There are so many articles on the Internet about Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), which is that modern security framework everyone knows and loves. You might think that another term; Security Service Edge (SSE) is just another word for the same thing, but you’d be wrong.
In order to understand the differences between SASE and SSE, it’s important to note that SASE is a convergence of multiple services and technologies. It has several subsets and a compilation of tools. Most importantly, SASE has two main components: network connectivity and network security, which work together. The main difference between SAE and SSE lies behind this distinction, and we are here to explain it all.
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What is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)?
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is an emerging cybersecurity network that businesses of all sizes try to build. The main goal of a SASE architechture is to converge network security and network connectivity, resulting in a streamlined yet secure network.
The main components of the SASE framework is SD-WAN to connect the devices, and security services such as ZTNA, CASB, and FWaaS to protect this connection. What makes SASE unique is that all of these services are being managed from a single point and from the cloud.
Being a cloud-native security framework, SASE manages to provide secure connection to remote users, which is especially needed these days due to the popularity of remote work. In a SASE environment, security is not locationally limited; rather than stationed hardware and people, both are liquid and always moving. This is a great feature when if you consider that all devices from all network and locations can be secured.
What is Security Servie Edge (SSE)?
Remember when we said that SASE has two main components? Network security and network connectivity. Security Service Edge (SSE) is the security part of this architecture. SSE’s goal in a SASE architecture is to bring security to the network and ensure protected connections from remote devices. SSE manages that with the help of modern technologies such as next-gen firewalls, CASB (cloud-access security broker), and SWGs (secure web gateways).
But why do we call this SSE, and not just a structure with several security services? Just like SASE, SSE offers the ability to manage all these tools from a single cloud-based platform. This is a significant plus since IT teams are now able monitor their networks better with the collective insights of all these services.
So you as you might have figured it out, SSE is a critical component to any SASE infrastructure. Most cloud-computing issues such as remote secure connections, protection against third-party risks, or insecure public connections are addressed by SSE. All security related technologies are included on this platform in a SASE framework and are operated from a single point.
SASE vs. Security Service Edge (SSE)
The main goal behind building a SASE framework is to reduce operational costs by bringing security and connection together. Managing these on cloud-based third-party provided services also helps to bring the budget down.
But another great thing about SASE is how user-friendly it is; end-users who use their personal devices on unknown connections can still connect to corporate resources without being concerned about security.
Security part of this architechture cannot be achieved without SSE. Security Service Edge utilizes tools such as ZTNA, CASB, and FWaaS which consists of one half of the SASE framework. This means that SASE is the bigger structure here when compared to SSE, but it also means that neither of these can do it by itself.
Every SASE structure needs cloud-based security solutions over legacy security services. The whole point of migrating to SASE is to achieve remote accessibility and edge-to-edge security. SSE brings what SASE needs, and enables it to use SD-WAN to connect the network securely.
With that being said, if you think about SSE as the goal of your network security structure, you need to consider how to bring it to your end-users. This is where SD-WAN (the other half of the SASE framework) comes in. You need a software-defined (perimeter-free) way to connect your devices to unlock SSE.
Long story short, you can think of SASE as SSE+SD-WAN. They are not nearly the same thing since SSE is what allows SASE to function as predicted. If you want to provide secure connections with a SASE network, you need to implement Security Service Edge to your structure.
Key Takeaways
If you want to create a user-friendly, cloud-based, and a secure network all the way through, you need to consider adopting SASE as your security framework. What SASE will bring to your business is reduced costs, easier network management and maintenance, and improved security.
When adopting SASE, SSE becomes indispensible since legacy security solutions fail to deliver remote and cloud-based security. Since all the tools within an SSE can be managed through a single platform, it can help SD-WAN to create a secure environment for all devices regardless of location while it connects the users. If you need edge-to-edge and low-maintenance network security, SSE is the best the market can offer.