Is SASE or VPN More Useful?

Published on: January 24, 2024

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14 min read

SASE is a phrase that has gained prominence, particularly during the COVID-19 epidemic, which forced individuals to work from home. Companies use technology like VPNs to allow employees to connect remotely and access the resources they need for production. But, over time, contemporary technology may not be sufficient, which is where SASE comes in. Individuals rely on distant technology like VPNs more than before. Businesses require a means for workers to access resources on-site or in the cloud. If you're wondering what a VPN is used for in business, it gives employees a safe means to access resources as if they were in the office. However, with the convergence of demands to work from home and increasing dependence on cloud services, organizations required something that accelerated remote access while retaining the security required to protect confidentiality and threats.

Gartner proposed the Secure Access Server Edge (SASE) concept, which is a mix of network security and WAN capabilities designed to suit the increasing security demands of many enterprises. SASE comprises a number of distinct technologies, including SD-WAN and cloud access security broker (CASB), which provide a wealth of functionality to many enterprises.

As SASE gains popularity, more organizations prefer it to regular VPNs due to the benefits it provides. Although this is only a tiny portion of SASE's entire capabilities, it is an excellent starting point for determining whether it is the perfect fit for your company.

This tutorial compares SASE and VPN to explain the differences, which one is better, the benefits and drawbacks, and how to determine which one to use for your specific needs.

In this article, the following headings exist:

• What is SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)?
• What is a VPN (Virtual Private Network)?
• What is the difference Between SASE and VPN?
  • Architecture
  • Security Model
  • Scalability
  • Performance
• What are the Advantages of SASE Compared to VPN?
• What are the Disadvantages of SASE Compared to VPN?
• How Can Security Compare Between SASE and VPN?
• What to Consider When Choosing the Right Solution Between SASE and VPN?
• Is SASE and VPN Integration Possible?

What is SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)?

The Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture makes it possible for convergent network and security as service capabilities, such as SD-WAN and cloud-native security services, like secure web gateways (SWG), firewalls as a service (FWaaS), cloud access security brokers (CASB), and zero-trust network access (ZTNA). These features are provided as a service by the SASE provider, who gets them from the cloud.

A SASE (secure access service edge) architecture combines networking and security as a service capability to provide a single cloud-delivered service at the network edge. This allows a company to automatically accommodate scattered remote and hybrid customers by connecting them to nearby cloud gateways, rather than backhauling traffic to corporate data centers. It ensures consistent, secure access to all apps while providing complete visibility and inspection of traffic across all ports and protocols.

The paradigm dramatically simplifies administration and decreases complexity, which are two of SASE's primary aims. It converts the perimeter into a unified collection of cloud-based capabilities that can be deployed as needed. This is a more efficient approach than constructing a perimeter around the data center with a collection of different point-product security equipment.

Because it is cloud-based, a secure access service edge allows for a more dynamic and high-performance network that responds to changing business requirements, an expanding threat landscape, and new technologies that will shape your network's future.

SASE requires little to no hardware and leverages cloud technology's ubiquitous connection to integrate software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) with network security features such as the following:

• Firewall as a Service (FaaS).
• Software as a Service (SaaS).
• Secure web gateways (SWG).
• Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs).
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).

With the number of remote workers rising and enterprises adopting cloud services more regularly to run applications, SASE offers a quick, fast, cost-effective and scalable SaaS offering for networking and security.

What is a VPN (Virtual Private Network)?

VPN stands for "Virtual Private Network" and refers to the ability to establish a secure network connection while utilizing public networks. VPNs encrypt internet traffic and hide your online identity. The benefit of this is that it makes it harder for third parties to monitor your internet activity and steal your information. The encryption occurs in real-time.

A VPN connection provides a secure connection between you and the internet. The VPN routes all of your data traffic over an encrypted virtual tunnel. When you use the internet, this hides your IP address, making its location unknown to everyone. A VPN connection protects against external threats. That's because only you can access the data in the encrypted tunnel; no one else can because they don't know the key. A VPN gives you access to banned material from anywhere on the globe.

Keep in mind, however, that utilizing a VPN simply anonymizes and protects your internet activity. The VPN connection does not protect you against hacker assaults, Trojans, viruses, or other malware. You should consequently rely on supplementary, reputable anti-virus software.

However, the advantages of utilizing a VPN are numerous for anybody looking for a safer, more free, and more secure internet experience. A VPN protects users by encrypting their data and concealing their IP address, making their browsing history and location untraceable. This increased anonymity provides better privacy as well as greater freedom for people who want to access restricted or region-bound information.

Here are some frequent reasons why you may use a VPN:

• Secure your data: Sensitive data such as business emails, financial information, and location tracking are routinely exchanged online. This information is easily trackable and exploitable, especially on a public network where anyone with network access has the ability to access your personal data. A VPN connection scrambles your data into code, making it unintelligible to anybody without an encryption key. It conceals your browsing history so that no one else may see it.
• Work at home: Today, remote work is more common than ever before. Remote workers can use a VPN to access business resources via a private connection from anywhere, as long as they have access to the internet. This gives employees more flexibility while simultaneously protecting and securing corporate data, even while using a public Wi-Fi network.
• Access and watch regional content from anywhere: Some websites and services restrict media content depending on geographic location, so you may be unable to access some types of content. A VPN disguises, or spoofs, the location of your local server, making it appear to be located somewhere else, such as another nation.
• Bypass censorship and monitoring: Government limitations, censorship, or monitoring may prevent some areas from accessing specific sites or services. Location spoofing allows these users to bypass firewalls, access prohibited websites, and navigate freely online.
• Prevent ISP and third-party tracking: Internet service providers (ISPs) log and track your surfing history using your device's unique IP address. This information might possibly be sold through third-party advertising, provided to the government, or made exposed in the event of a security breach. A VPN hides your IP address, stops ISP tracking, and protects your personal information by routing to a distant VPN server rather than your ISP's servers.

What is the Difference Between SASE and VPN?

While the goals of all remote access solutions are the same, SASE is a better option for businesses adjusting to the changing IT landscape since it provides a more contemporary and flexible approach to network and security. Although they are still useful, VPNs are more appropriate for conventional networking applications.

The word SASE is becoming more and more common, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, which forced many individuals to work from home. Employers are depending on technology like virtual private networks (VPNs) to enable distant connections and access to the resources necessary for operations. Modern technology could not be sufficient in the future, in which case SASE is useful.

The primary distinctions between SASE and VPN are given in the following table:

Criteria	SASE	VPN
Architecture	SASE is an ideal cloud-based solution that addresses the long-standing issue of network security and enables you to safely link distant employees in multi-site and cloud settings.	On-site data centers often house the hardware needed to enable VPN architecture.
Scope	SASE has a wide range of security features, such as data loss prevention, firewalls as a service, and secure online gateways.	You may not be able to access every website or streaming service just because you use a VPN.
Security Model	A multi-tenant, multi-region security platform that is independent of staff, data centers, cloud services, or on-site offices.	An Internet security tool called a virtual private network (VPN) enables users to access the Internet as if they were linked to a private network.
Scalability	A scalable substitute for secure remote access is SASE.	Scaling VPNs is challenging for several reasons.
Performance	Through the use of SD-WAN to enable direct-to-cloud connections, SASE improves performance.	VPNs add delay since all VPN traffic must pass via a centralized VPN server before being routed to its destination, unlike direct connections inside SASE setups.

Table 1. SASE vs VPN

Architecture

To further grasp how a VPN differs from SASE, let's first examine how it operates and what its main purpose is.

Software that protects internet traffic privacy within a business network is known as a virtual private network. Every piece of data is routed over a link that is cut off from the internet as a whole. Moreover, a VPN encrypts the data that passes through it, adding another degree of protection. Thus, the VPN provides several levels of data security:

• Every connection made to your company's network is verified by it.
• It routes the traffic to a server or other cloud resource over a secure connection. Next, in a procedure known as tunneling, the VPN tunnel inserts data packets into other data packets.
• Lastly, all of the data is encrypted, making it impossible for other parties to decode the information sent within your network. On-site data centers often house the hardware needed to enable VPN architecture. When the workplace operates as a regular office setting, this configuration performs fairly effectively.

SASE is an online multitool. The answer to the question of whether SASE is comparable to older VPN solutions is not straightforward. They both aim to safeguard your data, but they go about achieving it in different ways.

Their methods of operation differ even in nature.

While VPN functions independently, SASE integrates many platforms into a single tool. For instance, SASE includes services that are provided using a cloud-based approach, like Zero-trust network access using a software-defined wide area network, Secure web gatewway, Firewall as-a-service, and Cloud Access Security Broker.

SASE is an ideal cloud-based solution to the age-old issue of network security, enabling you to safely connect remote workers in multi-site and cloud settings, thanks to the many technologies included in its core.

SASE establishes a secure network perimeter that enables remote access to your company's network system regardless of geographic limitations, whereas VPNs only link a user to one network. With a control that can be customized to meet the demands of your company, this method can simplify network management.

The tenant is described as a specific workspace that has the management and user application portals along with an authentication screen. Multiple tenants may be managed simultaneously by platforms, allowing users to monitor network activity and control access to both on-premises and cloud assets from a single interface.

Even though a VPN is still a strong option on its own, it is insufficient in many ways when used in the current environment. Although utilizing a VPN greatly increases security, it is by no means infallible, particularly when dealing with problems pertaining to the support of remote work.

For instance, by drastically slowing down the bandwidth, a high number of remote workers might negatively impact the VPN user experience. There is a lot of delay in the data transfer process while using a VPN since the data must first arrive at the data center in order to be authorized and then returned to the user.

Additionally, this procedure lengthens the data's travel time, significantly reducing security.

On the other hand, SASE pushes data to the edge of the network, allowing for faster access for all of your staff members. It offers a single network that links and safeguards every kind of corporate resource, be it mobile, cloud, or physical, from any location. In this context, the SASE Cloud is distinguished by four primary attributes: It is distributed worldwide, identity-driven, cloud-native, and compatible with all edges.

• Driven by Identity: The networking experience and degree of access privileges are determined by the identity of the user and resource, not only by the IP address. The identity linked to each network connection influences the quality of service, route selection, and the application of risk-driven security rules, among other things. By enabling businesses to create a single set of networking and security settings for users, independent of device or location, this method lowers operational overhead.
• Cloud-native Architecture: The SASE architecture makes use of important cloud features like self-healing, self-adaptability, elasticity, and self-maintenance to offer a platform that spreads expenses across clients for optimal efficiency, readily adjusts to changing business needs, and is accessible from any location.
• Sustains Every Edge: SASE unifies the company's cloud, mobile users, branch offices, data centers, and other resources into a single network. For instance, clientless browser access and mobile clients link users on the go, while SD-WAN equipment provides physical edges.
• Worldwide Dispersed: The SASE cloud has to be globally distributed in order to guarantee that all networking and security capabilities are accessible everywhere and to provide the best possible experience to all edges. Consequently, Gartner observes, to provide low-latency services to corporate edges, companies need to increase their footprint.

Security Model

A virtual private network (VPN) is an Internet security solution that allows users to connect to the Internet as if they were on a private network. VPNs use encryption to safeguard connections across unsecured Internet infrastructure.

By creating encrypted connections between devices, a VPN operates. (VPNs frequently encrypt data using SSL/TLS or IPsec.) Encryption keys are configured on all connected devices to the VPN, and they are used to both encode and decode any data transmitted between them. Network traffic may be slowed by this procedure's potential to slightly increase connection latency.

Because of this encryption, VPN connections stay secret even when they pass through publicly accessible Internet infrastructure. Suppose Alice connects to her business's VPN while working from home in order to access a company database that is kept on a server located 100 miles away. Assume that every request she makes to the database and every answer it sends passes via a middleman Internet exchange point (IXP). Let's say that a criminal has surreptitiously gained access to this IXP and is keeping an eye on any data that passes through - akin to eavesdropping on a phone call. Alice's data remains safe thanks to the VPN. The data is encrypted, so all that the crooks can view is that version.

VPNs are one way to regulate and secure user access to corporate data. VPNs can hide some resources and protect data when users interact with web apps and properties. Although they are frequently employed for access control, managing user access may be facilitated by other identity and access management (IAM) systems.

Data can be jumbled using encryption so that only people with the proper authorization can decipher it. It takes readable data and modifies it so that attackers or other interceptors perceive it as random.

Consequently, a multi-tenant, multiregional security platform is created that remains invariant to the locations of staff members, data centers, cloud services, or on-site offices.

Data center inspection engines are not used by the SASE platform. Instead, SASE inspection engines are transferred to a point of presence (POP) nearby. A SASE client, which might be a mobile device with a SASE agent, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a mobile device with clientless access, or branch office equipment, delivers traffic to the POP for examination and forwarding to the Internet or the central SASE infrastructure.

SASE systems include SD-WAN together with network security services like FWaaS, SaaS, SWGs, CASBs, endpoint security, and ZTNA in their security model. Consequently, a multi-tenant, multiregional security platform is created that remains invariant to the locations of staff members, data centers, cloud services, or on-site offices.

The four characteristics listed below define SASE services.

• Worldwide SD-WAN connectivity: Using a private backbone and SD-WAN service, SASE links the many POPs required for networking and security software while avoiding internet latency problems. Only to connect to the global SASE backbone does traffic occasionally come into contact with the internet.
• Dispersed policy enforcement and inspection: SASE services shield devices in addition to connecting them. Encrypting and decrypting inline communication is fundamental. Multiple engines running in parallel should be inspected by SASE services. Sandboxing and virus scanning are examples of inspection engines. Additional services like distributed denial-of-service protection and domain name system-based security ought to be offered by SASE. Rules like the General Data Protection Regulation have to be incorporated into the routing and security policies of the SASE.
• Cloud Architecture: SASE services ought to make use of cloud resources and designs that don't require any particular hardware, but they shouldn't have service chaining. Software should be able to instantiate for quick growth and be multi-tenant for cost-effectiveness.
• Driven by Identity: Rather than the site, SASE services have access depending on user identification identifiers, such as particular user devices and locations.

Which from SASE or VPN is More Secure?

Both SASEs and VPNs enable secure remote access to corporate resources. VPNs encrypt data transferred over the internet, protecting the confidentiality and integrity required for business security.

SASE's security model is based on the Zero Trust framework and includes a variety of security services, such as FWaaS and ZTNA, enabling tight access control and continuous verification. VPNs provide safe data transfer but lack the comprehensive, adaptive security elements that SASE adds to an organization's network.

Consider channeling all city traffic through one lane during rush hour. What was the result? Everything has slowed down, and there is pandemonium. VPNs route all of your traffic via a single gateway, generally located at headquarters. If the gateway fails, everybody is stranded.

Zenarmor SASE, for example, allows each user to connect directly and securely to the information they require. Zenarmor's ZTNA implementation establishes encrypted, point-to-point tunnels between the endpoint and the intended application or server without passing through a VPN hub or a data center. This benefits your company significantly:

• Eliminates centralized network congestion.
• Reduces the attack surface for bad actors and enhances security.
• Improves scalability and flexibility by providing an easily adaptable solution (ZTNA).

SASE combines sophisticated threat intelligence technologies, proactive remediation, and integrated access management. This provides a complete, context-aware architecture to improve security over standard VPNs. This granular approach to access, along with constant security validation, distinguishes SASE in terms of remote connection security.

VPN uses encryption to safeguard network traffic and provides rudimentary monitoring capabilities; more security features require additional equipment. Actually, once a VPN connection is established, a hacked device can gain access to the whole network. Consider this: when a laptop is infected with malware or falls victim to a phishing attack, the attacker has the same network access as your workers. What should have been an isolated incident on one remote worker's computer swiftly escalated into a company-wide security disaster.

You may restrict access to particular people and apps using a SASE solution, like Zenarmor SASE. All connections are specifically permitted, giving you full access visibility. Even if a device is hacked, access is limited by default, preventing bad actors from moving laterally.

Scalability

For a variety of reasons, VPNs are hard to scale, which compels businesses to choose between network security and performance.

The main purpose of VPNs is to offer privacy, not security. They don't have integrated access restrictions or the capability to check traffic for harmful material. Because of this, businesses frequently use VPNs to backhaul traffic from distant workers through the corporate LAN for security review before forwarding it to the intended location.

Due to this architecture, a VPN-based secure remote access solution may encounter obstacles from the company's corporate network infrastructure, VPN solutions, and perimeter-based security stack. Consequently, in order to scale VPN infrastructure successfully, money must be spent in several areas, such as:

• VPN Infrastructure: An organization's VPN terminal must be able to handle more simultaneous connections as VPN usage rises. To fulfill present expectations, achieving this frequently necessitates the deployment of new VPN infrastructure.
• Last Mile Network Lines: In order to backhaul all network traffic for security inspection, the corporate LAN's network lines must be able to withstand the strain. Network links must have the capacity to accommodate traffic that enters and exits the network twice, following a security assessment for any traffic with destinations outside the corporate LAN.
• Security Systems: Business traffic that is backhauled via VPN infrastructure is intended to be subject to security audits and policy enforcement. Security systems based around perimeters need to be able to handle all traffic at line speeds.
• System Redundancy: Secure remote access solutions become "critical infrastructure" with high availability needs when working with a distant workforce. Every system, including networking, security, and VPN, needs to be built with enough redundancy and resilience.

It is costly to acquire, implement, and maintain the necessary infrastructure to support businesses' demands for remote access. VPNs' constrained feature set and inadequate scalability are two of the issues preventing enterprises from moving further.

Because VPN infrastructure requires high availability and low scalability, enterprises must deploy several appliances to satisfy the demands of a remote workforce. This is costly and complicates the deployment, configuration, and upkeep of this equipment.

Due to VPNs' limited scalability, many businesses are forced to choose between network security and performance. Backhauling traffic to the corporate network for security inspection is a typical example, which has a large delay.

Implementing secure remote access using workplace VPN solutions is an unreliable and unsafe method. A better approach is required as businesses prepare to provide longer or ongoing support for remote work.

A scalable substitute for secure remote access is SASE. Companies require a secure remote access solution built for the contemporary workplace network, given the development of cloud computing and distant work. Secure access service edge (SASE) can grow to meet demand more effectively than VPNs, which cannot.

Location and security are the two primary causes of problems with VPNs. A separate security stack must be hosted at that site because VPNs are only intended to offer a secure connection to a single destination and do not come with built-in security.

SASE does away with both of these factors. SASE is deployed as a global network of points of presence (PoPs), as opposed to a single VPN terminal. Business traffic may enter and exit the corporate WAN at opportune points thanks to the large number of PoPs.

Software-defined perimeter (SDP), commonly referred to as zero trust network access (ZTNA) for secure remote access, is a component of the security stack. ZTNA/SDP applies zero-trust security principles, granting access to resources on a case-by-case basis, in contrast to VPNs. By doing this, the danger presented by a malevolent user or hacked user account is reduced.

SASE is a far more secure and scalable remote access option than VPNs because of these two characteristics. The SASE network's decentralized architecture eliminates the requirement for a single site to handle all of the network traffic generated by the distant workforce. In addition, the network may be readily scaled or expanded by installing a new virtualized appliance at the required location. Redundancy is integrated into the network.

Which from SASE and VPN Scales Better for Large Enterprises?

Many businesses are discovering that traditional VPN solutions are insufficient as they embrace hybrid and cloud-first strategies. To begin, VPNs were created during a time when scalability was rarely an issue and applications were only stored in private data centers. VPNs just add complexity, latency, and bandwidth strain in today's world, when consumers want real-time access to the cloud from anywhere.

This problem is made worse by security issues. With outdated VPNs, IT teams find it difficult to implement zero trust standards, particularly when overseeing a sizable international workforce. When next-generation technologies like SASE can offer seamless agility coupled with superior security, decision-makers find it difficult to justify the operational cost of setting up, maintaining, and patching on-premises VPN gateways and device agents.

Because of these factors, big businesses are opting for SASE rather than VPNs. Adoption of SASE is beneficial in a variety of contexts and industries:

• Remote and Hybrid Workforces: Offer scalable, safe access to cloud and internal apps without sacrificing speed.

• SaaS and Multi-Cloud Environments: Safe cloud-native tasks with uniform guidelines for AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

• High-Compliance Industries: SASE's integrated security controls and audit-ready visibility are advantageous to the government, healthcare, and financial services industries.

Performance

Traditional on-premises office settings need security, performance, and flexibility that legacy networking and security solutions cannot provide. As a result, they are quickly becoming outdated.

Products from SASE provide a considerably better substitute for conventional technology. Through the use of SD-WAN, SASE enables direct-to-cloud connections, which significantly reduces latency in connections, as opposed to backhauling traffic through a central data center for inspection. Rather than limiting access based on IP addresses and localities or centrally reviewing communications, SASE security prioritizes identity authentication. This makes security functions available wherever users and devices need them by allowing them to relocate from the central data center to the network edge. SASE services make networking security management easier by allowing IT professionals to manage many point products instead of setting and enforcing policies inside a single cloud-based solution.

The majority of SASE providers bundle SD-WAN with security solutions like a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), a Secure Web Gateway (SWG), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) technologies, even though there is no set method for designing a SASE system.

Despite their advantages, VPNs are becoming more and more troublesome for businesses. VPNs add delay since all VPN traffic must pass via a centralized VPN server before being routed to its destination, unlike direct connections inside SASE setups.

Additionally, Zero Trust security controls, which are essential for reducing the attack surface and obstructing threat actors from traveling freely throughout an IT environment, are absent from traditional VPNs. These policies can limit a user's access to particular IT assets. As networks get larger, VPNs add a significant amount of complexity and administration expense since they take a long time to set up, maintain, and upgrade.

Sending traffic through an independent security stack is crucial, as VPNs lack built-in security features. This implies that a lot of businesses backhaul traffic for inspection over corporate LANs, which adds a lot of network delay.

Does SASE Offer Faster Performance Than VPN?

Yes. The SASE design improves network speed by simplifying connection paths and reducing latency. This method allows for centralized deployment of security procedures while improving scalability and effectively controlling the rise in remote user access needs. This architecture increases performance for both remote employees and in-office users, resulting in a more seamless user experience.

VPNs, on the other hand, might suffer from performance concerns as a result of centralized routing, particularly when dealing with high levels of internet traffic or connecting users from numerous worldwide locations. VPNs may generate bottlenecks since they rely on a central server, resulting in sluggish connections that degrade the user experience. As the number of remote workers utilizing VPNs increases, bandwidth constraints may worsen performance issues.

VPNs frequently lack the flexibility to provide a consistent user experience across scattered user locations.

If your VPN program or cloud point of presence fails, your users will be thrown out or redirected via slower paths. This includes network slowness, session dropouts, unhappy users, and calls from your IT staff throughout the day.

In this scenario, Zenarmor SASE operates directly on your device, removing the possibility of gateway choke. This means security checks are performed locally, with no need for a VPN, diversions, or bottlenecks. As a result? Remote work is smoother and safer for everyone, and IT workers are not swamped with calls all day. Zenarmor SASE offers the following conveniences:

• Improved performance by reducing dependency on centralized infrastructure (20-1500 times quicker than standard VPN or SD-WAN systems).
• Consistent, dependable connections with single-point-of-failure
• True Zero Trust Security with Unlimited Micro-Segmentation
• All networked systems are now included in the danger surface, which has grown significantly.

In conclusion, key considerations about performance include

• SASE networks are designed for dispersed situations, using many cloud nodes to reduce latency and improve overall performance.

• VPN connections routed through centralized data centers may experience latency difficulties, especially for users in geographically distant areas.

• SASE solutions improve scalability, allowing enterprises to modify resources depending on real-time network demands.

• Users report steadier connection speeds and fewer disruptions with SASE than with VPNs, which have periodic performance limits.

SASE is a modern alternative to old VPNs because of its smooth user experience and rigorous security features, despite the fact that both systems serve unique purposes.

What are the Advantages of SASE Compared to VPN?

As SASE gains popularity, more organizations prefer it to regular VPNs due to the benefits it provides. Although this is only a tiny portion of SASE's entire capabilities, it is an excellent starting point for determining whether it is the perfect fit for your company. SASE has several advantages over VPN. The primary benefits of SASE over VPN are detailed in the list below.

• SASE combines many tools into one: With the advent of remote work over the last year and a half, edge and cloud computing have taken on significant roles in business IT. Virtual private networks (VPNs) have practically become the norm in corporations, allowing distant employees to access protected data. However, latency has necessitated that businesses update their distribution techniques to allow employees to obtain data more quickly. SASE and edge computing bring resources closer to employees, reducing the amount of distance traveled. SASE is a full-suite solution that combines many security and networking technologies into one. Within the platform, SASE includes:

  • Cloud access security brokers (CASBs)
  • SD-WAN, Zero Trust Network Access, and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS)
  • Secure Web Gateway (SWG)

  In addition to these essential features, SASE can detect malware, identify sensitive data, continually monitor sessions for hazards, and instantly decrypt material. With these features, firms may better leverage edge computing capabilities rather than store everything in a central data center that employees require remote access to.

• Zero-trust possibilities for remote employees: Home WiFi networks are frequently not as secure as business networks. Because of this, plus the fact that employees are logging in from various places, zero trust is required for remote work to be successful. SASE features ZTNA to continually verify users using multifactor authentication and behavioral analysis, preventing attackers from obtaining credentials and gaining network access through them. ZTNA additionally defends against internal risks by limiting staff access to only the data required to accomplish their tasks. This implies that your marketing team does not have access to payroll data, and HR does not receive sales or customer information. This data separation helps to avoid data abuse and allows IT to swiftly isolate a breach if one occurs. Typically, VPNs do not provide the same level of access control.

• Lower latency compared to typical VPNs: Traditional VPNs allow employees to acquire access by impersonating the IP address of the central data server's location. This causes a delay since the request must go all the way to the data center for approval before being returned to the user. Instead, SASE sends data to the network's edge, allowing employees to access it more quickly. Network latency can frustrate employees and lead to significant delays over time. Lower latency makes data more safe by reducing the amount of time it spends in transit. Data is less susceptible to eavesdropping since it is sent over small distances rather than from a central server.

• SASE saves money: While it may appear to be pricey at first glance, SASE helps firms save money on both capital and operating expenditures. SASE is often less expensive than acquiring many separate apps since it combines them. Furthermore, IT personnel simply have one application to learn and administer, lowering operational expenses. Traditional VPNs require you to acquire numerous extra products to achieve the same level of capability, and your IT team must then figure out how they all operate together.

What are the Disadvantages of SASE Compared to VPN?

There is no single solution, including SASEs, that fits all use cases. Although SASE has a benefit, it may be deficient in some areas and may not meet the demands of the users, as indicated in the following points.

SASE systems sometimes require tweaking for business networks. Data types vary in sensitivity and require different levels of protection. As a result, businesses must understand the value of their data and use conditional access effectively. However, at a fundamental level, using a VPN (or virtual private network) when going online might bring two significant advantages.

• Privacy: By concealing your IP address, location, and search history so that they are not monitored by websites, internet browsers, cable companies, internet service providers (ISPs), or others.
• Security: Helping to secure your personal information and other data while it is in transit or being sent from and received by your device.

However, a VPN can do more than just that. A VPN might also benefit you in other ways.

Because SASE is a new technology, several features are currently being developed. Companies, for example, report that automated setups, network monitoring, and device troubleshooting are among the most limiting functions.

Implementing SASE may necessitate retooling technical teams. This may raise the cost. In certain circumstances, network and security staff function independently and must be integrated. In both cases, technicians will need to be trained on the new technology.

In contrast, adopting a VPN helps a business minimize the cost of server maintenance by outsourcing support to third-party service providers, who may offer a reduced cost structure due to their large customer base.

SASE can make network configuration more challenging. In other circumstances, corporations have lately adopted SD-WAN, or edge systems. Adding SASE might cause redundancies and inefficiencies and make debugging more complex.

However, Internet-based VPNs can enable organizations to tap into existing network lines and network capability, thereby improving reach and service quality for remote and foreign sites.

Implementing a SASE solution may necessitate considerable modifications to old infrastructure that have been ingrained in business working processes. Moving to SASE overnight might jeopardize productivity and cooperation, as well as leave security vulnerabilities until the new arrangement is implemented. This disruption necessitates careful management of the transition process, including the establishment of defined milestones and keeping stakeholders informed.

VPNs, on the other hand, may allow corporations to avoid renting expensive network capacity lines that connect office sites. Instead, they might connect via public infrastructure, such as inexpensive local leased lines or broadband connections from a local ISP.

Can SASE Completely Replace a VPN?

Yes. SASE has the potential to take the place of VPN since it offers direct cloud connections and enhanced network security services that make access easier for both individual and mobile users. SASE, unlike typical VPNs that are tethered to office networks, provides a comprehensive security solution that is appropriate for cloud-based organizations.

SASE and zero-trust network access (ZTNA) technologies are predicted to increasingly replace VPNs because they provide a cloud architecture that enables flexible, secure cloud connections for mobile users and cloud computing environments. These developing technologies improve network security while simplifying access control for distributed users and cloud assets.

In an era of digital transformation and cloud-first strategy, SASE is increasingly seen as the future of secure access solutions, with benefits in scalability, network administration, and intrusion prevention systems.

However, VPN has its uses. VPNs are very beneficial in a variety of situations. These include, but are not limited to:

• Locations with public Wi-Fi: Hackers frequently use insecure public Wi-Fi networks, such as hotspots, to steal user data. VPNs protect online traffic, preventing hackers from using it for malicious reasons even if they manage to access the encrypted data.

• General internet browsing: The internet, in general, carries risks such as monitoring activities and identity theft. This is why a VPN may be effective in securing users' ordinary surfing behavior by preventing third parties from accessing their history and private data, as well as helping to secure personal data from unwanted access, theft, or misuse.

• TV and film streaming: Many video streaming services, like Netflix and YouTube, restrict access of particular content in specific regions. VPNs bypass restrictions by encrypting IP addresses, making it appear as though a user is viewing the video from a different (qualifying) nation.

• Gaming: A reliable internet connection free from DDoS attacks and capacity limitations is what many gamers desire. Using a VPN for gaming allows you to 'hide' activities from ISPs via IP masking, preventing them from decreasing bandwidth and adding an added degree of protection.

• Online Shopping: Buying products and services online may be fraught with dangers, ranging from fake websites and bait-and-switch tactics to pricing discrimination and intrusive advertising. In addition to preventing price discrimination, the practice of purchasers in some nations paying more for particular goods than others, VPNs also help keep credit card information and online behavior secret, enabling consumers to shop with confidence and without pressure or security worries.

How Can Security Compare Between SASE and VPN?

SASE not only addresses VPN's networking restrictions, but having a single security engine for all edge traffic simplifies security policy management and enforcement.

Access control is far stricter. Instead of granting remote users access to whole networks, SASE employs cloud-based Software Defined Perimeter (SDP) or zero trust network access (ZTNA), which limits network access to permitted resources. Users can only view network resources, such as apps or hosts, that are approved by their policy. There is no way for them to "PING" or use other IP tools to examine the network and find unsecured resources. SDP provides robust access authentication and continuous traffic inspection to help secure endpoints.

Security administration is considerably simpler, especially when VPNs are combined with SD-WANs. Rather than maintaining separate security rules for mobile users connected via VPN and office users behind the SD-WAN device, SASE establishes a single set of security policies for all users and resources. SASE improves remote access to company resources by combining the capabilities of many security models.

SASE is identity-driven; therefore, it trusts nothing and checks everything. VPNs utilize perimeter-based security, which implies they can be trusted after a user enters the network. VPNs may be the appropriate method in some cases, particularly in home or small office networks when the numerous SASE-related parts are superfluous.

Which Aligns with Zero-Trust Security Models?

Security is essential in any network architecture, and this is where the SASE vs. VPN contrast shines the brightest. SASE supports the Zero Trust security approach, which follows the philosophy of "never trust, always verify." VPNs, on the other hand, are mostly based on classic perimeter protection measures.

SASE's identity-based access and behavior monitoring benefits enterprises that use a zero-trust security approach by maintaining strong control over network access.

SASE uses zero trust architecture to reduce the attack surface, implement identity-centric, context-aware rules, and identify threats dynamically. SASE uses SD-WAN to minimize the bottlenecks associated with VPN tunneling, resulting in quick and reliable communication.

The SASE system uses Zero Trust principles to continually verify user identities and provide strong security against emerging cyber threats, whereas VPNs are confined to safeguarding data conduits and preserving user anonymity.

What to Consider When Choosing the Right Solution Between SASE and VPN?

Remote access solutions (RAS) give users simple, quick, dependable, and secure access to the business network from anywhere. Businesses commonly deploy remote access solutions such as SASE and VPNs to provide their employees with secure access to company resources. To choose the best solution for your firm, you must first assess your existing security and network infrastructure.

Based on SASE architecture, it can help you enhance network performance, but VPNs can impose latency and capacity limits. It is critical to assess the security features provided by both SASE and VPN. SASE provides extensive security features such as firewalls, anti-malware, and zero-trust network access (ZTNA), whereas VPN only creates a secure tunnel for data transfer.

A SASE system is far more scalable than a standard VPN technique. If a corporation suddenly has to accommodate thousands of new remote workers, it can "switch on" more SASE services in the cloud, near those distant workers' locations.

SASE is likely to be faster and less expensive to adopt because there is no need to run out and buy more VPN concentrators, VPN licenses, network access control capacity, and so on. This minimizes network complexity. The SASE security stack is maintained in the cloud by the SASE provider, so IT workers have less to configure, monitor, and maintain.

In terms of cost, VPNs appear to be less expensive at first, but SASE can save you more money over time by eliminating the need for on-premises hardware and maintenance, though this can vary due to the many great enterprise VPNs now available that can be installed over-the-air as a service rather than hardwired into a server.

All being said, while SASE provides a more current and comprehensive solution to remote access and network security, it will not totally replace VPNs in all cases. VPNs may still be recommended for enterprises that need more granular control over network access or have special compliance needs. The decision between SASE and VPNs is based on your company's individual demands and factors.

Nonetheless, while not every firm needs to replace their VPN solution with SASE, if you're already utilizing apps for the other platforms SASE supports, such as CASB or SD-WAN, it's absolutely worth considering. Furthermore, if your firm is facing high levels of latency and has a large remote workforce, SASE is able to lower this and helps your employees be more productive. Overall, SASE is an excellent option for businesses seeking to provide safe and direct access to the cloud for both remote and in-office personnel.

How do SASE and VPN Handle Remote and Hybrid Work?

When deciding between SASEs and VPNs for remote access, it is important to take the company's unique needs into account. Because VPNs expose IP addresses to the public internet, they are susceptible to hackers. VPNs do not, however, offer comprehensive insight into user behavior across cloud and SaaS settings, which makes it challenging to track usage and react to anomalies. SASE offers a full range of cloud-based networking and security services that are integrated and tailored to the evolving needs of businesses, especially those with a sizable remote workforce.

VPNs, while historically used to protect connections from remote sites to the corporate network, might encounter issues such as network latency and restricted capacity, particularly when a significant number of users are connected. While VPNs can successfully encrypt data in transit, they may not provide the same level of security or performance improvement as SASE. VPNs, on the other hand, may be appropriate for smaller enterprises that want secure network access but lack the extra functionality that SASE offers.

SASE is critical for ensuring secure access in hybrid work settings, where employees must access programs and data from several locations. SASE's unique design enables constant safe access to applications from any location, allowing remote and hybrid users to operate swiftly and securely.

SASE solutions, like Zenarmor SASE, improve remote workers' productivity and security by allowing them to access company resources efficiently, regardless of their location. SASE's support for a wide range of device types provides security independent of the user's location or equipment, making it a perfect choice for enterprises with a distributed workforce.

The ability of SASE to enable continuous and secure connectivity for distant workers accessing cloud services adds to its attractiveness for hybrid workforces. This makes SASE an essential component in guaranteeing smooth and secure operations in today's dynamic work contexts.

Zenarmor SASE, for example, is based on a fundamentally contemporary strategy that includes zero trust, endpoint intelligence, and peer-to-peer communication. Zenarmor SASE enables quicker, safer, and more robust access without the traditional bottlenecks and failures.

A number of factors, including the size of the remote workforce, the level of data sensitivity, the desired level of security, and the network infrastructure already in place, affect the decision to use SASE or VPNs. Companies need to weigh the convenience and potential cost savings of VPNs against the enhanced security and performance capabilities of SASE. Achieving a balance between security, performance, and cost-effectiveness that aligns with the business's long-term strategy and operational requirements is the ultimate goal.

Will SASE Make VPNs Obsolete in the Future?

Yes The VPN's primary use case is to allow users with remote access, which proved useful during the COVID-19 epidemic. Now that remote and hybrid work has become the norm in office settings, businesses are seeking new solutions to provide remote access.

Alternatives can give network teams a more comprehensive security plan, even though VPNs are unlikely to go away. Technologies such as ZTNA, SD-WAN, SDP, IAM, PAM, and others may help create a zero-trust security approach, which may subsequently be utilized as a security element in a SASE architecture.

The goal of both SASE and VPNs is to provide safe access to network resources. Significant security features in SASE's existing architecture, however, could beat VPNs' one-connection function.

The notion that SASE will make VPNs obsolete has started to gain traction. This is partially because SASE may provide context-aware, secure access directly in the cloud, potentially reducing the need for conventional VPNs.

VPNs do not automatically offer ZTNA and FWaaS, but SASE's architecture offers a more comprehensive and dynamic solution. Performance can be enhanced by moving to SASE as it is cloud-native. This optimizes connection pathways, possibly removing the performance bottlenecks that VPNs may have when routing through a central server.

Nonetheless, VPNs remain relevant for particular use cases, such as individual consumer privacy or as a cost-effective choice for enterprises that do not require all of SASE's features. SASE illustrates a change in the strategy for secure access management in a setting that is becoming more and more dependent on the cloud, rather than making VPNs obsolete.

Can SASE and VPN work Together?

Yes, many firms use a hybrid strategy, with VPNs continuing to support older applications and specialized remote access requirements as SASE steadily expands secure, cloud-based connections. This strategy promotes continuity while improving overall security.

Transitioning from VPN to SASE requires developing a strategic plan and implementing it in stages. This step-by-step solution enables businesses to recalibrate connections for the remote workforce while smoothly integrating SASE into existing systems. SASE's cloud-native architecture allows for faster integration, easing the transition.

Transition steps from VPN to SASE are outlined below.

1. Begin by following these steps to implement SASE's core components. The combination of SD-WAN, SWG, CASB, FWaaS, and ZTNA allows for centralized administration of security and connectivity.

2. Evaluate your current infrastructure. Check your VPN configuration. Determine the limits you need to overcome, as well as your performance, scalability, and security needs.

3. Plan for a smooth transition. Transitioning to SASE entails implementing a cloud-native design that eliminates the limits of physical infrastructure.

4. Implement adjustments gradually. Migrate key applications and services first. You may create your SASE architecture in parallel, gradually introducing users to it as their confidence builds.

5. Engage stakeholders and train them. Ensure that your IT workers are adequately trained on the SASE solution and that stakeholders understand the benefits and changes.

Is SASE more expensive than a VPN?

VPNs provide small organizations a cost-effective way to obtain secure access without the hassles associated with more complex solutions. VPNs' simplified design enables these smaller organizations to minimize costs while preserving secure network access.

Cost-effectiveness emerges as a key consideration in small business decision-making when evaluating SASE and VPN solutions from a financial standpoint. VPNs are especially appealing to businesses with smaller budgets because of their low cost and simplicity of setup. But over time, SASE can save money by lowering maintenance and reliance on hardware. When deciding between SASE and VPN solutions, businesses need to take into account both the immediate and long-term financial consequences.

By combining networking and security features into a single platform, the switch to SASE can save infrastructure expenses. This lowers long-term operating expenses and improves network performance overall, giving businesses more dependable access and increased productivity.