Since 2019, when Gartner first described the emerging cybersecurity concept of secure access service edge (SASE) as “The Future of Network Security in the Cloud”, SASE has evolved into a security and networking architecture that delivers protection against sophisticated threats, more secure hybrid work, reduced complexity, and modern connectivity. By combining networking and security functions – traditionally delivered in siloed point solutions – in a single, integrated cloud service, organizations have been able to drive digital transformation and better protect what powers their business.
As one of the key differentiators in a SASE model is integration and reduced silos, it makes sense that a single-vendor model for SASE – one that combines networking and security features from a single unified cloud dashboard – would be the SASE delivery model preferred by analysts. In Gartner’s new Market Guide for Single-Vendor SASE1, their industry experts take a deep dive into what the landscape looks like among single-vendor SASE providers, the forecasted future of SASE, current organization buying models, and much more.
How a single-vendor SASE solution can help you succeed
According to Gartner, the benefits of a single-vendor SASE offerings include:
- Improved security posture: A SASE security architecture already reduces the attack surface and shortens remediation times. Consolidating vendors means complexity is reduced even further, lowering chances of misconfiguration or mistakes.
- Improved network and security staff efficacy: Fewer vendors means a faster deployment and fewer resources to manage all components.
- Improved user and admin experiences: A single vendor reduces latency and performance issues that are possible when routing, forwarding and tunneling between different vendors’ POPs. It also makes it easier to get complete end-to-end user experience monitoring, no matter where users are working.
Why Cisco is a representative in the single-vendor SASE market
To qualify as a representative vendor in the market, Gartner required a set of core requirements for various functionalities across secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN). They made it clear that a single-vendor SASE must own or directly control each of the core capabilities. They also defined a well-architected vendor as being fully integrated (including a single data lake, unified data model and advanced analytics), unified management and policy, unified and scalable architecture, and flexibility and ease of use.
In June of 2022, Cisco announced a SASE milestone with our unified, single-vendor SASE solution, Cisco+ Secure Connect, which we are proud to announce meets these well-defined requirements for success.
With Cisco+ Secure Connect, customers now have a blueprint for SASE made easy. This radically simplifies how they securely connect their hybrid workforce across cloud and on-premises. By combining Cisco’s industry-leading SD-WAN networking and Cisco Umbrella’s host of cloud-delivered security features, Cisco+ Secure Connect helps customers overcome the challenges of securely connecting distributed users, devices, applications, and data – anywhere. This enables customers to deliver seamless experiences that are secure and powered by a single platform for a simplified IT experience.
Cisco+ Secure Connect is designed to:
- Streamline networking and security: Simplify the complexity of IT by leveraging one powerful platform for SD-WAN, SWG, ZTNA, DNS-layer security, CASB, and more.
- Build security resilience: Fortify your security posture and protect against threats that can pose vulnerabilities to your business and customers.
- Safeguard end-to-end protection and connection: Empower a hybrid workforce by securely connecting users to any application across any network, from anywhere to anywhere, when they need it. Protect access across any application, data, tool, or resource, from a home office to a branch location to IoT devices.
Expert guidance to accelerate your SASE journey
As you continue building your roadmap for SASE, this report can help guide you, offering market recommendations, strategy and planning tips, and SASE evaluation and deployment advice.
Download the entire report complimentarily and discover how a single-vendor SASE solution can help you simplify, streamline, and strengthen your security and connectivity.
1Gartner, Market Guide for Single-Vendor SASE, Neil MacDonald, John Watts, Jonathan Forest, Andrew Lerner, 28 September 2022.
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