This report, based on a survey of cybersecurity professionals, sheds light on how SSE is reshaping the way businesses secure their hybrid work environments and the critical drivers behind its adoption.
The modern workplace
As we approach the fourth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to remote and hybrid work has become the norm rather than the exception. The report highlights that businesses have successfully adapted to this new reality. The survey found that 94% of organizations have a workforce that is primarily hybrid or fully remote. This shift has significantly impacted how businesses approach security and access managementโโ.
Risks in the new workplace
In this new workplace model, different user groups pose varying levels of risk to business resources. The report identifies employees as the highest risk group, primarily due to their direct access to sensitive data and applications.
Contractors, suppliers, and customers also present significant risks, while partners are perceived as the least risky user group. This underscores the critical need for implementing zero trust measures for both internal and external users to mitigate insider threatsโโ.
Top priorities and challenges
The alignment between business priorities and challenges is striking in this report. The top three areas identified are:
- Ensuring user productivity: As users access applications across data centers or the cloud on various devices and networks, maintaining seamless and consistent access to essential resources is crucial.
- Adopting a zero trust strategy: Balancing security and productivity is a major challenge, with businesses striving to implement solutions that meet both objectives.
- Increasing visibility into user and application traffic: Traditional secure networking solutions often lack visibility, making it essential to have actionable insights to proactively address security gapsโโ.
Confidence in security
The report reveals a concerning lack of confidence in the ability of security teams to secure workforce access. Only one-third (33%) of organizations feel very confident in their capabilities of their security teams, while two-thirds (67%) express low confidence. This lack of confidence highlights doubts about the effectiveness of current tools and technologies, emphasizing the need for the right technology to empower security teamsโโ.
Legacy access solutions
The complexity of security infrastructure is evident, with 73% of organizations utilizing three or more distinct security solutions. This marks a 10% increase from the previous year. The survey indicates that managing policy across multiple solutions is the greatest challenge, followed by increased costs and inflexibility of existing security solutions. These challenges necessitate a reevaluation of traditional network security strategies to ensure they remain manageable and effectiveโโ.
A modern solution: Security Service Edge (SSE)
The concept of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) has gained significant traction since its introduction in 2019. The report shows that 59% of respondents consider SASE adoption highly important for their business, while only 8% find it inconsequential.
SSE, a key component of SASE, integrates technologies like Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM) into a single cloud-based service. This integration promises enhanced security efficiency, reduced complexity, and greater agilityโโ.
Adoption and implementation trends
The report outlines the strong momentum towards SSE adoption:
- 57% of organizations plan to start their SASE strategy with an SSE platform.
- 69% aim to adopt an SSE platform within the next 24 months.
- 44% plan to begin SSE implementation with ZTNA deployment.
These statistics reflect the growing recognition of SSE as a critical strategy for securing modern, hybrid work environmentsโโ.
Conclusion
The 2024 SSE Adoption Report underscores the transformative impact of SSE on business security strategies. As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of a hybrid workforce, the need for integrated, cloud-based security solutions becomes increasingly apparent.
The report serves as a valuable guide for IT and cybersecurity professionals, highlighting the importance of adopting modern security frameworks like SSE to ensure robust and efficient protection for their organizations.
By addressing the challenges of user productivity, zero trust implementation, and visibility into user and application traffic, businesses can enhance their security posture and confidently protect their critical resources in the evolving threat landscape.
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Jaye_Tillson
Jaye Tillson is a Field CTO and Distinguished Technologist at HPE Aruba Networking (formerly Axis Security), boasting over 25 years of invaluable expertise in successfully implementing strategic global technology programs. With a strong focus on digital transformation, Jaye has been instrumental in guiding numerous organizations through their zero-trust journey, enabling them to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Jaye's passion lies in collaborating with enterprises, assisting them in their strategic pursuit of zero trust. He takes pride in leveraging his real-world experience to address critical issues and challenges faced by these businesses. Beyond his professional pursuits, Jaye co-founded the SSE Forum and co-hosts its popular podcast called 'The Edge.' This platform allows him to engage with a broader audience, fostering meaningful discussions on industry trends and innovations. In his leisure time, Jaye indulges in his passions for motor racing, savoring delectable cuisine, and exploring the wonders of the world through his travels.
