For decades, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been the go-to method for remote users to securely access internal company resources. While VPNs served their purpose well in the era of centralized networks and perimeter-based security models, they are rapidly becoming obsolete in the face of modern digital transformation. In their place, cloud-native architectures like Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Security Service Edge (SSE) are emerging as superior alternatives— designed for the distributed workforce, cloud-first applications, and sophisticated threat landscapes of today.
The Limitations of Legacy VPNs
VPNs operate by creating encrypted tunnels between a user’s device and the company’s internal network, typically funneling traffic through a centralized data center. While this offers a layer of security, it introduces significant inefficiencies and vulnerabilities.
Performance Bottlenecks: All traffic, even if destined for cloud services like Microsoft 365, is routed through the corporate network. This may result in latency and degraded user experience.
Poor Scalability: VPNs require considerable infrastructure to scale securely. With sudden shifts to remote work (e.g., during the COVID-19 pandemic), many organizations found VPNs struggling to keep up with demand.
Over-Privileged Access: VPNs often grant users broad access to internal resources, increasing the risk of lateral movement in the event of credential theft or compromise.
Complex Management: Managing VPN infrastructure, ensuring patching, and controlling policies across geographies can become a complex, costly burden for IT teams.
What Are SASE and SSE?
SASE, first defined by Gartner in 2019, combines network connectivity and security functions into a single cloud-delivered service. It includes components like SD-WAN, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and data loss prevention (DLP).
SSE is a subset of SASE that focuses specifically on the security aspects—ZTNA, SWG, CASB, and DLP—without including networking components like SD-WAN. SSE is ideal for organizations that want to maintain their existing network infrastructure while adopting state-of-the-art cloud security.
The Advantages of SASE/SSE Over VPNs
SASE and SSE offer numerous advantages over traditional VPNs:
Zero Trust Access: Unlike VPNs that often give users access to entire networks, SASE/SSE implement Zero Trust principles. Users are granted access only to the specific applications and data they need—based on identity, device posture, and context.
Cloud-Native Architecture: These solutions are built to run in the cloud, providing seamless and secure access to cloud applications without routing traffic back to corporate data centers.
Improved Performance: Many SASE vendors use a global network of points of presence (PoPs) to deliver low-latency access no matter where users are located.
Unified Policy Enforcement: With a single pane of glass for security policy, organizations can ensure consistent enforcement across users, devices, and locations.
Reduced Operational Overhead: Cloud-managed solutions reduce the need for on-prem hardware, software patching, and manual updates.
Enterprises of all sizes are rapidly adopting SASE and SSE solutions to meet the needs of hybrid workforces, cloud migration, and ever-increasing cybersecurity threats. Many organizations begin by implementing ZTNA as a VPN replacement. Unlike VPNs, ZTNA authenticates users continuously and dynamically adjusts permissions based on risk posture—providing a more secure and granular access control model.
As work becomes more mobile and applications continue to move to the cloud, legacy security models centered around VPNs and on-premises firewalls are proving to be unsustainable. SASE and SSE represent the next evolution in secure connectivity—providing scalable, context-aware, and policy-driven access to applications wherever they reside.
Organizations looking to modernize their remote access and security postures should view SASE and SSE not as optional upgrades, but as critical investments in agility, performance, and resilience. If you’d like to learn more about the possibilities for your organization, call Alliance IT today.
