Organizations need to protect remote workers, as employees are accessing data and applications through hybrid environments. It can be achieved by using a secure edge service.

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

A comprehensive solution for secure service edges (SSEs) is necessary as employees and partners are increasingly using the internet and mobile devices to access data, content, applications and other resources. SSE protects end users from unauthorized and malicious access, enables secure access to web, cloud, and private applications, and provides digital experience monitoring.

SSE is an integrated cloud-based platform for networking and security. This includes SD-WAN (software-defined wide area networks), firewalls-as-a-service, secure Web Gateways (SWG), the Cloud Access Security Broker, and Zero Trust Network access (ZTNA). It delivers centralized traffic visibility and offers consistent application security enforcement across all locations and users.

SSE uses a zero trust system for access control. It is based solely on user identities and does not place users in the corporate network. This allows for fast and reliable WAN connectivity without the need of a virtual private network (VPN). SSE includes a strong defense-in-depth approach for detecting malware and other threats.

Threat Protection

SSE is a threat protection solution for internet sessions. Users can securely access critical business applications from anywhere. This allows hybrid working for employees. It secures cloud connectivity and private data, speeds up cloud migrations, and simplifies integration in M&As.

Cloud-based security services can be delivered by a single platform, which follows user-to app connections irrespective of device and location. This eliminates gaps between point-products and the need to manually update traditional legacy appliances.

Zero trust: SSE Systems should provide least-privileged access in accordance with a zero-trust policy. This includes user role and behavior as well as device, application, or content. This minimizes the attack surface and prevents lateral moves.

SSE combines unified Threat Prevention capabilities with CASB & ZTNA Technologies to enforce policies on end users no matter what device or location they may be in. This helps reduce the risk that insiders, ransomwares and other types of threats can be posed by employees who connect to sensitive information or use cloud-based applications that aren't compliant with corporate security policies.

Data Security

As remote and mobile users connect to applications and data over the internet, organizations need to protect that information. Secure service edge delivers security by unifying web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and zero trust network access (ZTNA) technologies.

SSE also provides centralized cloud Data Loss Protection (DLP) capabilities. This allows sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, to be classified, located and secured in one place. This can assist in supporting compliance policies such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, or GDPR.

SSE solutions also need to have advanced threat-prevention capabilities. These include cloud firewall as a Service (FWaaS), CASB data inspection in SaaS applications, and adaptive control access. Adaptive access control is a key element of SSE that identifies device posture and adjusts access as it changes.

Monitoring

When working with a secure service edge, it's important to monitor internet sessions. You can see how well your network performs and which apps are being used.

Monitors can alert you to potential problems, allowing you to prevent them before they even occur. This will also allow you to improve your customer experience and cut costs.

SSE platforms that can inspect web and data traffic at a global scale are crucial. Vendors should have strong service-level agreement (SLAs), and experience evaluating inline traffic at major multinationals.

A security service edge can be used to enforce policy control on 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.