Many people wonder which one will better serve them, the zero trust security model or SASE. But you actually need to understand both well to know which one does your enterprise security posture.
With the two network and security frameworks taking the industry by storm over the past few years and even considering security and access demands on the business driven by active remote solutions, the two have different implementation approaches.
Looking at Gartner’s introduction of the SASE architecture to the cybersecurity environment, one will discover that the SASE and the principles of Zero Trust security have so much in common. However, while this may be a thing to consider, it is not a complete approach. And in totality, just as you are not going to get a single product to deliver the zero trust model to you, so is the SASE architecture in accordance with Gartner’s vision.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Defined
Zero Trust is a fusion of network and security solutions based on principles regarding how trust levels are interpreted within an organization. Zero Trust security is an advanced security approach where users and devices located within a network and outside are mandated to undergo authorization, authentication, and validation from time to time before they receive access to the network and during resource use.
The Zero Trust model utilizes high-end security technologies, including next-gen endpoint security, multi-factor authentication, and identity & access management (IAM). The main idea behind this security model is to stop the assumption that anyone given access to the network is entirely pure and should be offered access to all resources. Such a blind approach has resulted in data and security breaches of even high-profile data. Zero Trust helps address and crystalize the red flags of centralized on-premise perimeter security.
Zero Trust performs continuous access authentication throughout the network since the framework displaces endpoints.
How is Zero Trust Built?
Zero Trust has a mantra: Trust none, Verify all. Beyond being a specific technology, zero Trust is an ideology that helps to successfully deploy various policies and technologies to achieve optimal security posture within the organization. Some factors that affect how zero Trust is built include;
Users & Devices
Managing the workforce and environment is a starting point to ensure sanity in the identity verification process—which also boosts security controls and network visibility on traffic flow. Tools such as IP allowlisting (whitelisting), MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), or SSO (Single Sign-On) are more direct validation system to ensure secure access with additional blockers peradventure there is lost credentials or in a phishing event.
Automation & Analytics
The automation of a zero trust model can be easily attained to reduce the possibility of human error and enhance the effectiveness of every action. It supports how admins detect potential incoming threats, avoid undesired network intervention, and alert security protocols in time. Furthermore, analyzing the system constantly identifies potential deviations from key user patterns and highlights the demand to enhance the system.
Combining the perfect tools helps IT teams implement a security pattern:
- Supervise devise and user behaviors.
- Lessen potential data breaches.
- Repeatedly audit compliance with security policies.
- Secure sensitive data within the network.
Network traffic becomes more controlled, distributed, and segmented in line with their job allocation. As a result, the possibility of a breach occurring is highly lessened but does not rule out the possibility of it happening. However, malicious or suspicious activity can quickly be identified and controlled adequately as activity logs expose any irregularities within the system.
Network & Applications
Beyond not delivering implicit Trust to frame users, applications, and devices within the network, the zero trust model is also about questioning the environment and being curious about the point where internal and external data flows by segmenting the workplace into smaller groups and introducing 2FA (two-factor Authentication) permit compliance requirements to use more centralized risk management over access control.
Zero Trust Primary Role On a Network
Employees and other key players of an organization need access to an internal company network application or knowledgebase to carry out their daily tasks. The zero trust security model ensures sanity within the network through access control and bringing order to required processes while confirming networks, users, applications, or devices on requests of different cases. The necessary mindset, solutions, and tools tighten the security posture more valuably and conveniently.
One significant similarity between zero Trust and SASE is that zero Trust focuses on delivering whitelisting capability for accessing services. This is an important reason it is a core part of SASE. In addition, zero Trust focuses on provided principles or tenets.
What is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)?
SASE is a cloud-delivery network and security solution focused on minimizing complexity and providing adequate optimized connectivity where remote users can reach enterprise cloud resources through representing data centers with cloud network security infrastructure. The fundamental goal of the SASE architecture is to enhance efficiency around dispersed work locations. SASE incorporates some key components, which include Software Defined-WAN Service (SD-WAN), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), and even the Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
Zero Trust Security vs. SASE
With Zero Trust also being a component of the SASE architecture, drawing a comparison between them is unnecessary. Both zero Trust and SASE are solid network and security strategies with a unified goal. Both of them are security strategies that should be perceived more as a frame of mind than actual technology. They determine a more modern way of thinking to overcome porous and archaic network perimeter solutions and understanding of security. While both do not take on the same perspective on security, zero Trust and SASE are great complements to be considered by any organization.
How Do Zero Trust and SASE Support Each Other?
The Zero Trust approach isn’t as tricky when implemented as the SASE architecture. However, it requires more engagement from organization members from time to time. The SASE as infrastructure is a model that requires lots of time and effort to integrate fully. And once implemented, it works like adequately built equipment establishing improved security measures throughout a company. Improving protection and security levels is why zero trust-based equipment is usually classified as a critical aspect of SASE. SASE, in return, is poised as the environment for implementing zero Trust.
Why SASE and Zero Trust Have Lots Of Advantages Together
Both architectures have designs channeled toward network security. They have broad and complex coverage of different components when networks are upgraded. These cost-effective, contemporary, and modern applicable security solutions increase accessibility to more distributed organizations, unify utilization convenience, and improve application performance quality to the remote perimeter. With Zero Trust and SASE, everything about the security and the network stays in the cloud. In addition, it optimizes the procedures to allow higher security levels by layering compliance policies in the network.