To secure remote employees, organizations have to find a way of securing hybrid environments where employees can access data and applications. 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. This allows security to be covered across SaaS cloud applications, private applications and cloud services from a single policy.

Access Control

In an era where more employees are accessing content, data, applications and resources on the web or via mobile devices, having a secure service-edge (SSE), comprehensive solution is vital. SSE provides protection against malicious or unauthorized access. SSE also allows secure access to cloud, web and private applications.

SSE is a platform that integrates network and security functions. It includes SD-WAN, firewalls as a service (FaaS), secure web gateways, cloud access security brokers (CASB), zero trust network accesses (ZTNA), etc. It ensures consistent application and data security across locations and users, and provides centralized visibility.

SSE also includes a zero trust approach to access control that is based on identity and never places users on the corporate network. It ensures reliable and fast WAN connections, without the use of a VPN. SSE is also based on a solid defense-indepth strategy to detect and prevent malware and other security threats.

Threat Protection

SSE protects internet sessions from threats, so users are able to connect securely with critical business apps no matter their location. This facilitates hybrid work, protects private and cloud data connectivity, speeds cloud migrations, simplifies integrations during M&As, and enables hybrid working by employees.

Security services are delivered through a cloud platform which can track user-to application connections, irrespective of location or devices. This reduces risks by eliminating gaps between products and removing the need for manual updating of traditional legacy appliances.

Zero trust access: SSE systems should allow least-privileged access based on a zero trust policy, including user role and behavior, device, application and content. This protects against lateral movement while preventing applications from being found, reducing attack surfaces.

SSE enforces policies: SSE combines unified threats prevention capabilities with CASB/ZTNA technologies in order to enforce corporate policy on all end-users, no matter where they are located within the network or which devices they use. This can help mitigate the risks of insider attacks, ransomware or other threats that may occur when employees use cloud applications not in compliance with corporate policy.

Data Security

Organizations need to safeguard information as remote and mobile users access applications and data via the internet. Secure service edge delivers security by unifying web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and zero trust network access (ZTNA) technologies.

SSE provides centralized cloud data protection (DLP), allowing sensitive data be quickly found, classified, then secured in an unified manner. This can help support compliance policies, such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) 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.

Watching

It is crucial to monitor Internet sessions when you are working with a Secure Service Edge. This lets you see how your network works and what applications are being utilized.

Monitoring will help you identify problems before they occur and safeguard your business. This can also help you improve your user experience and reduce costs.

SSE platforms capable of inspecting web and data trafic on a large scale are critical. Vendors should have strong service-level agreement (SLAs), and experience evaluating inline traffic at major multinationals.

One of the main use cases for security services edge is the enforcement of policy control over mobile, cloud, and internet 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.