Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Traditional Appliance-Based Vendors
- Cloud-Native Security Vendors
- Ground-Up SASE Vendors
- Hybrid SASE Vendors
- What's The SASE Vendor Verdict For Small to Mid-Sized Healthcare Businesses?
- Key Takeaways: Your Ultimate Guide to Navigating the SASE Vendor Landscape
- Looking for SASE implementation services?
Introduction
Welcome to the insider's guide on Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) vendors.
As businesses pivot to the cloud and remote work becomes the norm, SASE is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity.
This article is your roadmap to understanding the four types of SASE vendors that are revolutionizing network security and why mid-sized businesses should pay attention.
We'll deep dive into the features, scalability, and integration capabilities that these vendors offer, helping you make an informed decision.
Traditional Appliance-Based Vendors
Companies: Cisco, Fortinet, PaloAlto Network, and Forcepoint
The Pros
- Feature-rich solutions: These vendors offer a wide array of features that cover almost every aspect of network security and performance.
- Established reputation: Being industry titans, they have a proven track record of reliability and performance.
- Comprehensive support: With a global presence, they offer extensive customer support.
- Unified Threat Management: These vendors often provide a one-stop-shop for all security needs, simplifying the security landscape for businesses.
- High Availability: Traditional vendors usually offer high availability options, ensuring that your network is always up and running.
The Cons
- Cumbersome to integrate: Traditional vendors often just virtualize their existing hardware appliances for the cloud, making integration complex.
- Often expensive for mid-size businesses: The cost structure can be prohibitive for smaller enterprises.
- Limited cloud-native capabilities: They may lack the flexibility and scalability offered by cloud-native solutions.
- Complexity in Deployment: These vendors often require multiple products to be deployed, increasing the complexity and need for extensive IT staff.
- Lack of Global Connectivity: Some vendors like Fortinet lack global connectivity and SaaS optimization, which can be a significant drawback.
In-depth Analysis Of Traditional Appliance Based SASE Vendors
Traditional appliance-based vendors are the stalwarts of the industry, offering robust, feature-rich solutions.
However, the shift to the cloud is causing disruption in the network security appliance market.
To remain relevant, these vendors are transitioning their solutions to virtualized software deployed in the cloud. This move often requires sacrificing hardware acceleration and adapting to complex security policies.
Vendor Specific Analysis
Cisco: Strong threat telemetry and dual-track SASE, but faces challenges in cloud strategy and has a steep learning curve with less competitive pricing.
Fortinet: Robust security with Security Fabric and user-friendly interface, but lacks comprehensive cloud strategy and global backbone for cloud-native components.
PaloAlto Network: Integrated SASE with excellent real-time threat prevention, but struggles with cloud-native capabilities integration and considered expensive.
Forcepoint: Offers cloud-based SASE services with anti-malware features, but not suitable for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.
Cloud-Native Security Vendors
Companies: Zscaler, Netskope
Pros
- Agile and Adaptable: These vendors are nimble, allowing for quick adjustments to security protocols and features.
- Cost-Effective: With a pay-as-you-go model, these vendors offer financial flexibility.
- Easy to Integrate: Seamless integration with existing cloud infrastructures.
- Enhanced Visibility: Real-time monitoring capabilities provide comprehensive security metrics.
- Continuous Compliance: Ensures cloud environment adheres to regulatory requirements.
Cons
- May Lack Some Advanced Features: Might not offer all advanced security features that traditional vendors provide.
- Vendor Lock-in Risks: Challenging to switch vendors due to compatibility issues.
- Complexity: Microservices and containers can introduce management complexity.
- Observability Data Volume: Large volume of data can be overwhelming.
Vendor Specific Analysis
Netskope: Excels in CASB and data loss prevention with granular visibility, but lacks SD-WAN capabilities and has complex deployment with high pricing.
Zscaler: Offers Zero Trust Exchange™ with global reach and real-time threat detection, but limited on-premises solutions and complex third-party integration.
In-Depth Analysis
In the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity, cloud-native security vendors like Zscaler and Netskope are making waves. They offer a range of advantages, from agility to cost-effectiveness, that make them particularly appealing for businesses already invested in cloud services.
However, they're not a one-size-fits-all solution. The agility they offer is unparalleled, especially for industries that are sensitive to market changes. But this agility comes at a cost: they may lack some of the advanced features that traditional vendors offer.
Ground-Up SASE Vendors
Companies: Cato SASE, Perimeter 81
Pros
- Purpose-built for SASE: Designed specifically for SASE, ensuring seamless integration.
- Easier to Manage: Single, unified platform reduces administrative burden.
- Ideal for Mid-Size Businesses: Cost-effective and easier to deploy.
Cons
- May Lack Feature Maturity: Being relatively new, might not offer comprehensive feature sets.
- Smaller Support Ecosystems: Limited community and third-party integrations.
Vendor Specific Analysis
Cato SASE: Quick deployment with cloud-native global network and cost-effectiveness, but can be complex for beginners and has some security gaps.
Perimeter 81: Feature-rich with excellent customer service and mobile accessibility, but complex deployment for hybrid environments with some connectivity issues.
The Maverick Approach
Ground-up SASE vendors like Cato SASE Cloud and Perimeter 81 have disrupted the SASE landscape by building their platforms from scratch. This purpose-built approach ensures that their solutions are inherently streamlined and easier to manage.
For mid-sized businesses, this is a game-changer. Why? Because it allows them to reallocate resources more efficiently, without the need for a large IT team.
Hybrid SASE Vendors
Companies: Cloudflare, Versa
Cloudflare's SASE offering, Cloudflare One, doesn't neatly fit into the "Ground-Up SASE Vendors" category. The same is the case for Versa. Instead, both occupy a unique position that combines elements of traditional vendors and cloud-native solutions.
The Pros
- Security: Robust security features including firewall, VPN, and threat detection.
- Scalability: Suitable for both small and large enterprises.
- Ease of Deployment: Relatively straightforward deployment process.
- Hybrid Approach: Integrates networking and security services.
The Cons
- Stability Issues: May face occasional stability problems.
- Pricing Challenges: Cloudflare can be challenging in pricing, Versa needs API improvements.
- Complex UI: Some users find Versa's interface complex.
Vendor Specific Analysis
Versa: Offers flexibility and scalability with advanced configuration, but faces performance issues and customer support needs improvement.
Cloudflare: Easy implementation with strong protection features and user-friendly interface, but has GUI inconsistencies due to API focus.
What's The SASE Vendor Verdict For Small to Mid-Sized Healthcare Businesses?
For mid-sized businesses, the SASE vendor choice should be a calculated decision based on a few key factors:
- Single-Vendor Solution: Opt for vendors that offer an integrated suite of networking and security services.
- Cloud-Native Architecture: Ensure the platform is cloud-native for flexibility and low latency. Cato SASE is highly recommended.
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): This is a non-negotiable feature for enhanced security.
- Scalability: Given that mid-sized businesses may grow, scalability is crucial.
- Budget: Consider cost-effective solutions like Perimeter 81.
- Future-Proofing: Opt for vendors that are innovative and can adapt to future security needs.
In summary, for a mid-sized business, a vendor like Cato SASE Cloud or Perimeter 81 could be an excellent choice given their cloud-native architecture, ZTNA capabilities, and budget-friendliness.
Key Takeaways: Your Ultimate Guide to Navigating the SASE Vendor Landscape
The Landscape is Diverse, Choose Wisely
The SASE vendor landscape is a mosaic of options, each with its unique set of advantages and drawbacks. Traditional appliance-based vendors like Cisco and Fortinet offer feature-rich solutions but may lack cloud-native agility. Cloud-native vendors like Zscaler and Netskope bring flexibility and cost-effectiveness to the table but may compromise on some advanced features.
Align with Your Business Needs
Mid-sized businesses should align their specific requirements with what vendors offer. If agility and cost-effectiveness are your priorities, cloud-native vendors could be your go-to. However, if you're looking for a comprehensive feature set, traditional or hybrid vendors might be more up your alley.
The Rise of Ground-Up and Hybrid Vendors
Ground-up vendors like Cato SASE Cloud and Perimeter 81 are disrupting the market with their purpose-built solutions, ideal for mid-sized businesses. Hybrid vendors like Cloudflare and Versa offer a balanced approach, combining the best of both worlds.
Zero Trust is Non-Negotiable
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a must-have feature, irrespective of the vendor you choose. It adds an extra layer of security by verifying every user and device trying to access the network.
Future-Proof Your Investment
The SASE market is projected to grow to $6 billion by 2028. Opt for vendors that are innovative and can adapt to future security needs. You're not just buying for today; you're investing in your security infrastructure for the years to come.
Looking for SASE implementation services?
At Consltek Inc., we've got you covered with a comprehensive range of offerings. With our partnership with Cato SASE Cloud and implementation at Cleveland University, Kansas City, we have the expertise to offer you Managed SASE Services for Healthcare.
- Specialized Security Audit: We conduct specialized audits to pinpoint security gaps in your system.
- Tailored Solutions: Our solutions are customized to fit your needs precisely.
- Vendor Selection: We offer unbiased vendor selection based on your unique requirements.
- Risk Reduction: With our technical expertise, we streamline integration and minimize risks.
- Staff Training: We provide comprehensive staff training on new systems.
- Ongoing Support: Count on us for continuous SASE implementation support.
Trusting Consltek Inc. for your SASE implementation needs means you'll have a reliable partner to cover all aspects of your security and efficiency requirements.
