A term coined by Gartner in XNUMX, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a set of network security quirks that support organizations' active secure access requirements in the form of Software as a Service. One of these fundamental peculiarities is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) which, like SASE, helps to protect networks against digital threats.
This technology is becoming more and more popular among IT giants and corporate end users, which is why 2021 has been rich with new developments and advancements in the field. Without further ado, here are the main stories related to SASE and ZTNA in the year 2021:
1. Fortinet brings SASE and ZTNA to FortiOS
In early 2021, Fortinet announced an essential update to its FortiOS Seventy. The update introduced more than 700 new features to expand your ability to deliver relentless security across your networks, clouds, and endpoints. One of these overriding peculiarities is ZTNA for hidden access and application control with an improved user experience and simplified administration.
This is a part of Fortinet's cloud-based SASE, which provides companies with the ability to have their employees work from anywhere in a consistent, secure enterprise-grade manner delivered on premises. In other words, it offers remote employees outside the network who use the platform exactly the same level of security that is provided on the Internet, regardless of their location.
Almost at the same time, Virgin Media Business upgraded its cloud security portfolio to Zscaler's global Zero Trust Exchange platform that sits between an organization's users, its applications, and its networks.
The platform accepts the adoption of the cloud and hybrid work strategies that have gained relevance and popularity due to the pandemic. Zscaler Private Access makes it simple to direct traffic to the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange through the use of ZTNA to limit access to applications only to authorized persons.
The arrival of Zscaler has allowed the company to strengthen its SD-WAN suite, cloud security and hybrid cloud by providing a world-class service that includes the SASE framework.
3. NetFoundry and Oracle Cloud introduce zero trust on the application side
In mid-2021, NetFoundry announced that it was expanding its Trustless Networking SDK (SDK) that gives developers tools to build applications on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). These tools also support certificate-based identity, least-privilege access, enrollment initiated, micro-segmentation, encryption, and two-way authentication.
Integrating the code into the application allows faster access to the NetFoundry Fabric network, an essential part of the vendor's SASE platform, as well as improved application performance. As a result, developers can create zero-trust security features directly in their applications without relying on software agents.
The update in question leaves Software as a Service developers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to use NetFoundry's ZTNA functionality rather than having to develop it themselves. By migrating zero trust to the application, developers can move away from relying on end users to incorporate the SASE architecture and employ the zero trust feature.
4. McAfee creates its ZTNA to strengthen SASE
In August 2021, McAfee enriched its SASE platform with its internal ZTNA technology called Mvision Private Access. The purpose was to integrate with the platform's data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities, while ensuring access to private applications from any device, anywhere.
The innovation extends to managed and unmanaged devices and performs incessant hazard analysis using data provided by McAfee's endpoint security network of one billion sensors.
Mvision Private Access also powers the distributor's Extended Discovery and Response (XDR) platform. With SASE, the platform gives a more complete view of potential threats, improving their automated detection and response.
5. IBM expands Zero Trust strategy capabilities with new SASE services
That same month, IBM announced its new SASE services as a step toward accelerating the adoption of cloud-delivered security closer to users and devices accessing corporate resources.
The new services have been developed through the collaboration of IBM Security expertise and methods with Zscaler technology. As a result, the company has made a fully managed transition to a cloud-based SASE architecture, essential for a zero-trust security situation.
Aware of the ongoing transformations in the digital planet and organizations that are considering moving to a hybrid operating model, IBM decided to develop the new non-traditional, zero-trust approach. This approach, in the form of IBM Security Services for SASE, is tailored to the unique needs of each organization, helping them revolutionize their network security.
6. Citrix adds ZTNA to its SASE arsenal
The month of October saw another company launch its ZTNA platform. Citrix Systems, a US multinational cloud computing and virtualization technology company, has released Citrix Secure Private Access, the latest integration to its SASE build.
As such, this platform protects end-user access to services and applications, whether they access from a managed or unmanaged device, on the organization's premises or remotely.
Citrix's VP of Product Marketing equated this ZTNA with a dimmer, as opposed to an on / off switch typically seen in tech. In particular, it gives a different level of access to applications depending on specific factors such as the identity or location of the user. IT teams can assign unlimited access to most applications while limiting access to certain data reserved to specific environments such as managed devices.
Provider of the first SASE platform on the planet and a world leader in SASE, Pruebo Networks works tirelessly to advance this technology. Your last step towards this goal is the strategic investment of Swisscom Ventures.
Reinforced by the growing interest of communication services distributors (CSPs) in SASE and its associated technologies, the investment proves the new symbiosis between these distributors and Pruebo.
The latest investment follows the round table of US $ XNUMX million from the previous month at a market valuation of US $ XNUMX billion. And these are far from the only Proof headlines. Earlier this year, in April, the company partnered with KDDI to offer cloud-native SASE services worldwide.
There you have it: the most essential stories about the SASE and ZTNA innovations that marked the year ago. With IT giants and companies recognizing the potential for massive use of these technologies, their future looks little by little brighter. We are confident that there are going to be more exciting stories in the coming year and we look forward to reading them.