With the new design of the modern workplace, the rise of the hybrid workforce has thrown a spanner in the works. Employees are now scattered across the globe, accessing networks and applications from coffee shops, living rooms, and traditional office spaces alike. This work-from-anywhere (WFA) shift has turned the network security landscape on its head, expanding the attack surface and complicating the security of networks, applications, edges, and other resources.
The Gauntlet Thrown
IT teams find themselves in the hot seat, tasked with the herculean challenge of securing this new, uncharted landscape. They’re in need of solutions that not only provide reliable application access and consistent, always-on security, but also ensure an optimized experience for every user, no matter where they’ve set up their office for the day. The question is, how can they best harness the power of the available technologies to meet these goals?
The Arsenal: Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
Enter Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), two solutions that have emerged from the shadows to tackle these challenges head-on.
Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
ZTNA is the gatekeeper, providing secure application access to users. It lives by the mantra of “never trust, always verify,” ensuring that every user and device is put through the wringer – authenticated and authorized – before being granted access to applications. This approach significantly tightens the security belt, reducing the attack surface and helping to keep unauthorized access at bay.
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
SASE, on the other hand, is the watchdog, offering cloud-based security inspection for safe internet and SaaS applications. It’s the Swiss Army knife of network security, combining wide area networking (WAN) capabilities and network security services into a single, cloud-based service. The result? Simplified management, reduced complexity, and improved performance.
The Road Ahead
Securing a hybrid workforce may seem like a daunting task, but with tools like ZTNA and SASE in the arsenal, it’s a navigable challenge. By understanding and effectively wielding these technologies, organizations can ensure reliable application access, consistent security, and an optimized user experience, regardless of location. The future of work is here, and with the right strategies, organizations are well-equipped to rise to the challenge.
