SASE platform

Simplify network security with a SASE platform

Managing and securing your network is more difficult than ever today. The traditional network perimeter is vanishing as workforces become more distributed and as data and infrastructure move to the cloud. This transformation has dramatically increased the attack surface, making network security more complex. At the same time, employees, customers and partners need to be able to access network resources from any location, on any device.

In response to these changing requirements, many organizations are adopting a secure access service edge (SASE) approach to network management and security. Combining software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) and several proven security technologies, a SASE framework converges network and security services in a cloud-based platform that is centered on the identity of users, devices and applications.

While a SASE platform can dramatically improve network security, implementing and managing SASE technologies can be highly complex. To simplify SASE for business IT teams, Spectrum Enterprise offers a fully managed SASE platform that reduces the burden on IT teams while enhancing protection from threats, ensuring access for a distributed workforce and improving performance of cloud applications.

The benefits of SASE architecture

While there is no set definition of a SASE implementation, there are several technologies that are key to a SASE platform.

• A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) blocks unauthorized user activity, filters suspicious content from web traffic and helps enforce security policy.
• A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) performs a variety of security functions including preventing data loss, ensuring compliance with regulations, uncovering shadow IT and defending against a wide array of threats and malware.
• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) offer security capabilities such as URL filtering, intrusion prevention and security policy management.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) technologies enforce Zero Trust policies by requiring users and devices to be continually authenticated before access to network resources is granted.
   

By combining these and other technologies with a software-defined approach to networking, IT teams can realize significant advantages for network management and security.

• Enhanced security. The identity-based security of a SASE platform significantly enhances security for sprawling modern networks. SASE technologies can help to block attacks against infrastructure, uncover suspicious activity within the network and tightly restrict access to applications, data and other resources.
• Easier administration. By unifying network management and security services, a SASE platform enables IT teams to control and enforce security policies for the entire organization from a single cloud-based portal.
• Greater agility. With a SASE platform, deploying new resources for a highly distributed network is simple. Clients can be easily deployed at the edge and connected to the SASE network without any requirements for on-premises infrastructure.

Cloud Security: Spectrum Enterprise’s SASE platform

Cloud Security is Spectrum Enterprise’s fully managed SASE platform. Powered by Cisco, Cloud Security provides CASB, SWG, ZTNA, and FWaaS functionality along with options for Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Multifactor Authentication (MFA) solutions.

With the Cloud Security SASE platform, your IT team can:

• Authenticate users and devices before they access resources on the network. IT teams can establish secure access policies by user and device, regardless of location.
• Deliver secure network access for mobile and remote users. MFA provides secure access for employees and partners from any location, on any device.
• Mitigate security risks. Cloud Security delivers visibility into users and devices, enabling IT to flag risky devices and to require users to update outdated software.
• Prevent breaches. MFA capabilities enforce strong authentication, preventing attackers from accessing applications and data or from moving laterally if they have successfully passed a firewall or login.
• Ensure access to and performance of cloud applications. IT teams can provide users with direct access to cloud SaaS applications without backhauling traffic through the data center, lowering latency and improving application performance.
• See the attack surface more clearly. Cloud Security provides detailed insight into malicious domains, IPs and URLs, delivering real-time context on malware, phishing attacks, botnets, trojans and other threats.
• Simplify administration of the network and network security. With Cloud Security, IT teams can configure, manage and monitor users, services and devices throughout the network from a single cloud-based portal.

Why choose the Cloud Security SASE platform?

As a leading SASE provider, Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security provides:

• Simplicity. With Cloud Security, IT teams can work with a single vendor to design and implement a SASE architecture and manage it from a single portal. Spectrum Enterprise speeds deployment with template policies and profiles and quick-start service options. As a fully managed solution, Cloud Security enables IT teams to focus on business growth while Spectrum Enterprise experts manage the network and security.
• Flexibility. Cloud Security offers a variety of options in a flexible solution that helps to lower total cost of ownership (TCO). IT teams can choose from a variety of options for managed services, dynamic pricing and flexible deployment. This SASE platform offers access to premium tools without capital investment while eliminating the need to invest in separate security services like endpoint protection.
• Visibility. IT teams get full visibility and control into cloud data, usage and access, allowing them to enforce network compliance regulations and guidelines while supporting remote users regardless of location or device. Cloud Security integrates Zero Trust Network Access end-user protection while enhancing visibility to devices and device activity and monitoring and remediating device posture.
• Certainty. Spectrum Enterprise can tailor the Cloud Security platform to the needs and requirements of your business. Our technology expertise and 1200+ MEF-certified professionals have decades of experience tackling the toughest challenges, ensuring they can deliver on expectations. Responsive and dedicated Client Service Managers provide support 24/7/365, backed by local resources and technicians.

The Spectrum Enterprise difference

Spectrum Enterprise is a national provider of scalable, fiber technology solutions. When working with Spectrum Enterprise, organizations can count on:

• Responsive support. Our technologies are supported by 24/7/365 client care and backed by an end-to-end service-level agreement (SLA) that ensures 100% uptime guarantee.¹
• Exceptional uptime. Our nationwide fiber network offers the speed, efficiency and security that enterprises need to compete.
• A consultative approach. Our teams work with our clients to plan, develop, deploy and support the connectivity solutions to meet their goals.
• Scalable solutions. Spectrum Enterprise solutions can scale and evolve to support digital transformation and IT modernization – without costly changes to infrastructure.

FAQs

What is SASE?

SASE (secure access service edge) is an approach to networking and network security that solves the challenges of providing secure access to cloud applications and network resources for hybrid workforces. Combining proven security technologies with software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN), a SASE framework enables secure access for any user in any location on any device. SASE benefits also include improved cloud application performance, streamlined network management and improved defenses against ransomware, malware, phishing and other sophisticated threats.

What is a SASE platform?

A SASE platform is a solution that simplifies deployment and management of the core technologies involved in SASE solutions: SD-WAN, Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). A superior SASE platform enables IT teams to streamline administrative tasks while gaining comprehensive visibility into network activity, user behavior and devices.

^1. 100% uptime SLA guarantee applies only to Dedicated Fiber Internet, Secure Dedicated Fiber Internet, Ethernet Services, Cloud Connect and Enterprise Trunking.