The evolution of ‘work from anywhere’ networking
In the bustling world of today’s hybrid workforce, the traditional boundaries of network security and access have been redrawn. The need for a resilient, flexible networking solution that can adapt to the «work from anywhere» ethos has never been more apparent.
Enter the era of personal secure access service edge (pSASE), spearheaded by Cloudbrink, aiming to transform how we think about enterprise networking in a landscape where the local coffee shop can double as an office and the office can double as a coffee shop.
Why do we need another SASE?
SASE recognizes the need for integrated security and networking, but the “traditional” model of SASE (first described by Gartner as recently as 2019) is flawed for several reasons:
● It is centralized, reflecting the office-based architecture of its networking and security components. It was conceived at a time when remote workers were in a minority and the term hybrid work hadn’t been coined
● It is fragmented. Most SASE implementations involve tens of major components often from multiple vendors. Few vendors have a complete SASE solution and even fewer have built from the ground up. Enterprises typically buy SASE from two or more different vendors
● It is complex. As a result of the above, enterprises who want best-of-breed SASE components must do the integration work themselves or pay a third-party, increasing cost and operational overheads
● Visibility is poor. Another problem created by piecemeal systems is that IT is left with numerous consoles for monitoring the network, users, applications and security
● There are multiple different networking and security policies governing access to Internet, SaaS and on-prem applications, and remote and in-office users. Managing all these rules makes life harder for IT – and for the users who need to follow them
● Performance is an issue. Office-based workers typically have fast, reliable network access through the office LAN and SD-WAN connections. Those at home or on the road typically have slower unreliable connections. Adding security makes performance worse. SD-WAN vendors often improve performance in the mid-mile but can rarely do anything about the last mile and access mile between the user and the network edge.
The rise of coffee shop networking
The concept of coffee shop networking is emblematic of our current work era. It emphasizes the need for networking solutions that are as adaptable and seamless as connecting to your favorite coffee shop’s Wi-Fi, but with the security posture required for corporate resources. This model is becoming increasingly relevant as remote work and digital nomadism continue to surge in popularity.
Cloudbrink’s introduction of the world’s first personal SASE solution marks a milestone in this new networking paradigm. According to Cloudbrink’s CEO, Prakash Mana, the evolution towards a coffee shop networking model requires lightweight, adaptable networking solutions that replicate the seamless user experience outside traditional office settings, without compromising on security. This vision aligns with Gartner’s recognition of the complexities and challenges in deploying traditional SASE architecture, advocating for a more streamlined approach.
Addressing modern workforce needs with personal SASE
Cloudbrink’s personal SASE solution takes the concept of universal zero trust network access (ZTNA) a step further. By integrating new Internet security capabilities with its high-performance ZTNA platform, Cloudbrink addresses the critical needs of the modern «work from anywhere» workforce. The solution boasts ultra-low latency access, a single policy for security and networking, centralized visibility, and a complete zero-trust security stack. These capabilities enable secure, high-performance access to applications, whether users are working from a coffee shop, home or any remote location.
Cloudbrink’s concept of personal SASE extends beyond technical specifications. It represents a shift towards per-user consumption-based SaaS services, making it remarkably easy for IT to deploy and manage. This not only simplifies the user experience but also reduces the management and licensing overhead associated with traditional SASE products.
The future of SD-WAN and SASE
SD-WAN will continue to be part of the evolving landscape, particularly for enterprises requiring high availability and performance for mission-critical data center applications.
Gartner predicts that SD-WAN will continue to grow at 16.8% a year through 2027 but acknowledges that SD-WAN and the rest of the SASE stack needs to be simplified and better adapted to distributed work.
Cloudbrink’s personal SASE offering coexists and can integrate with existing SD-WANs or serve as an alternative for many use cases. Its mission is to allow organizations to leverage the benefits of both technologies in a unified, streamlined solution.
This strategy not only caters to the demand for lighter-weight SaaS SD-WAN functionality suited for remote-only users but also fits perfectly into the coffee shop networking model needed for the modern corporate office. By embedding personal SD-WAN within its personal SASE framework, Cloudbrink positions itself at the forefront of a significant industry shift, providing a blueprint for the future of distributed networking architecture.
Above, Graham Melville, VP Marketing, Cloudbrink, at NetEvents London 2024 / image credited to telecomkh
