Recent years have seen an explosion in cyber threats targeting enterprises, fueled by trends like cloud adoption, remote work, and digital transformation. According to Forbes, cybercrime costs are projected to grow by 15% per year, reaching over $10 trillion annually by 2025. At the same time, 60% of SMBs fell victim to a cyberattack last year.
To protect today‘s dynamic networks and distributed users, enterprises need robust security at the edge. This is where Security Service Edge (SSE) comes in…
Defining SSE
SSE is a critical component of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) focused on security service delivery. SSE consolidates various security capabilities like zero trust network access (ZTNA), cloud access security broker (CASB), firewall as a service (FWaaS), and more into a unified cloud platform.
I‘ve helped numerous global enterprises implement SSE to reduce risk, improve user experience, and consolidate their security stack. A major financial services client saw a 53% decrease in network vulnerabilities after adopting Zscaler‘s SSE platform. For a retail company, SSE reduced security tool sprawl from 18 down to just 5 tools.
At its core, SSE enables security to be delivered flexibly as a service from the cloud edge based on identity and context, removing reliance on the underlying network. This is a key enabler for protecting today‘s highly distributed environments with remote workers, cloud apps, and mobile devices.
SSE architecture (Image credit: AIMultiple)
Critical Capabilities Under the SSE Hood
SSE integrates several security services into a single cloud-based platform. Here‘s a deeper look at how each one secures networks:
ZTNA – Granular Access Controls
ZTNA verifies user and device credentials before granting access to private apps and data. This enforces least privilege access based on factors like identity, group membership, device security posture, geo-location, and behavioral analytics. For example, anomalies like unusual traffic levels can trigger stepped-up authentication or restrict access.
Microsegmentation and software-defined perimeters prevent lateral movement across networks. Overall, ZTNA aligns with a zero trust framework to adaptively control access.
CASB – API-Level Cloud Security
CASB integrates with cloud service APIs to gain visibility into data, user activities, configurations, and anomalies. Advanced threat detection identifies compromised accounts, insider threats, data exfiltration, and other risks. Custom risk models can be defined per application to tailor security policies.
For example, unusualLevels of cloud data egress could trigger alerts or restrict actions for high-risk users. This protects critical SaaS apps like Office 365.
FWaaS – Secure Virtual Isolation
FWaaS delivers cloud-based firewall capabilities, including next-gen intrusion prevention (NGIPS), threat intelligence feeds, URL filtering, antivirus, and more. Network traffic can be segmented into secure virtual containers isolated from one another for greater attack resistance.
For instance, production workloads can be isolated from corporate or guest networks. FWaaS also simplifies firewall management across locations.
SWG – Comprehensive Web Security
SWG applies deep scans and policy enforcement to secure web traffic. This includes URL/DNS filtering, advanced malware prevention, cloud sandboxing, DLP, browser isolation, and web data encryption.
As examples, suspicious URLs are blocked based on reputation, while DLP can detect improper transfers of sensitive data like credit card numbers or health records.
RBI – Isolated Browser Environments
RBI executes browsing activity in an isolated cloud environment to isolate web-based threats. With no access to endpoint devices, malware has no impact even from risky sites. Some RBIs also allow visual streamed content while keeping code execution remote.
This effectively acts like an air gap for browsing to prevent infections. RBIs defeat keyloggers, zero-days, ransomware-laden ads, and other web-borne attacks.
DLP – Policy-Driven Data Security
DLP applies policies like masking, blocking, or encrypting sensitive data flows across networks. This protects against improper transfers over email, USB devices, cloud apps, and more. Custom fingerprints can identify critical data like customer records, HR data, IP, and financials.
For instance, DLP can prevent departing employees from transferring key company data to personal accounts or devices. This safeguards intellectual property and ensures compliance.
Why SSE is Critical for 2024 and Beyond
Leveraging SSE delivers significant advantages that will only grow in importance looking ahead:
Reduced Risk: SSE minimizes exposure to malware, breaches, insider threats, and other attacks by removing trust from the network layer. Software-defined segmentation and least privilege access are applied based on identity and context.
Improved User Experience: With fast, direct connectivity replacing VPNs, remote and mobile users enjoy much faster access to private apps and cloud services. This bolsters productivity.
Consolidated Security Stack: Rather than manage a patchwork of disconnected tools like proxies, VPNs, SWG, firewalls, and data loss prevention, SSE combines essential services into a unified platform. This simplifies operations, policy enforcement, and the vendor landscape.
According to Gartner, by 2025 over 50% of new SASE implementations will be based on SSE platforms delivered from the cloud. As networks become more distributed, organizations must secure the edge. SSE represents the future of network security architecture.
Key Recommendations for a Successful SSE Strategy
For organizations exploring SSE solutions, here are some best practices:
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Start with business goals – Identify core network security challenges and desired outcomes to drive requirements. Common goals include reducing risk, enhancing user experience, and streamlining security tools.
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Assess gaps – Evaluate existing network security capabilities and identify potential gaps SSE could address like legacy VPN access, limited cloud/web security, etc.
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Integrate incrementally – Take an iterative, step-by-step approach to SSE adoption. Start with a limited trial for remote access, then expand domain by domain.
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Involve key stakeholders – Get buy-in across IT, security, networking, and business groups. Clear communication is crucial.
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Leverage emerging standards – Support for standards like SASE frameworks and Zero Trust Maturity Model helps future-proof technology choices.
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Train users – Educate employees on new policies and access methods to smooth the transition.
With cyberthreats growing, SSE will prove critical for securing today‘s highly dynamic network edges. By converging key security services like ZTNA, CASB, and SWG into a cloud-based platform, SSE enables organizations to implement robust protection tailored to modern environments and users. Companies should start planning their SSE strategies now to boost security and productivity.