When To Choose SSE vs. SASE: A Decision Framework for Security Leaders

Secure access service edge (SASE) is an architectural approach that brings together cloud-delivered security and wide-area networking capabilities. Security service edge (SSE) represents the security component of that architecture and commonly includes secure access service edge (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and zero trust network access (ZTNA). 

SASE, which encompasses all the features of SSE plus SD-WAN capabilities, is often viewed as the desired end state. But launching a full SASE implementation takes considerable resources, and many enterprises find that starting with SSE is a great first step towards unifying their security and networking functions.

What is SSE designed to solve?

SSE addresses security in a perimeterless world by managing remote access, SaaS app sprawl, and web-based threats without the latency associated with legacy systems.

Transitioning to SSE helps organizations solve the following problems:

1. Legacy, perimeter-based security tooling wasn’t designed for a distributed workforce. SSE enforces controls from the edge, applying consistent access policies and threat protection independent of user location.

2. Traditional VPNs grant excessive, broad network access and introduce lateral movement risk. SSE replaces or augments VPNs with ZTNA to enforce identity- and context-based access.

3. Shadow IT and SaaS sprawl introduce unknown risks. SSE uses CASB features to identify SaaS app usage, monitor risk, and enforce policies for app access and data handling.

4. Remote users are vulnerable to web-based malware and phishing. SSE enforces consistent web security policies for any user or location.

5. Sensitive data can leak through uploads, sharing links, SaaS apps, and unmanaged devices. Inline inspection and data loss prevention (DLP) reduce exfiltration risks across all access paths.

6. Routing traffic through centralized inspection points increases latency and complexity. SSE delivers cloud-based policy enforcement closer to the user, so traffic doesn’t need to be routed through a central data center.

By converging networking and security into a single architecture, SASE helps address the following problems: 

1. Tooling sprawl introduces unnecessary complexity. SASE consolidates fragmented point products into a single architecture.
2. Enforcing policies consistently across a global enterprise becomes nearly impossible with point products. SASE eliminates enforcement gaps by applying consistent security policies across locations, users, and cloud environments.
3. It’s hard to get visibility into your operations, networking, and security. SASE brings connectivity and security controls under unified management, which removes monitoring blind spots and speeds up troubleshooting.
4. Security teams struggle to scale with traditional networking and security solutions, which are limited by their appliance-based architectures. SASE is cloud native and helps security services scale with rapid business growth.

What are the key differences between SSE and SASE?

When to start with SSE

You’ll want to begin with an SSE implementation when:

You’re frustrated with your VPN. If your VPN has performance issues, scaling problems, or operational overhead concerns, you’ll want to prioritize a faster SSE adoption over a more comprehensive SASE implementation. 

VPN issues are typically an access or security problem, and SSE’s ZTNA capabilities can replace or reduce reliance on your legacy VPN. With SSE, you can fix VPN issues without waiting for a complete WAN redesign.

There’s pressure to reduce your ransomware risk. SSE is also a good choice if there’s organizational pressure to reduce your exposure to ransomware. 

SSE lets you move to identity- and context-based access on the application level without needing to wait for a broader SASE implementation. With SSE, you can tighten access controls quickly. 

Your SD-WAN or WAN is “good enough.” If you have long-lived carrier contracts, a stable branch topology, or no organizational appetite to rearchitect your WAN, SSE can plug into your existing WAN. 

Your organization is cloud and SaaS-heavy, and you need improved security today. Implementing SSE is a great first step towards simplifying your security stack and consolidating your web, SaaS, and private app controls into a single cloud service. With SSE, you can streamline how you protect SaaS data, implement least-privileged access, and secure your remote workforce in one platform.

Once you implement SSE, you can move towards a more complete SASE architecture when it’s right for your organization. 

When to prioritize SASE

If you’re deciding whether or not you want to start with SSE or move straight into SASE, you’ll want to choose SASE when: 

You’re already doing a WAN refresh. If you’re approaching an MPLS renewal, redesigning your branch footprint, or planning an SD-WAN overhaul, it’s more efficient to modernize networking and security at the same time. 

You need consistent policy delivery across branches, users, and cloud workloads. If your current approach creates security policies based on where traffic originates, adopting a SASE framework will help standardize policy enforcement, reduce policy drift, and align performance and security outcomes. 

SASE is especially useful for organizations with branch-heavy footprints, like in the retail, finance, or manufacturing sectors. 

You want a single platform and need a simplified rollout strategy. If your organization has many locations that require a repeatable rollout model, SASE is the best option. A single platform will help you deploy and maintain consistency across sites at scale, improve troubleshooting, and simplify management of networking and security stacks. 

Can you do SSE now and SASE later?

Yes. Many organizations first adopt SSE for its inline security benefits, and continue to use their existing WAN or SD-WAN. Then, when a planned WAN refresh or broader network modernization project comes up, those organizations use that as an opportunity to move into a full SASE implementation. 

With a phased convergence approach, organizations get the risk reduction benefits sooner while giving their networking and security teams time to create the larger convergence plan.

Choosing the right vendor for SSE and SASE

As you plan out your organization’s security and networking future, keep in mind that not all SSE and SASE platforms will work with you each step of the way. You’ll need to find a vendor that delivers comprehensive SSE capabilities on a unified architecture. And that vendor must be able to help you scale into a complete SASE implementation when your organization is ready.

Whether you’re securing your remote workforce today with SSE or converging your networking and security over time, you’ll need a vendor that understands the path to SASE. 

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