SASE network

The benefits of a SASE network

With the growth of cloud computing, digital transformation and work-from-anywhere workforces, many organizations today are turning to secure access service edge (SASE) technology to handle sprawling networks and diverse endpoints. A SASE network combines software-defined networking with identity-centric security solutions to enable users to access network resources and cloud applications at the edge.

While there is no standard configuration for a SASE network, most implementations combine SD-WAN technology with four components known as the security service edge. These include a Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). By packaging these technologies as cloud-based services managed via an online portal, SASE network solutions enable IT teams to streamline management of networks and network security.

As a leading provider of networking and managed SD-WAN technology, Spectrum Enterprise offers a powerful solution for managing a SASE network. Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security, powered by Cisco, enables IT teams to provide users with the right level of access at the right time while ensuring comprehensive network security.

The challenge of managing an enterprise network

IT departments today must solve several critical challenges that are the result of complex network demands and unprecedented security threats.

Providing secure access for the work-from-anywhere workforce
As workforces become more distributed, ensuring secure access to network resources has become more difficult. Many users seek to access digital resources with personal devices or through unsecured networks that security teams can’t adequately protect or monitor. To defend the organization from attacks like ransomware, malware, phishing and other advanced threats, IT teams need a better way to authenticate users and devices while monitoring traffic for threats and malicious activity.

Ensuring superior performance from cloud-based applications
Work-from-anywhere employees need access to cloud-based SaaS applications. Delivering superior performance for these applications is critical for productivity and competitiveness. Yet, because traditional networking technology requires traffic to be backhauled to a central data center for inspection, these legacy solutions introduce unacceptable levels of latency that compromise cloud performance.

Enforcing security policy across the organization
As security threats continue to proliferate and become more sophisticated, IT security teams must consistently apply security policies to every user and device requesting access to network resources. This task is increasingly difficult when users, applications, data and devices may reside anywhere.

A SASE network enables IT teams to solve these challenges with proven solutions for networking and security. While organizations may choose to deploy a variety of point solutions, the key to an effective implementation is choosing a provider that delivers SASE technology in a single platform, simplifying management and streamline workflows. That’s where Spectrum Enterprise comes in.

Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security

Cloud Security from Spectrum Enterprise combines network and security functions in a fully managed solution that enables IT teams to simplify deployment and management of a SASE network. In combination with Cisco Duo and Cisco Secure Connect Now, Cloud Security enables IT to configure, manage and monitor users, services and devices from a single portal. The result is improved access for remote users, greater visibility for IT teams, and stronger protections for the organization, its data and users.

Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security provides two product configurations.

Cloud Security + Cisco Secure Connect Now
Cloud Security + Cisco Secure Connect Now securely connects users to applications and provides a layer of security capabilities not typically included in most SD-WAN security platforms. This SASE platform extends security protection to remote users and devices while protecting the organization with ZTNA, DNS-layer security, interactive threat intelligence, cloud-delivered firewall + Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), cloud malware detection and secure malware analytics. Users can access cloud SaaS applications and Internet resources through a more secure, streamlined and efficient connection that doesn’t rely on physical, central data centers.

Cloud Security + Cisco Duo
Cloud Security + Cisco Duo provides a multifactor authentication (MFA) solution to safeguard access to on-premises and cloud applications through secure access and device management. This Spectrum Enterprise/Cisco solution provides IT teams with deep visibility into users and devices, making it easier to enforce secure access policies by user and device, regardless of their location. MFA capabilities enforce strong authentication factors for separate application and data environments.

As a managed service offering, Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security helps IT departments implement and manage a SASE network while eliminating capital expenditures and reducing administrative burden on IT staff. As a single vendor and trusted partner, Spectrum Enterprise offers a team of engineers and specialists who can provide as much assistance or give IT teams as much control as they want.

Simplify management. Increase visibility. Enhance performance.

When managing a SASE network with Spectrum Enterprise, IT teams can:

• Protect against sophisticated threats. Automatically defend against most known and unknown threats, exploits and malware, preventing attacks from reaching the network, end users and assets. Maintain consistent security across all applications, enforce security policies and control access throughout the organization.
• Deliver access to and performance of cloud applications. Provide optimized, direct access to cloud resources and SaaS applications – rather than backhauling traffic through the data center – eliminating latency to improve performance.
• Secure the remote workforce. Support the needs of mobile and remote workforces by providing secure access to network resources and cloud applications from any device and any location. Enable users to access a controlled selection of internal and cloud applications through MFA and ZTNA technologies.
• Streamline management. Simplify and consolidate tasks with a single cloud-based solution that eliminates the complexity and cost of managing multiple point SASE solutions.
• Lower TCO. Reduce total cost of ownership by choosing managed service options, maintaining predictable operational costs, accessing premium tools without capital investment, and scaling security coverage without adding support resources.

Why Spectrum Enterprise?

Spectrum Enterprise is a national provider of scalable, fiber technology solutions. Many of the country’s largest businesses and communication service providers trust our portfolio of solutions to enhance productivity, improve communication, deliver superior connectivity, strengthen security posture and build greater loyalty with customers.

Our offerings include:

• Managed services for edge networking and managed routers.
• High-speed fiber, Ethernet, wireless and remote internet access that keep employees connected with speeds up to 100 Gbps.
• Voice and unified communications to enhance collaboration.
• HDTV technology to entertain, inform and engage viewers with popular channels and programming.

FAQs

What is SASE?
SASE (secure access service edge) is a cloud-based networking model that bundles network and security functions together, enabling management from a single cloud platform and portal. A SASE network helps organizations provide secure access to cloud applications and network resources for highly distributed workforces.

What are the advantages of a SASE network?
By combining technologies for network and security services in a single platform, SASE technology simplifies management tasks for IT teams. A SASE network provides stronger security for a corporate network that encompasses application, data, users and devices in multiple geographic locations. SASE for business networking also reduces latency to improve the performance of cloud applications for a geographically disparate workforce.