Get your SASE strategy right with a managed solution

Secure access service edge (SASE) is getting a lot of play in networking circles. As hybrid working becomes more commonplace and cloud IT more dominant, the convergence of networking and security services into a single, cloud-delivered service model is better serving the needs of organizations.

The identity-level security of zero trust network access – a core cloud security feature of SASE – is gaining widespread adoption as workers shift between remote and office locations, expanding the network perimeter.

These factors are driving organizations to carefully evaluate their SASE strategy. In fact, SASE is one of the top network investment priorities for the next two years identified in NTT’s 2022–23 Global Network Report: 95% of organizations say they are investing in their cybersecurity capabilities, 91% plan to move to identity-based security and 93% believe new threats will drive increased security demands.

• ALSO READ → Make zero trust security work for your organization

The benefits of a managed service

A key consideration when developing a SASE strategy is how to deploy and manage it in a way that mitigates complexity and maximizes performance. This is where a managed network service provider like NTT comes into play.

The expertise and resources of a managed service provider (MSP) add substantial value in helping organizations realize the full benefits of SASE, including centralized policy controls, improved operational efficiencies and enhanced security at the user level.

A managed SASE solution also helps reduce complexity and lessens the pressure placed on scarce internal IT resources to manage the new networking and security architecture.

Furthermore, the additional layer of AIOps and automation delivered by an MSP’s platform generates predictive analytics in support of better network performance and reliability, while assuring a seamless, end-to-end service experience.

And, importantly, a managed SASE service makes your security posture more resilient because the MSP has a complete view of your network, endpoints and public or hybrid cloud environments. This makes it simpler and faster to act against possible cyberthreats.

• ALSO READ → SASE: reduce risk, modernize your network and improve the user experience

Expertise for every step in the SASE lifecycle

Our lifecycle service is based on a comprehensive management framework that supports a client’s SASE strategy from the consulting phase to the design, build, deployment, operationalization and optimization stages:

• During the initial consultation, we complete a thorough network assessment and carefully formulate your organization’s path to implementing a SASE approach.
• In the design and build stage, we develop the solution to ensure a smooth migration and implementation of the SASE architecture, integrating it with your applications and services. Here we apply our expertise to create policies and rules to ensure all your requirements are satisfied.
• Once the new SASE architecture is operationalized, ongoing service management is vital in realizing its full potential. This includes using the additional layer of AIOps and automation provided by our Managed Campus Networks platform for predictive analytics, resulting in faster incident resolution and improved network reliability.
• These technology platform features are complemented by 24x7 technical support provided through our delivery centers. Our experts continuously monitor network performance, adjusting policies and traffic engineering techniques to ensure the network is optimized for the best user experience.

If you haven’t already started your SASE journey, it is likely to be around the corner. But, before you commit to a particular SASE strategy, you are well advised to approach a leading managed network service provider like NTT to see how we can help you realize all its benefits and performance potential.