HPE Aruba Networking SSE: a streamlined approach to secure access

[Jaye_Tillson]

The digital landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. Cloud adoption, hybrid workforces, and the proliferation of mobile devices have fundamentally reshaped how businesses operate and access critical resources. This evolution has also introduced new security challenges. Traditional perimeter-based defenses can no longer secure access to our dynamic user base and application landscape.

The Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework has emerged as a leading security paradigm and HPE Aruba Networking's Security Service Edge (SSE) platform is a powerful tool within the SASE framework, offering a comprehensive and unified approach to secure access.

Consolidation for a cohesive security posture

The HPE Aruba Networking SSE platform consolidates four core security functionalities under a single umbrella, simplifying management, and enhancing overall security effectiveness. These core components are:

• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): This technology abandons the traditional "castle and moat" security model of legacy VPNs. Instead, ZTNA verifies user identity, device health, and application access needs before granting a secure connection. This granular control ensures that only authorized users and devices can access specific resources.
• Secure Web Gateway (SWG): The SWG acts as a critical first line of defense, safeguarding internet access for users. It employs advanced techniques like URL filtering, malware detection, and sandboxing to prevent malicious activity and protect against data breaches.
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): With the explosion of cloud applications (SaaS), the CASB plays a vital role. It secures access to these applications by enforcing security policies, preventing data loss, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
• Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM): This proactive tool provides valuable insights into network performance, application health, and user experience. By monitoring these metrics, IT teams can identify and address potential issues before they significantly impact business operations.

Standing out in a crowded security market

The HPE Aruba Networking SSE platform competes with a wide range of security solutions, both standalone and integrated. However, it offers several key differentiators that make it a compelling choice for organizations seeking a streamlined and effective approach to secure access.

• Unified management interface: Security sprawl is a real concern for many organizations. Managing multiple security tools with disparate interfaces can be time consuming and prone to human error. The HPE Aruba Networking SSE platform addresses this challenge by offering a single, unified interface. This simplifies administration tasks, policy enforcement, and troubleshooting, allowing IT teams to work more efficiently and effectively.
• Agent flexibility: ZTNA solutions often rely on agents to be deployed on user devices. However, not all environments are conducive to agent-based solutions. The HPE Aruba Networking SSE platform provides the flexibility to achieve ZTNA access with or without agents. This caters to diverse device environments, including both managed devices within an organization and employee-owned devices (BYOD as well as for third parties and contractors where installing an agent isn't possible).
• Seamless SASE Integration: SASE goes beyond the capabilities of individual security tools. It represents a comprehensive security framework that converges networking and security functionality. The HPE Aruba Networking SSE platform integrates seamlessly with HPE Aruba's EdgeConnect SD-WAN solution. This integration lays the groundwork for a unified SASE platform, enabling organizations to leverage the full potential of SASE for a more comprehensive and future-proof approach to network security.

Beyond the core: additional advantages

The benefits of the HPE Aruba Networking SSE platform extend beyond the consolidation of core security functionalities and its user-friendly interface.

• Global reach: The platform leverages an extensive global network of over 750 edge locations. This geographically distributed architecture ensures low latency access for users regardless of their location.
• Scalability and flexibility: The platform is designed to scale with an organization's growing needs. It can accommodate a wide range of user bases, application environments, and security requirements.
• Threat intelligence integration: The platform leverages continuous threat intelligence feeds to keep its platform up to date with the latest security vulnerabilities and attack vectors. This ensures ongoing protection against evolving threats.

Conclusion

The HPE Aruba Networking SSE platform is a compelling solution for organizations seeking to navigate the complexities of securing access in today's cloud-centric and mobile-driven world. By consolidating essential security functionalities under a single, user-friendly interface, the platform simplifies management and enhances overall security posture.

 Its flexibility with agent deployment and its potential for seamless SASE integration position it as a strong contender in the evolving security landscape. As organizations continue to embrace digital transformation, the HPE Aruba Networking SSE platform offers a powerful tool to ensure secure and optimized access for users, devices, and applications, paving the way for a more secure and productive digital future.

Related resources

• SSE frequently asked questions
• SD-WAN explained
• Network security