With the rise of teleworking, particularly in Quebec where around 35% of the workforce was teleworking in 2022, companies must adapt their infrastructures to ensure efficient and secure connectivity. This transition exposes organizations to new cybersecurity threats, making traditional solutions often insufficient. It is in this context that SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) presents itself as a modern solution, combining security and connectivity within a simplified architecture.
In Quebec, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of the economy. More than 2.25 million Quebecers work in an SME, representing more than 85% of private sector employees (source). These statistics underline the importance for SMEs of adopting cybersecurity solutions adapted to their reality.
What is SASE?
SASE (pronounced “sassy”) is a cloud-based security model that integrates:
- Network security: protection of users and data against threats thanks to a firewall in the cloud (Firewall as a Service – FWaaS).
- Network connectivity: optimization of application access paths via SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network).
Traditionally, security and connectivity were managed separately, often with a physical firewall in the office. SASE unifies these functions by moving the firewall to the cloud, enabling centralized management and consistent application of security policies regardless of user location.
Why is it different from traditional solutions?
Traditional solutions rely on physical devices (firewalls, VPNs). All of this requires manual updates and is complex to manage, especially with the proliferation of remote access. In contrast, cloud-based SASE automatically enforces security policies, optimizes performance with SD-WAN, and simplifies management through a single console.
The main advantages of SASE
- Flexibility and mobility: secure connection from anywhere, without complex VPN.
- Enhanced security: real-time threat detection and blocking, with a uniform security policy.
- Improved performance: automatic optimization of network routes for a fast and stable connection.
- Cost reduction: less physical hardware, simplified management and long-term savings.
Concrete example: VPN vs SASE
With a traditional VPN, each connection to an online resource can be compared to a detour. For example, when working from home, your connection first goes through your company’s network before accessing the Internet, which can cause slowdowns. With SASE, the firewall is in the cloud, so you connect directly to the Internet in a secure way, without a detour.
Services such as NordVPN or ProtonVPN simply mask your IP address by redirecting traffic through a specific server. SASE goes further by offering complete traffic control and monitoring, with security rules tailored to each user and application.
Why adopt it today?
With the widespread use of hybrid working and the constant evolution of threats, traditional solutions are becoming obsolete. SASE offers a combination of security and performance in a single, scalable solution. For Quebec SMEs, adopting SASE means strengthening their security, simplifying management and optimizing network performance.
💡 Thought of the day: “SASE is like a smart GPS: it guides you quickly while protecting you from dangers on the road.”
👉 Find out how SASE can secure your business: www.montechnicien.com.
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