SASE solutions

Streamline network security management with SASE solutions

As networks and workforces grow increasingly distributed, secure access service edge (SASE) is fast becoming the standard approach to network architecture. First articulated by Gartner in 2019, the SASE paradigm is designed to address the challenges of delivering secure access to a work-from-anywhere workforce while protecting organizations from increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats.

SASE solutions include software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) as well as a handful of proven identity-centric security technologies. By supporting a Zero Trust approach to security and giving IT teams greater visibility into users, devices and threats, SASE technology can deliver enhanced security, simpler management and faster access for remote users.

Despite the benefits of a SASE platform, implementing and maintaining SASE solutions can be highly complex and time-consuming for IT teams. That’s why Spectrum Enterprise offers Cloud Security, a fully managed solution for deploying and managing a SASE architecture.

The benefits of SASE architecture

SASE is an evolving paradigm, and no two SASE architectures are exactly alike. However, there are 5 core SASE components that are central to most deployments.

• Software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) provides access for a highly distributed workforce while simplifying network management for IT teams.
• A Secure Web Gateway (SWG) delivers visibility into web traffic while filtering content and blocking unauthorized activity.
• A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) performs security functions such as data loss prevention, threat prevention, malware detection, data encryption and compliance management.
• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) technology uses URL filtering, intrusion prevention and policy management to protect against cyberattacks.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) defends against potential data breaches by requiring real-time verification of every user and every device on every request for resources.

By combining these technologies and others in an easy-to-manage cloud platform, SASE solutions deliver multiple advantages for IT teams and their organizations. SASE benefits include:

• Greater access. SASE solutions make cloud applications and other resources available to users – no matter where they are or what device they’re using.
• Reduced complexity. SASE technology simplifies management of distributed networks and network security, allowing IT teams to monitor activity and enforce organization-wide security policies from a single portal.
• Stronger security. Greater visibility into the attack surface and the activity of users and devices helps IT teams to improve security throughout the network.
• Flexible deployment. SASE solutions are platform agnostic, allowing IT teams to deploy a wide range of technologies to improve access while fending off threats.
• Improved performance. Because traffic no longer needs to be backhauled to a data center for inspection, SASE solutions reduce latency and improve performance for cloud applications.

SASE solutions from Spectrum Enterprise

Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security is a managed services offering that provides IT teams with comprehensive SASE solutions in an easy-to-use platform. Offered in partnership with Cisco, Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security products streamline and centralize management of SASE technologies, delivering flexibility to customize controls and deployment while relying on always-on support and service from Spectrum Enterprise experts.

With Cloud Security, IT teams can:

• Secure the hybrid/remote workforce. Multifactor authentication (MFA) technology enables workers to securely access the network regardless of location.
• Defend against a growing landscape of threats. Visibility into threats and insight into malicious domains, IPs and URLs enables IT teams to better protect users, devices, data and the organization.
• Improve productivity through direct access to cloud applications. Cloud Security provides a secure, streamlined and efficient way for users to directly access cloud SaaS applications.
• Enhance application performance. By eliminating the need to backhaul remote and branch traffic to a corporate LAN to apply security policies, Cloud Security lowers latency and improves performance for cloud applications.
• Streamline management of networking and network security. IT teams can configure, manage and monitor users, services and devices deployed across the network from a single portal.

How Cloud Security works

Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security is available in two major service configurations.

Cloud Security + Cisco Secure Connect Now securely connects users to applications while providing in-depth security capabilities that are not usually offered by most SD-WAN security platforms. This SASE solution extends protection to devices and remote users while applying advanced security capabilities. These include ZTNA, DNS layer security and interactive threat intelligence, cloud-delivered firewall + an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), cloud malware detection and secure malware analytics. With Cloud Security + Cisco Secure Connect Now, IT teams can minimize the risk of security threats from end-user access and apply and manage firewall policies wherever end users are located.

Cloud Security + Cisco Duo offers multifactor authentication technology to safeguard access to on-premises and cloud applications. This SASE solution allows IT teams to establish secure access policies by user and device and to enable secure remote access without an endpoint VPN client. Cloud Security + Cisco Duo confirms user identity and determines level of trust, while enabling IT to implement single sign-on to critical business apps. Security teams can monitor the health of end-user devices, establish security policies based on identity/trust and ensure compliance with industry standards such as PCI, HIPAA and NIST.

Why customers choose Spectrum Enterprise

Spectrum Enterprise is dedicated to helping organizations realize their boldest ambitions. Our customers know they can count on us for great technology and for a great partner, as well. After analyzing our customers’ unique technology requirements, we design a plan to fulfill them, offering seamless experiences with reliable and scalable solutions that promote growth.

Our wholly owned fiber network is engineered for growth and is the basis of all our offerings. With a range of services across network, TV and voice, our technologies can easily evolve and scale to help our customers stay ahead of rapidly changing demands.

With Spectrum Enterprise, organizations always have a team that’s always in their corner, with dedicated team members who possess a tireless work ethic, deliver unmatched commitment and provide hands-on local support.

FAQs

What is SASE?

SASE, or secure access service edge, is a cloud-based IT model for combining networking and security services to deliver secure access to network resources and cloud applications for users in a highly distributed workforce. A SASE network offers more control over and better visibility into the users, data, traffic and devices accessing a corporate network.

What are SASE solutions?

SASE solutions combine all the core components of a SASE framework with a cloud-based management portal to simplify management and improve control of network activity and security. SASE solutions like Spectrum Enterprise Cloud Security may also provide managed service options that enable IT teams to offload tasks to SASE experts. By relying on a single, fully managed offering, IT teams can reap the benefits of SASE technology while remaining focused on high-priority, strategic initiatives.