduces the risk of lateral movement within the network and aligns with modern “never trust, always verify” security models.

3. Secure Web Gateway (SWG)

Purpose: Protects users from web-based threats like phishing, malware, and malicious URLs.

How it works: SWG inspects outbound web traffic and applies filtering policies to prevent users from accessing risky or non-compliant websites.

Why it matters: It keeps users safe while browsing, whether they’re in the office or working remotely.

4. Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS)

Purpose: Provides full firewall capabilities—delivered through the cloud.

How it works: FWaaS offers traffic inspection, application control, and intrusion prevention at the edge of the network, without needing physical firewall appliances.

Why it matters: It centralizes and scales security across all locations and users, eliminating hardware limitations.

5. Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

Purpose: Governs and secures access to SaaS applications.

How it works: CASBs provide visibility into cloud app usage, enforce policies for data sharing, and detect shadow IT.

Why it matters: It helps prevent data leaks and ensures compliance with privacy regulations when using third-party cloud services.

Each of these components plays a critical role in ensuring that users get secure, fast, and reliable access to the resources they need—regardless of where they work. When fully implemented, a SASE architecture not only boosts operational efficiency but also provides future-proof protection for evolving threats.

How Does SASE Compare to Traditional Network Security?

Traditional network security models were designed for a different era—when most users and applications were housed inside a centralized data center. These legacy approaches rely heavily on perimeter-based defenses, such as VPNs and on-premise firewalls, assuming that everything inside the network is trustworthy. However, as businesses shift to the cloud and support remote workforces, this outdated model creates serious security gaps and performance issues.

SASE flips this model on its head. Rather than forcing all traffic through a central gateway, SASE delivers both security and connectivity from the cloud—right at the edge where users, devices, and apps interact.

Here’s how the two approaches stack up:

Table 1: Traditional Security vs. SASE Model

SASE modernizes network security by eliminating outdated assumptions and enabling organizations to secure users and data no matter where they are. As remote work, SaaS usage, and cyber threats continue to grow, businesses need a solution that’s built for flexibility, speed, and security—making SASE a clear evolution over legacy systems.

What is the Relationship Between Zero Trust, SASE and SSE

Zero Trust, SASE , and SSE are closely connected concepts that together shape the future of modern cybersecurity. While Zero Trust is a security philosophy focused on continuous verification, SASE and SSE are architectural models that bring that philosophy to life.

Here is a comparison table you can look at the difference:

Table 2: Relationship Between Zero Trust, SASE, and SSE

What Industries Benefit Most from SASE?

Industries that manage large volumes of sensitive data, operate in regulated environments, or support a distributed workforce stand to gain the most from implementing Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). With its cloud-native, scalable, and policy-driven approach, SASE offers industry-specific advantages across multiple sectors:

1. Healthcare

SASE helps protect electronic health records (EHRs), secures telemedicine platforms, and ensures compliance with data privacy regulations like HIPAA. Its Zero Trust model is especially valuable for verifying every user and device—crucial in environments where both patients and providers access sensitive systems remotely.

2. Finance

Banks, fintech companies, and insurers benefit from SASE’s ability to protect transactional data, prevent unauthorized access, and comply with strict regulatory standards such as PCI DSS and GDPR. By delivering security at the edge, SASE also reduces latency for financial applications and real-time services.

3. Retail

Retailers often operate across hundreds of locations, with point-of-sale systems, customer data, and vendor integrations all creating potential entry points for cyber threats. SASE helps secure these networks, ensures fast connectivity between branches, and protects customer payment information.

4. Manufacturing

Manufacturers managing IoT devices, connected machinery, and remote plants need real-time visibility and control. SASE enables secure communication between sites and helps safeguard intellectual property from industrial espionage or cyber sabotage.

5. Education

With the rise of online learning and hybrid classrooms, educational institutions face increasing cyber risks. SASE protects students and staff by enforcing secure access to learning platforms, preventing data leaks, and enabling policy-based content filtering.

Because SASE is adaptable, scalable, and cloud-native, it delivers measurable security and performance improvements across virtually any sector undergoing digital transformation.

How Keepnet Human Risk Management Complement SASE

While SASE secures networks and cloud resources, Keepnet Human Risk Management provide additional layers of protection to address the human factor, which remains one of the leading causes of cyber incidents. Together, they create a comprehensive defense strategy:

• Phishing Simulator: Train employees to identify phishing attacks, one of the primary causes of data breaches.
• Security Awareness Training: Equip your workforce to detect and respond to a variety of cyber threats effectively.
• Incident Responder: Quickly identify, contain, and neutralize email-based threats to minimize damage.
• Quishing and Vishing Simulators: Prepare your organization for emerging threats like QR code phishing and voice-based scams.

Watch the Youtube video below see How Keepnet Extended Human Risk Management can complement SASE:

Editor’s Note: This article was updated on June 16, 2025