Tag Archives: SASE

21 May

Transforming Retail Networks: Need for SASE’s Innovative Approach

Transforming Retail Networks: Need for SASE’s Innovative Approach
The rise of e-commerce has made shopping more convenient and accessible, allowing consumers to purchase products from anywhere at any time. Furthermore, the use of data analytics has enabled retailers to gain insights into consumer behavior, helping them to tailor their offerings to meet customer needs. These changes have not only increased competition in the industry but also raised consumer expectations, necessitating retailers to constantly innovate and adapt through innovative products. The “Always On” Network and strong Security are two pillars which define the success of retail business.

SASE’s Pivotal Role in the Retail Industry

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is the convergence of network access and security in a cloud-delivered environment. it’s a network architecture that combines SD-WAN capabilities with cloud-native security functions like secure web gateways (SWGs), cloud access security brokers (CASBs), firewalls, and zero-trust network access (ZTNA). Enterprises are inclined to adopt SASE rapidly because it enables the much needed “Always On” connect and well-fortified secure access to cloud applications and services.

Even a single order loss due to connectivity or security issues is a dent on the retail business. To ensure 100% order delivery for robust topline and increased profitability,  SASE can help retailers manage their network with fast and reliable access to online resources. Also, SASE ensures complete efficient security (particularly beneficial for e-commerce platforms handling high volumes of online traffic), reducing the complexity and cost associated with maintaining separate solutions for each. SASE can provide enhanced visibility and control over network activities, enabling retailers to detect and respond to potential security threats promptly.

How to Get Started with SASE

Being a cloud-based solution, reliable internet connectivity for accessing the cloud resources, preferably from two distinct service providers is essential. Secondly, SASE helps secure applications in the cloud with firewall and intrusion detection systems. Lastly, SASE offers increased flexibility and scalability, allowing organizations to swiftly adapt to evolving demands. Here’s an approach to initiate your journey with SASE:
Step 1: Select a SASE provider equipped with the requisite expertise and comprehensive features.
Step 2: Tailor your SASE setup to align precisely with your specific business needs.
Step 3: Embrace and leverage the myriad benefits that SASE brings to your business operations.

SASE could be a transformative solution for the retail industry, helping businesses to stay competitive in the digital age while ensuring a safe and seamless shopping experience for their customers.

02 Jan

FatPipe’s Comprehensive End-to-End SD-WAN and SASE Solution

Amidst the evolving challenges of remote work and branch connectivity, enterprises benefit from SASE, which integrates SD-WAN’s networking efficiency with a plethora of cloud security features, including zero trust network. As per research reports, by 2025, at least 60% of organizations will have explicit strategies and timelines for SASE adoption covering user, branch, and edge access. FatPipe unique technical cloud security features can help you accelerate the transition to the SASE architecture with tailored implementations that align with your organization’s unique needs.

SASE’s Vital Significance: Five Enterprise Use Cases

  • A large enterprise has several employees working from home, connecting with colleagues and customers through various collaboration tools to perform their tasks. SASE ensures secure connections, enabling employees to collaborate seamlessly while protecting sensitive information to enhance productivity.
  • An IT Services company needs to ensure secure and context-aware access for diverse user roles within its network infrastructure. SASE helps in providing a comprehensive security fabric with identity-based control and context awareness. IT professionals or user groups can be seamlessly associated with specific identities, enabling the organization to grant access tailored to roles, teams, or management hierarchies.
  • Faced with the critical need to align its network with stringent financial regulations, a pharmaceutical company must enhance its security posture, particularly in adhering to data encryption standards. Leveraging the integrated security capabilities of SASE, including robust data encryption, the pharma company can achieve regulatory compliance expectations.
  • A retail chain faces security risks as employees needed remote access to the company network while working from field and client offices. SASE offers a Zero Trust-based secure access solution, enhancing security by meticulously verifying identities and permissions before granting network access to remote employees.
  • A developing tech start-up was challenged with scaling its network infrastructure after the emergence in the need of accommodating a rise in users and escalating data loads. SASE’s cloud-native architecture provides the ideal solution, enabling the start-up to effortlessly expand both its network and security capabilities in tandem with its rapid growth path.

A large organization with a complex network infrastructure can gain from the gradual deployment capability of SASE, which enables a seamless transition without disrupting ongoing operations. FatPipe SASE provides simple yet effective transformation methods with advanced blockchain type of secure data transmission, making it easier, modular, and granular to implement secure Edge. FatPipe’s comprehensive cloud security products include Secure Web Gateway, Threat Protection and Management, ZTNA, IDS/IPS, Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), etc.

FatPipe’s comprehensive end-to-end SD-WAN and SASE solution lifecycle services meticulously encompass every aspect to improve business continuity and operational efficiency with impregnable security.

08 Sep

Network Resilience: SD-WAN vs Emerging SASE Solutions for Modern Networks

Earlier, SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) freed companies from the problems of legacy MPLS services. Though SASE (secure access service edge) has grown in popularity, optimizing traffic management within the network (SD-WAN principle) remains relevant because it directly impacts network efficiency, application performance, and user experience.

The need now is an approach that utilizes SD-WAN to connect locations besides addressing its security and deployment limitations. While SD-WAN principles focus on traffic management, SASE is useful in ensuring comprehensive security across distributed networks, securing remote access, and adapting to the dynamic needs of the modern workforce.

Addressing Core Operational Concerns with SD-WAN and SASE

SD-WAN and SASE collectively address a company’s core operational concerns. SASE, with its Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) model, provides branch offices, remote workers, and mobile users, with secure application access. Besides, it eliminates the attack surface by verifying user identities and enforcing strict data access policies. SD-WAN complements this by optimizing application traffic, ensuring seamless access to critical applications and data while efficiently routing traffic to match workflow needs.

SD-WAN and SASE: Key Differences

SD-WAN and SASE benefit organizations in the need to improve their security and network performance.

Key Areas SASE Benefits SD-WAN Benefits
Deployment and Architecture Unified, cloud-native, simplified deployment Optimized traffic routing for efficiency and not a cloud-centric solution though can provide cloud computing
Security Comprehensive, built-in security Security features may require additions
Traffic and Connectivity Secures traffic from any location Efficient traffic management within the network
Remote Access Enables secure remote access Supports remote access, may need additional components

 
Required Expertise Requires expertise in networking and security Requires less specialized expertise

SD-WAN and SASE serve different networking needs for businesses. The choice between SASE and SD-WAN depends on a company’s specific network requirements and operational priorities.

Business Type  Networking Solution that Best Fits the Needs
Small Businesses/Startups SD-WAN
Remote Workforces/Cloud-Based Applications SASE

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, network security and performance have become critical. While SD-WAN can optimize network traffic and streamline deployment, SASE can ensure data integrity and protect the organizational network against evolving threats. Thanks to remote work, SASE has quickly become popular since 2022. By offering a comprehensive approach to optimizing network performance through managed SD-WAN, FatPipe Networks helps organizations achieve seamless connectivity and enhanced efficiency. Besides, extending SD-WAN with the security functions of SASE ensures a holistic and robust defense against cyber threats.