Secure Service Edge for Hybrid Work Environments

In order to protect their remote workers who access applications and data via hybrid work environments, companies need a solution. A secure service edge can help achieve this.

SSE is a cloud native architecture that combines networking and security services into a single platform. The unified policy allows for continuous security coverage of cloud, SaaS applications and private apps.

Access Control

Secure Service Edge (SSE) solutions are essential as more employees, partners, and customers access content, data and applications via the internet and mobile devices. SSE protects end users from unauthorized and malicious access, enables secure access to web, cloud, and private applications, and provides digital experience monitoring.

SSE, a cloud platform, integrates networking functions and security, including software-defined wide-area network (SDWAN), firewalls as services, secure web portals (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). It ensures consistent application and data security across locations and users, and provides centralized visibility.

SSE includes an identity-based zero trust access control system that never puts users on the corporate network. This provides fast and reliable WAN connection without the requirement for a VPN. SSE incorporates a robust strategy of defense in depth to detect and prevent malware, as well as other threats.

Threat Protection

SSE offers threat protection for internet sessions, ensuring that users connect securely to critical business applications no matter where they are located. This allows hybrid working for employees. It secures cloud connectivity and private data, speeds up cloud migrations, and simplifies integration in M&As.

Security services are delivered from a single cloud platform that can follow user-to-app connections regardless of location or device. It reduces risk because it eliminates gaps in point products, and also removes the need to update legacy appliances manually.

Zero trust access: SSE should only allow access to the least privileged users based on zero trust policies, which include user roles and behaviors, devices, applications and content. This reduces the attack surface by preventing lateral movement, protecting applications from discovery and preventing lateral movements.

SSE enforces corporate policies for all users regardless of their location in the network, or device they use. This reduces the risk of ransomware, insider threats and other threats when employees access sensitive data or use cloud apps that do not comply with corporate policies.

Data Security

Organizations need to safeguard information as remote and mobile users access applications and data via the internet. Secure service edge provides security by combining web gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), zero trust network access technologies (ZTNA).

SSE's centralized cloud DLP capabilities allow for sensitive data to be located, classified and protected in an integrated way. This can support compliance policies such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and GDPR.

SSE products must also offer advanced threat prevention, such as cloud-based firewalls (FWaaS), CASB analysis of data stored in SaaS software, and adaptive security access control. Adaptive access control is a key element of SSE that identifies device posture and adjusts access as it changes.

Monitoring

It's crucial to monitor internet sessions when working with a service edge. You can see how well your network performs and which apps are being used.

Monitoring helps you to identify potential problems and protect your business from threats. This can help improve your user's experience and reduce cost.

SSE platforms that can inspect web and data traffic at a global scale are crucial. You should choose a vendor who has solid service-level agreements and is experienced in evaluating the traffic of major multinationals.

One of the primary use cases for a security service edge is enforcing policy control over internet, cloud, and mobile access. This could include enforcing access and internet control policies within the company to ensure compliance or reducing risk via content blocking and malware isolate.