As the world escalates its efforts in digital transformation, businesses increasingly require faster, more agile, and highly secure solutions to support their evolving operations. Traditional legacy infrastructures are no longer adequate to handle the surge in new technologies and roaming identities being integrated into existing networks. These complex, layered architectures lead to new security risks and soaring maintenance costs, rendering traditional systems unsustainable over time. A Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution promises a unified, cost-effective approach to modern networking. SASE enhances security, performance, and scalability to meet dynamic business needs by merging networking and security requirements. It addresses security gaps, ensures secure hybrid work environments, and bolsters the performance of SaaS-based applications and overall network operations. However, implementing a SASE solution is a strategic endeavor, necessitating meticulous planning and an outcome-driven approach. Here are five critical steps when approaching a SASE deployment.
1. Establish Primary Goals
While it might seem like an obvious first step, defining core objectives is often overlooked or underestimated in many SASE projects. It is essential to consider the requirements and outcomes from both networking and security perspectives simultaneously. This ensures that all factors are aligned right from the beginning and are not hastily reviewed post-delivery when rectifying issues may become costly. Oversights can lead to significant problems, including security gaps and poor network performance, which can incur additional costs to address.
To properly guide the design and implementation of a SASE solution, anchoring the project in clear, business-driven objectives is imperative. This approach allows the creation of a vision for the ideal SASE setup, aligning it with broader digital transformation strategies. Important considerations include your hybrid or remote work structure, cloud adoption plans, and any further technologies or databases the organization plans to integrate. These factors will significantly impact the SASE solution you ultimately choose to deploy. Recent global research from Xalient indicated that the primary motivators for SASE implementation were addressing performance issues with business-critical SaaS apps, securing remote hybrid workforce access, and reducing the rising costs of traditional network architecture. These factors highlight the importance of aligning business strategies with IT security goals before embarking on the SASE implementation.
2. Evaluate Current Infrastructure and Pinpoint Deficiencies
Once business objectives are defined, assessing the current IT infrastructure is the next crucial step. This evaluation helps organizations identify existing gaps that could impede the successful implementation of SASE. Moreover, it allows teams to pinpoint areas where SASE can add significant value. During this process, it’s essential to review current security policies and consider any upcoming regulations, such as NIS2 or DORA, that may impact these policies. By doing so, organizations can ensure compliance and make necessary improvements to fit their specific requirements.
With this comprehensive understanding, teams can customize the SASE architecture to match the organization’s unique needs. This step also includes identifying existing security measures and ensuring they are aligned with the SASE solution’s capabilities. By thoroughly evaluating the current infrastructure, businesses can mitigate potential issues and optimize the SASE deployment process. Additionally, this groundwork ensures that the SASE implementation will deliver the desired outcomes and enhance the organization’s overall security posture.
3. Test with a Pilot Program
Before rolling out SASE across the entire organization, it’s prudent to conduct a small-scale pilot program. Testing the solution with a limited number of sites, applications, or users allows teams to verify that the chosen approach meets their needs. This pilot phase minimizes disruption and helps demonstrate the benefits of a SASE solution to key stakeholders. By evaluating the pilot program’s success, organizations can confirm that the solution is effective and identify any necessary adjustments before expanding deployment.
The findings from Xalient’s global research highlight the varying benefits experienced by different organizations during their pilot programs. Improved performance of business-critical SaaS apps was the top benefit for 30 percent of organizations, while 28 percent valued updated threat protection without hardware and software upgrades. Improved security surrounding breaches with consistent policies was another significant advantage, noted by 27 percent of organizations. These benefits underscore the importance of conducting a pilot program to refine the SASE implementation and ensure alignment with business objectives.
4. Expand SASE Across the Organization
Once the pilot phase is validated and deemed successful, the next step is to scale the SASE solution across the organization. This expansion should be phased to avoid disrupting operations and balance the pace of change with operational risk. Implementing SASE broadly involves extending coverage to additional sites, applications, and users, ensuring policies are consistently applied across the entire infrastructure. By following a phased approach, organizations can achieve a smooth transition and minimize potential issues during the rollout.
Expanding the SASE solution entails thorough planning and coordination to ensure all stakeholders are aligned and prepared for the changes. Comprehensive training and communication are vital to help employees understand the new system and its benefits. Moreover, continuous monitoring and feedback during this phase can help identify any issues early on and make necessary adjustments. This careful and systematic expansion ensures the SASE solution delivers maximum value and enhances the organization’s security and performance.
5. Continuously Manage SASE
Continuously managing the SASE solution is essential to sustain its benefits and adapt to evolving business needs. Regular monitoring, updates, and auditing ensure that the solution remains aligned with the organization’s objectives and emerging security threats. Implementing ongoing training programs helps keep staff informed about best practices and any new features or changes in the system. By maintaining a proactive approach to SASE management, businesses can optimize performance, stay compliant with regulatory requirements, and maintain a strong security posture in a constantly changing digital landscape.
