As enterprise networks become increasingly distributed and cloud-centric, your organization must adjust its cybersecurity measures accordingly. While there’s still a place for traditional perimeter-based security in hybrid and on-premises environments, those methods alone are no longer enough to secure cloud computing and remote workflows.
Modern, effective solutions often follow one of two frameworks: security service edge (SSE) and secure access service edge (SASE). Both are designed to balance security with performance, but they have different scopes and use cases.
Let’s explore the similarities and differences between SSE versus SASE, so your team can decide which will best protect your security architectures and cloud-native operations.
What Is SASE?
SASE is a cloud-based framework that combines networking and security services into a single solution. It relies on the following components to provide secure access for users regardless of their physical locations:
- Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN)
- Cloud access security broker (CASB)
- Secure web gateway (SWG)
- Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
SASE unifies these services to consistently enforce security policies across cloud applications, SaaS tools, and on-premises systems. The primary goals are to reduce latency and support remote workers and branch offices, although there are also secondary benefits such as data loss prevention.
What Is SSE?
SSE is a subset of the SASE framework, and it focuses exclusively on cloud security architecture. Consequently, it doesn’t include software-defined networking elements like SD-WAN. SSE centralizes security for users who need access to cloud services and applications, and it employs Zero Trust network access (ZTNA) principles to manage authentication.
This approach helps organizations protect cloud operations without relying on traditional data center security. To achieve this, SSE usually leverages:
- CASB for visibility and control of cloud applications
- SWG for monitoring and filtering web traffic
- ZTNA for enforcing Zero Trust network principles
- FWaaS for scalable, cloud-based firewall protection
SSE and SASE: What They Have in Common
As you can see, these models share a lot of fundamental similarities. Understanding where they align helps your organization avoid duplicate efforts and tool sprawl. Both frameworks rely on:
- Zero Trust: SASE and SSE involve continuous authentication rather than implicit trust. Users and devices must prove their access rights regardless of where their requests originate. This enforces least-privilege principles and strengthens overall identity and access management.
- Cloud-based protections: Both models deliver cloud-native defenses for applications and services, although SASE includes this as one of multiple elements, while SSE focuses on it exclusively. Nevertheless, each framework allows enterprises to secure modern systems without being tethered to on-premises solutions.
- Edge-driven security: SASE and SSE reduce the distance between security solutions and users or devices by placing security at the network edge. This allows for easier scalability, and better accounts for security risks like bring-your-own-device policies and remote or unpredictable access.
SASE vs. SSE: How They’re Different
While SSE focuses on security layers in the cloud, SASE takes a much broader view and blends networking and security across your infrastructure. Here are the key differences between SASE and SSE:
- Scope and architecture: SASE architecture combines network connectivity tools like SD-WAN with security services, creating a consolidated platform. SSE excludes network optimization, and focuses only on the cloud security layer with tools like access control.
- Use cases: SASE is ideal for hybrid environments that need comprehensive security solutions. SSE is best for remote teams seeking a security add-on to protect their cloud operations from threats.
What to Consider When Choosing Between SASE and SSE
Both frameworks can have long-term impacts on your organization’s security posture and network performance. What you choose to invest in should depend on your business needs, existing infrastructure, team setup, and security policies.
Here are four key considerations when deciding between SSE and a more comprehensive SASE model.
Current and Future Costs
Full SASE deployments are more expensive upfront, but they offer long-term consolidation. You’ll need to weigh the higher initial investment against the potential cost savings of replacing multiple tools with one unified model.
If cost is an issue, SSE can deliver the ad-hoc cloud security you need at a more affordable price. Either way, be sure to consider whether you have lock-in agreements with other security solutions, and know the potential costs of breaking those contracts early.
Business Needs
If your priority is to secure cloud applications, SSE may be sufficient. It might be all you need if you have a remote-only team, or if you have sufficient on-premise security but want to support newly remote users without changing your existing workflows too much.
However, if you’re more concerned with connectivity and secure network access, and you don't mind implementing new solutions, SASE provides better overall defense against digital threats.
Integration
Before adopting any new tools, it’s a good idea to conduct a thorough inventory analysis of your tech assets and the solutions in place to secure them. Then you’ll want to confirm compatibility of SASE and SSE platforms with your existing frameworks and vendor capabilities.
No matter which model you choose, poor integration can lead to inefficiencies, extra costs, network lag, and increased risks. Prioritizing seamless integration helps you strengthen your security posture without putting strain on your team or opening up new supply chain vulnerabilities.
Performance
Neither SSE nor SASE causes lag on its own. In fact, SASE provides network optimization. Still, vendor implementation, network conditions, and configuration choices can determine whether latency becomes an issue down the line.
So it’s important to evaluate potential latency concerns before adopting either framework. This is especially important for remote workers and globally distributed branch offices, which rely on fast, secure connections. Ideally, your security teams should test any potential SASE and SSE tools under real-world conditions before deployment, to ensure stability and avoid business disruption.
Complement SSE and SASE With Legit Security
Legit Security plugs gaps in your software supply chain by securing the infrastructure, applications, and development pipelines that fuel modern enterprises. Legit’s security tools also align with the Zero Trust framework, and they’re compatible with SASE and SSE deployments to support continuous compliance.
Legit helps organizations properly secure data, networks, and products from code to cloud. Request your demo today to get started.
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