While securing access to company networks for remote work or even business travel has long been the norm, the traditional virtual private network (VPN) solution is giving way to a modern option that provides a more manageable connection and a better user experience— secure access service edge (SASE). Which is right for you? Let’s dig into the difference between the two technologies to determine that answer.
Understanding the Difference: VPN vs. SASE
Neither solution is difficult to understand and they are similar up to a point. Both protect network data in motion between remote devices and business networks; however, how that happens is markedly different. Before making any decision about the best remote access solution for your organization, it’s a good idea to complete a thorough VPN and SASE comparison.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) funnels user data through an isolated, secure connection and hides the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the device when it communicates outside your organization’s network. Using a VPN offers layers of security. First, the user’s identity is safeguarded with a VPN connection through a public or shared internet connection, such as a hotel or airport WiFi network. In addition to “hiding” the user, VPN encryption also protects the data sent from the connected device. VPNs are best known for their “zero trust” approach, with every connection authenticated to better protect data and your organizational network.
Secure access service edge, or SASE (yep, “sassy”) solutions provide a more flexible but still extremely secure networking solution. Unlike a VPN solution, which is typically supported with hardware, SASE architecture is cloud-based and bundles cloud security services into a single product, simplifying deployment, support, and management. SASE requires little to no hardware and uses cloud computing to bundle SD-WAN with security solutions such as firewalls, secure web gateways, zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and more. The result is a multi-tenant platform for security that is not impacted by the location of employees, your organization and its data centers, or the activity of other users. SASE eliminates the infamous latency issues of VPN.
Additionally, since SASE solutions are cloud-based, enforcing policies is streamlined, particularly helpful for organizations required to meet regulatory compliance standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or those with a dispersed workforce that are especially concerned about reacting to quickly changing cyber threats.
Simply put: Choosing between traditional VPN and SASE solutions revolves around two key points: network security options and cloud vs. on-premises hardware. Traditional VPN tools are standalone applications that often require hardware. SASE solutions combine multiple security tools into one platform hosted and managed in the cloud.
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Which Solution is Right for Your Dispersed Workforce?
While VPN remains a dependable solution, technology industry experts expect more organizations to lean into SASE for several reasons when selecting VPN vs. SASE for remote work. 2023 research from Dell’Oro Group estimates the SASE market will grow at a compound annual rate of 30% through 2027, highlighting the growing popularity of SASE implementations.
The reasons are simple: Traditionally, network security revolved around the idea that organizations should send traffic to corporate networks, where cybersecurity solutions lived. When nearly all employees worked from brick-and-mortar offices, that approach made complete sense. VPNs provided a secure pipeline into those corporate networks for those employees who might work remotely or travel often.
But with the historic shift to remote work over the last few years, that model became increasingly difficult to maintain and manage, raising concerns about remote workforce security. The focus has turned toward the user-centric approach of SASE. In a comprehensive article explaining SASE benefits, TechTarget shared several pros and cons of this increasingly popular solution:
Many of the negatives associated with SASE are common questions raised about innovative IT solutions: vendor lock-in, the risk of a single point of failure tied to the bundling of several critical services, the challenge of hybrid workforce connectivity, integration issues with legacy systems, and a lack of standards for deployment and performance expectations.
When it comes to VPN vs. SASE, if you’re concerned about selecting and deploying the right solution for your organization, let Exigent help. We’ll uncover the best approach to creating a productive user experience with full access control and security functionality, supported by clear policies that guide your team whether they are fully remote, hybrid, or just on the road for work travel.
Daniel Haurey Jr. is the president and founder of managed IT services provider Exigent Technologies, which he founded in 1997. Under his leadership, the MSP has earned accolades ranging from Channel Futures MSP 501 to being named SonicWall’s 2024 MSP Growth Partner of the Year. Dan is a true entrepreneur, dedicated to growing, investing in, and mentoring small businesses. You can find him on LinkedIn, where he regularly posts about technology, business, leadership, and community.