What Is SASE?
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE, pronounced "sassy") is a cloud-delivered framework that combines network connectivity and security into a single platform. Instead of routing all traffic through a central office firewall or relying on a traditional VPN, SASE enforces security close to the user, regardless of where they're working or which applications they're accessing.
For businesses with remote workers, cloud-hosted applications, and distributed teams, SASE replaces a fragmented collection of VPNs, firewalls, and web filters with a unified platform that delivers consistent security policy enforcement across every user, device, and location.
Why Traditional Network Security Falls Short
Traditional network security was designed around a perimeter: a firewall at the office, a VPN for remote access, and the assumption that most users and applications would be on-premises. That model doesn't reflect how most businesses operate today.
When employees work from home, access SaaS applications, and connect from personal devices, routing all traffic through a central point creates latency, complexity, and security gaps. SASE addresses this by moving security enforcement to the cloud edge, closer to the user, and applying Zero Trust principles that verify every connection regardless of where it originates.
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What SASE Includes
SASE converges several networking and security capabilities that are typically managed as separate tools into a single, cloud-delivered platform with unified policy management.
Zero Trust Network Access
ZTNA replaces traditional VPN by granting access to specific applications based on user identity, device posture, and context, rather than placing users on the broader network. Access is verified continuously, not just at login.
SD-WAN
Software-defined WAN optimizes traffic routing across internet connections, improving application performance for distributed teams without the latency of backhauling traffic through a central data center.
Secure Web Gateway
Web traffic is filtered and inspected at the cloud edge, blocking malicious sites, malware downloads, and policy-violating content before it reaches the user, regardless of device or location.
Cloud Access Security Broker
CASB provides visibility and control over cloud application usage, enforcing data security policies, detecting shadow IT, and preventing unauthorized data movement between cloud services.
Firewall as a Service
Cloud-delivered firewall capabilities enforce network security policies across all users and locations without requiring hardware at every site, extending consistent protection to remote workers and branch offices.
Unified Policy Management
All network and security policies are managed from a single console, eliminating the complexity of maintaining separate tools with separate configurations for each location and user type.
Who SASE Is For
SASE is the right fit for businesses that have outgrown a perimeter-based security model. If your team includes remote or hybrid workers who rely on a VPN that's slow or unreliable, if most of your applications now live in the cloud rather than on-premises servers, or if you're managing a patchwork of security tools that don't share visibility, SASE addresses those problems directly.
For defense contractors, healthcare providers, and professional services firms with compliance requirements, SASE also provides the documented access controls, traffic inspection, and audit logging that frameworks like CMMC and HIPAA expect. Access is enforced at the identity and device level, and every connection is logged for compliance review.
SASE and Your Hardware Firewall
SASE doesn't necessarily replace your hardware firewall. For businesses with on-premises infrastructure, a managed hardware firewall secures the physical network perimeter while SASE extends consistent security policy to remote users and cloud-connected devices. The two work together to cover both environments under a unified security posture.
STACK manages both services, so your on-premises and remote security policies stay aligned rather than being managed by separate teams with separate visibility.
Learn About Managed Hardware FirewallReady to Secure Your Distributed Workforce?
If your remote workers rely on a slow VPN, your cloud applications aren't covered by your on-premises security tools, or you're managing network security across too many disconnected platforms, SASE can simplify your environment and close the gaps. STACK can assess your current network security posture and design a SASE deployment that fits your environment and team.