An Overview of SASE For Leaders

In today’s rapidly evolving digital environment, many organisations are under pressure to transform how they secure and connect their users, devices, and applications. As workforces become more distributed, cloud adoption accelerates, and cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication, traditional network and security architectures are showing their age.

This is where Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) comes into the picture. First defined in 2019, SASE is not just another technology acronym — it’s a strategic architectural shift that combines networking and security functions into a single, cloud-delivered service model. But for leaders, particularly those in CIO, CISO, or “Head of IT” roles, SASE can seem like a sprawling concept with plenty of hype and a complex web of features and vendor claims.

This post will break down what SASE is, the business value it offers, typical use cases, and the challenges that organisations typically face in adopting it — all in plain language, and with a focus on what matters most to decision-makers.

What is SASE?

At its core, SASE (pronounced “sassy”) merges wide area networking (WAN) capabilities with network security functions into a unified, cloud-native service. Rather than routing traffic back through a corporate data centre for inspection, SASE allows secure, direct access to applications and services — wherever users or devices may be.

The key components of a SASE architecture typically include:

  • SD-WAN (Software-defined Wide Area Networking)
    Connects distributed locations with flexible, cost-effective, and application-aware routing.

  • Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
    Protects users from internet-based threats and enforces acceptable use policies.

  • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
    Provides visibility and control over cloud application usage and data.

  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
    Replaces traditional VPNs with identity-aware access to applications, based on policies and context.

  • Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
    Delivers firewall capabilities via the cloud, enabling consistent policies and protection without physical appliances.

By converging these services into a cloud-based delivery model, SASE shifts security closer to the end user and the edge, reducing latency, improving performance, and simplifying operations.

Why SASE Matters for Leaders

Addressing Modern Business Goals

Modern organisations are under pressure to support:

  • Hybrid workforces — with employees needing secure access from home, branch offices, or on the road.
  • Cloud-first strategies — with applications now hosted in public clouds, private data centres, and SaaS platforms.
  • Digital transformation — which increases demand for agility, speed, and scalability.
  • Regulatory compliance and cyber resilience — requiring better visibility, auditability, and protection of data.

SASE directly supports these business objectives by offering:

  • Scalability
    Cloud-native services can scale up or down rapidly, supporting business growth or change without heavy infrastructure investment.

  • Improved user experience
    By enabling direct-to-cloud access, SASE reduces the performance issues common with backhauling traffic through centralised locations.

  • Stronger security posture
    Integrated policies across identity, device, data, and application layers help enforce Zero Trust principles consistently.

  • Operational efficiency
    Consolidating multiple point products into a unified platform reduces complexity and administrative overhead.

Common Use Cases

For leadership teams evaluating where SASE might bring the most value, the following use cases are among the most common and impactful:

1. Secure Remote Work

SASE enables secure access to internal and cloud-based applications without relying on traditional VPNs, which are often complex to scale and manage. ZTNA ensures that users are only given access to the applications they need, based on identity, context, and risk.

2. Branch Connectivity Modernisation

SD-WAN within SASE allows branch locations to connect directly to the internet and cloud services, improving performance and lowering costs by reducing reliance on MPLS or centralised infrastructure.

3. Cloud Application Governance

With CASB and SWG, organisations can gain visibility into SaaS usage (both sanctioned and shadow IT), enforce policies, and protect sensitive data moving in and out of the cloud.

4. Security Simplification and Consolidation

SASE allows security teams to manage fewer tools and policies through a single framework, making compliance easier and reducing risk from misconfiguration or tool sprawl.

Challenges in Adopting SASE

While the benefits are clear, the road to SASE adoption isn’t without its obstacles. Here are some common challenges leaders should be aware of:

1. Cultural and Organisational Change

SASE often requires greater collaboration between networking and security teams, which may historically have operated in silos. New governance structures and skills may be needed.

2. Legacy Infrastructure and Investments

Many organisations have significant investments in existing firewalls, VPNs, and WAN technologies. Moving to SASE might require rethinking or phasing out these systems over time.

3. Vendor Complexity

With many vendors offering partial or full SASE capabilities, understanding what’s included, what’s missing, and how solutions will integrate can be challenging — especially without a clear internal strategy.

4. Policy and Access Management Complexity

Adopting ZTNA and identity-driven access means rethinking how applications are accessed, by whom, and under what conditions. This can introduce friction if not carefully planned.

5. Performance Variability

Cloud-delivered services rely on vendor infrastructure and network conditions. In some regions or industries, ensuring consistent performance and availability can require careful evaluation.

A Strategic Approach for Leaders

To realise the benefits of SASE while avoiding common pitfalls, leaders should consider the following steps:

1. Start with the Business Needs

Don’t begin with the technology. Instead, clarify what the organisation needs to achieve — whether that’s enabling remote work, modernising connectivity, or simplifying security operations.

2. Assess Current Capabilities

Map out the current state of networking and security architecture. Identify gaps in coverage, performance issues, or areas of high operational overhead.

3. Build a Cross-functional Team

Bring together stakeholders from networking, security, infrastructure, and user experience. SASE is a convergence strategy — your teams should mirror that.

4. Pilot with a Clear Scope

Start small — such as with a remote work use case or a small set of branch locations — and use the pilot to evaluate performance, integration, and policy management before scaling.

5. Adopt a Phased Rollout Strategy

Don’t aim for an overnight shift. Instead, define a roadmap that phases in SASE capabilities in line with infrastructure refresh cycles, cloud migrations, or organisational priorities.

Conclusion: A Long-term Investment in Agility and Resilience

SASE is not just another product to procure — it’s a strategic transformation of how organisations connect and protect their digital estate. For business leaders, adopting SASE represents an opportunity to:

  • Simplify and unify the security and networking stack
  • Better support distributed workforces and cloud-centric operating models
  • Improve both user experience and cyber resilience
  • Future-proof infrastructure investments for agility and scalability

However, success with SASE depends not just on selecting the right tools, but on aligning people, processes, and policies. It’s a journey that requires strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and a clear understanding of business priorities.

By focusing on business outcomes rather than technical features, leaders can cut through the noise and take a pragmatic approach to adopting SASE — one that delivers real value, both now and in the future.

If your organisation is considering a move to SASE, start by identifying one high-impact use case. Whether it’s remote access, branch modernisation, or reducing tool sprawl — starting small can unlock meaningful insights and build momentum for wider adoption.