SASE vs SSE vs Zero Trust and their role in modern network security

This blog has been expertly reviewed by Darren Hogan, Director of Portfolio, at Nasstar. 

Modern businesses are facing increasing challenges in maintaining a strong security posture. Operations, work environments, and cyber threats have all become more complex, with remote working, cloud-based applications, and sophisticated cyber threats combining to create a perfect storm of cyber vulnerability.  

That’s why traditional tools alone — like firewalls and VPNs — are not enough. They often struggle to address the security functions required for distributed users, devices, and systems. As such, we’re seeing an increasing number of companies facing fundamental cyber security challenges. 

Thankfully, there are also innovative defences against these threats. For example, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), Security Service Edge (SSE) and Zero Trust frameworks integrate advanced security and connectivity measures. When implemented well, they help provide scalability, flexibility, and strong protection against a range of concerns.  

In this blog, we’ll explore what SASE is and how it relates to SSE. Then, we’ll see how it fits into modern network security, and how it can help your business overcome cyber challenges. 

What are SASE and SSE? 

Gartner defines SASE as a cloud-native framework that packages and delivers several important modern protection measures. It combines network security and connectivity technologies such as:  

• Secure Web Gateway (SWG) — monitoring and protecting against malicious network traffic 
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) — proactively defending cloud services 
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) — end-user access controls based on zero trust principles 
• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) — cloud-based threat protection and network management 
• Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) — commonly used technology connecting multiple users across regions with key business apps. 

To suit modern businesses, the SASE framework is delivered from the cloud. It allows for secure networks and efficient connections for users, devices, and applications, regardless of location. 

SSE makes up a key part of any SASE platform. It focuses on security, including SWG, CASB, ZTNA, and FWaaS. However, it does not incorporate SASE’s networking functions like SD-WAN. In that way, SSE is ideal for businesses with an established networking infrastructure that just need a robust, cloud-based security solution. 

Why are SASE and SSE important? 

The worlds of work and connectivity have changed drastically in recent years. With more employees working remotely, data flowing across multiple clouds, and IoT and mobile devices integrated into networks, traditional security systems face limitations. 

That’s because conventional network security models relied on physical perimeters and centralised data centres or on-premise infrastructure. These methods were suitable for environments where users and resources were confined to on-prem systems.  

Darren Hogan, Director of Portfolio, at Nasstar, said: "The consumption of cloud-based SaaS services and the move to remote work have made the legacy 'Castle and Moat' architecture obsolete. The security perimeter must evolve to include controls based on conditions, and incorporate inspection, remediation and mitigation that is delivered and managed from the cloud." 

The challenges of legacy systems 

But now, with the rise of hybrid workforces, multi-cloud environments and mobile-first ecosystems, fixed perimeters are often ineffective. In some cases, they can actually lead to an increased attack surface.  

As well as security concerns, legacy systems bring other limitations: 

• Routing traffic through centralised infrastructure causes delays, particularly for remote workers, frustrating employees and clients. 
• Older tools often struggle to monitor traffic between cloud services, leaving blind spots that attackers can exploit. 
• Expanding on-prem infrastructure to meet modern demands needs security solutions that integrate with existing cloud-based tooling, which can be problematic, potentially increasing costs and complicating IT management. 

Instead, delivering security through the cloud with SASE and SSE removes the need for traffic to pass through centralised locations. This improves speed, reliability, and the user experience.  

Likewise, these frameworks help simplify management by integrating multiple security tools, strengthening defences and reducing administrative overhead. It’s for this reason that SASE has become increasingly popular — recent reports show that around half of UK businesses have adopted some level of SASE solution already. 

How SASE and SSE improve network security 

SASE and SSE provide a range of benefits. In many cases, these advantages are essential for addressing modern network security challenges. 

Simplified management 

Many IT teams today are overwhelmed with the complexity of managing multiple point solutions that must be managed through separate administrative tools and often have overlapping features. Bolted-on systems and changing user and business requirements have led to hugely tangled networks and systems. To address this, SASE and SSE unify multiple security tools into a single, cloud-based platform. This reduces the burden on IT teams, saves time, and allows for the consistent enforcement of security policies across all users and devices. 

User access and experience 

Modern IT is a balancing act between performance and security. After all, somebody must use these business systems to do their job. That’s why SASE also helps the end user by delivering security closer to them, improving network performance while reducing latency. This is especially important for remote employees, who might experience delays and decreased productivity with traditional security tools. 

Adaptable and scalable 

Industries are changing faster than ever. That’s why SASE is designed to grow alongside organisations. It considers everything from adding new users and additional locations to adopting new cloud services. Put simply, these frameworks can scale to meet new or changing business needs. 

Darren said: "The threat landscape is constantly changing and evolving, with new weaknesses and vulnerabilities being discovered and exploited daily. The SASE framework provides a 'defence in depth' approach covering multiple technology domains to keep up with the challenges of defending the customer's data and infrastructure." 

All-round protection 

With SWG, CASB, ZTNA and FWaaS, SASE and SSE provide all-encompassing security for modern networks. And thanks to their cloud-based nature, they help secure endpoints across different geographical locations. They also help safeguard against different types of cyber threats, like data loss, human error, and malware, keeping businesses and data protected.  

Improved compliance 

Finally, these frameworks give centralised visibility and control over systems. They also bring more granular access controls and accountability over data ownership. This makes it much easier for organisations to meet the requirements of regulations like GDPR.  

The challenges of implementing SASE and SSE 

While there are clear and important benefits to introducing these frameworks, organisations may face challenges, including: 

• Transitioning from legacy systems requires leadership buy-in and user adoption. In many cases, there may be resistance to change from IT or the board level. 
• Introducing these frameworks also requires cutting-edge skills and practices. As such, existing IT teams may need additional support to manage cloud-native frameworks effectively. 
• Of course, implementing new technology takes investment. And while long-term savings are substantial, initial costs can appear high. However, with the cost of potential cyber incidents so high, any improvement is usually worth the investment. 

In many cases, working with experienced providers can ease the transition to modern cyber security frameworks. 

Darren said: "One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is knowing where to start on a SASE adoption journey. The technology can seem complex and overwhelming and is broad in scope. An experienced partner, however, can help customers navigate the technology to focus on real business outcomes." 

Zero trust principles in SASE and SSE 

A key part of SSE and SASE architecture is the zero-trust security approach. Fundamentally, this assumes every user and device is untrusted — until proven otherwise. As part of its authentication process, it requires strict verification of access requests. This makes zero trust a core component of both SASE and SSE. 

How zero trust works 

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) applies strict controls for all users. The aim is only to grant access to the resources they need. For instance, a remote employee might be given access to email and SaaS tools while being restricted from systems containing sensitive data. This limits the risk of unauthorised access or data breaches. 

Zero trust also strengthens network protection while simplifying compliance with data security regulations. Enforcing granular access controls means businesses can secure their most critical assets while maintaining data protection, cloud security and accountability. 

Along with SASE, SSE, and zero trust, companies are also incorporating new technologies into their security stacks. 

Artificial Intelligence in SASE and SSE 

As we’ve seen, the rise of advanced cyber threats has exposed the limitations of outdated and manual security measures. Another key technology trend of the past few years has been the implementation of AI-powered tools across many sectors. Cyber security is no different. 

Darren explained: “The meteoric rise in awareness of the power of predictive and generative AI means that now, cyber security technology vendors have the ability to rapidly analyse complex and emerging threat patterns and write signatures to analyse and alert against them, reducing the window of opportunity for exploitation.” 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) builds on the capabilities of SASE and SSE frameworks. It provides threat intelligence tools that can predict, detect, and respond to threats more effectively than ever, using the following techniques: 

• AI tools continuously monitor network connectivity and activity to identify unusual patterns or behaviours that may indicate a threat. 
• Then, AI-driven systems can isolate any compromised devices, block suspicious activity, or trigger alerts in real time. 
• Finally, by analysing historical data, AI can identify vulnerabilities and suggest measures to address them before bad actors strike. 

Currently, many organisations lack the internal resources to implement AI solutions effectively. But working with experienced cyber security professionals can bridge this gap by integrating tools into SASE and SSE frameworks — without adding any unnecessary complexity. 

What is the future of SASE and SSE? 

Advanced tools like AI are already helping businesses implement and improve security. And as technology moves forward, SASE and SSE will need to develop further.  

Some of the key trends we may see shaping the future of SASE include: 

• Quantum-ready security and developing encryption techniques that meet the potential capabilities and threats of quantum computing. 
• IoT integration and creating more robust tools to protect connected devices in complex networks. 
• Further advancements in AI and improving predictive capabilities to stay ahead of new cyber threats. 

No matter what the future holds for SASE, the key to keeping pace with change is to implement a secure, scalable, and efficient security posture today. 

Darren concluded: “Any tool that is made available to a software developer is also available to a threat actor. AI could allow attackers to automate and scale malicious activities, such as vulnerability scanning and phishing - at unprecedented speed. It could also enable highly convincing social engineering through personalised text, voice, or deepfake content. In summary, security strategies and tooling must continuously evolve to stay within reach of the modern cyber criminal.” 

How Nasstar can help 

SASE and SSE are modern, cloud-based approaches to network security. They combine various essential tools and methods to address the limitations of traditional tools while offering flexibility for modern distributed environments. This helps businesses stay productive and secure, both now and in the future. 

To explore how SASE or SSE can support your security needs, speak to a specialist today.