Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) FAQ

Let’s get started. Use the list below for quick, clickable navigation through the FAQs.

• Understanding the Basics of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Solutions
  • What is SASE?
  • Who came up with SASE?
  • What is the goal of SASE?
  • What is SASE in simple terms?
• How Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Works in Practice
  • How does SASE work?
  • What is the SASE architecture?
  • What is SASE technology?
• Comparing SASE to Traditional Approaches
  • Is SASE better than VPN?
  • Is SASE only for the cloud?
  • Is SASE worth it?
• Critical Considerations for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
  • What are the challenges that come along with SASE?
  • Who has the best SASE solution?
• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) & Related Technologies
  • What is the difference between SASE and SD branch?
  • What is SASE in SD-WAN?
  • What is a SASE assessment?

Understanding the Basics of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Solutions

Before getting into the technical details, it’s helpful to start with the fundamentals. These FAQs explain what SASE is, where it came from, and why it has quickly become a must-know concept for IT and security leaders.

• What is SASE?

  SASE, short for Secure Access Service Edge, is a framework that blends networking and security into one cloud-delivered service. Instead of juggling multiple tools—like firewalls, VPNs, and WAN optimizers—SASE unifies them into a single, modern approach.

• Who came up with SASE?

  The term was introduced by Gartner in 2019. Their analysts predicted the shift to remote work and cloud adoption would demand a fresh way to handle both performance and protection.

• What is the goal of SASE?

  The big picture: simplify and secure connectivity. SASE is designed to ensure that employees, devices, and applications can connect safely and efficiently, whether in the office, at home, or halfway around the world.

• What is SASE in simple terms?

  Picture a cross between a traffic cop and a bodyguard for your data. SASE ensures traffic gets where it needs to go quickly, while protecting it from cyber threats (all without the clunky limitations of old-school hardware).

How Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Works in Practice

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at how SASE functions in practice. Below are some of the most common questions businesses ask as they begin exploring SASE.

• How does SASE work?

  Instead of routing everything back through a corporate data center (which slows things down), SASE applies security policies in the cloud, at locations close to your users called points of presence (PoPs). The result is faster, safer connections.

• What is the SASE architecture?

  SASE isn’t a single tool. It’s an architecture that combines several functions: SD-WAN for optimized connectivity, secure web gateways for filtering, cloud access security brokers (CASB) for SaaS oversight, firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), and zero trust network access (ZTNA).

• What is SASE technology?

  Think of it as a toolkit. SD-WAN improves performance, ZTNA enforces “never trust, always verify,” while FWaaS and secure gateways stop bad actors in their tracks. The beauty of SASE is that all of this is delivered as a cloud service, always up-to-date and easy to scale.

Comparing SASE to Traditional Approaches

SASE often gets compared to existing tools like VPNs or traditional WANs. These FAQs explore how SASE stacks up against older technologies and what makes it different.

• Is SASE better than VPN?

  For most modern organizations, yes. VPNs were built for a time when employees needed to connect back to a central office. Today’s world is cloud-first and hybrid. SASE enforces security closer to the user, making it faster, more scalable, and more secure.

• Is SASE only for the cloud?

  Not at all. While it’s cloud-native, SASE isn’t limited to SaaS apps. It’s equally capable of protecting private data centers, on-premises systems, and hybrid environments.

• Is SASE worth it?

  If you value stronger security, improved performance, and reduced complexity, absolutely. By consolidating multiple tools into one service, many organizations also see cost savings and streamlined operations.

Critical Considerations for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Of course, no IT shift comes without its complexities. Let’s discuss.

• What are the challenges that come along with SASE?

  Transitioning to SASE can be tricky. Legacy systems don’t always play nicely, vendor sprawl can cause confusion, and IT teams often need training to get the most out of it. That’s why many organizations turn to a SASE implementation guide or a trusted partner like Comport to help map out a clear strategy.

• Who has the best SASE solution?

  There’s no one-size-fits-all. Leaders in the space include vendors like Cloudflare, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Zscaler, and HPE Aruba. The right choice depends on your infrastructure, budget, and growth plans. Pro tip: Comport has compiled a comparison guide to help you weigh your options.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) & Related Technologies

Because organizations rarely deploy SASE in isolation, it’s important to understand how it interacts with related technologies like SD-WAN and SD-Branch, as well as how assessments help guide adoption. Let’s clarify how SASE relates to SD-WAN, SD-Branch, and assessments.

• What is the difference between SASE and SD-Branch?

  SD-Branch is focused on simplifying networking at local branch offices. SASE goes beyond the branch, providing a global, cloud-delivered framework for securely connecting users anywhere.

• What is SASE in SD-WAN?

  SASE is essentially an SD-WAN with built-in security. While SD-WAN makes traffic routing more efficient, SASE layers on policies like ZTNA and CASB to protect that traffic.

• What is a SASE assessment?

  A SASE assessment is like a roadmap for your organization. It evaluates your current network and security setup, identifies gaps, and outlines priorities for adopting SASE in a way that minimizes disruption and maximizes value.

With over 30 years of specializing in technology solutions, we’ve curated a list of assessments designed to give businesses the clarity they need before making IT decisions. A SASE assessment can help you identify gaps, uncover potential roadblocks, and build a roadmap that aligns security and networking with your organization’s goals. If you’re considering SASE, contact us here to start the conversation.