As a Network Security Administrator, choosing between Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) can be challenging, especially when both offer their unique benefits. The choice largely depends on your organisation’s specific needs, current setup and future goals. In this blog post, we will guide you on assessing your network security needs and deciding when SASE or ZTNA might be the right choice for your business.
Assessing Your Network Security Needs
Before making a decision between SASE and ZTNA, you first need to evaluate your network security needs. Here are some questions to consider:
- What’s your company’s scale? Larger enterprises might need more comprehensive solutions, while smaller ones might require simpler, more streamlined services.
- Where are your workers located? If you have a lot of remote workers or multiple branch locations, this could impact your decision.
- What types of devices are being used? The mix of company-owned versus personal devices can affect your security approach.
- What kind of applications do you use, and where are they hosted? Whether you’re using cloud-based apps or have on-premise data centres can sway your choice.
By answering these questions, you can get a clearer picture of your company’s specific needs and thus be in a better position to choose between SASE and ZTNA.
When SASE Might be the Right Choice
SASE could be a suitable choice if your organisation has a geographically dispersed workforce or multiple branch locations. As SASE integrates various network and security capabilities into a single cloud-based service, it is a perfect fit for organisations that require secure, high-performance, direct-to-cloud connections. Moreover, if you are looking to simplify your network architecture and management, SASE’s unified service approach can be quite beneficial.
When ZTNA Might be the Right Choice
ZTNA might be a better fit if your organisation’s primary concern is securing access to applications, irrespective of their location. With ZTNA’s “never trust, always verify” philosophy, it offers a more secure alternative to traditional VPNs by limiting access to specific applications rather than the entire network. If your organisation hosts sensitive data and wants to minimise the attack surface, ZTNA’s application-specific access control could be the right choice.
Choosing Between SASE and ZTNA
Choosing between SASE and ZTNA is not necessarily an either-or situation. The decision should be driven by your business needs and security requirements. It’s also important to note that SASE and ZTNA can be complementary, with ZTNA forming part of a broader SASE strategy. This means that you can leverage the benefits of both for a robust, secure, and versatile network security architecture.
Remember, the ultimate goal is to optimise your network security architecture, and the choice between SASE and ZTNA should align with this goal. Keep your business needs and the security of your network at the forefront when making this decision. Consider seeking advice from experts or consulting with a trusted network security provider like Lumen to ensure you make the most suitable choice for your organisation.