You are looking ahead to setting up a new business in 2025, only to be faced with the hassle of ensuring your online data is secure. Not only that, but you also have to make sure any employees you may have working in an office or remotely are also protected from online hackers.
Yikes. That’s a big order to fill!
In the last few years, many businesses have turned to VPNs (virtual private networks) to protect their digital footprints, deterring hackers at the source. If your VPN is set to New Zealand, then it’s unlikely a hacker will be able to get access to your account information in the UK, for example.
However, for many businesses, VPNs can be jolty and unreliable. You may have found that even with the higher-end VPN options, you were waiting for a long time for your computer to connect to the network, and it was slow to load and would spontaneously switch itself off. This is no big deal for private browsing, but it can seriously slow productivity in a work environment.
In 2019, a new concept to protect online browsing was introduced: the secure access server edge (SASE) from Gartner, which is better equipped to tackle many of the online security issues that businesses face without the lag of a VPN.
So, when starting your new business, which option is better? Here, you will be walked through both to help you choose the best one for your new business endeavor.
SASE vs VPN- What’s the Difference?
To start with, you may be wondering what the SASE meaning or definition is and how it differs from a VPN.
The Architecture
A VPN is dependent on hardware-based gateways or appliances, and users need to connect to a VPN server to access the network options. SASE is a cloud-native architecture where users connect to the nearest edge location, which then integrates security and networking.
Security Model
A standard VPN provides a secure point-to-point encryption for traffic, but it has no granular controls. SASE has a Zero Trust security model, where users can get access granted based on their identity and the health of their device, and they can even have limited access to certain features.
Performance and Scaling
VPN traffic can become slowed as all traffic travels through a VPN server. This means that for a VPN to scale, more infrastructure and bandwidth are required. SASE uses a global network of cloud points of presence (or PoPs) to create faster connections. There is no need for hardware upgrades as the scalability is built in.
SASE or VPN- The Better Option for Small Businesses
As you can see from the differences between the two options, there are some clear benefits of investing in a SASE for your small business.
If you are still unsure, here are some of the key pros of ditching the VPNs and upgrading to the cloud. Well, the cloud-based software, anyway!
The Zero Trust Architecture
This was mentioned before and is by far one of the key benefits of an SASE over a VPN.
VPNs grant users access to a network, and when they are connected, the risk of attack goes up if a device (like a computer, tablet, or smartphone) is compromised. In short, you need to have some top-notch devices for this to even work.
A SASE uses Zero Trust principles, which means that the user has to continually authenticate their identity before they get access to certain resources. Not even the best hackers can break this system, showcasing a higher level of security.
Better User Experience
A SASE server uses the cloud and its infrastructure to connect to the nearest edge locations, reducing lag, improving access speed, and helping create a better experience for the person using it.
On the other hand, a VPN uses a centralized gateway, which can cause a lot of lag and slow/unreliable connections, which is not ideal if you have remote workers trying to do research.
Simpler to Manage
With a small business, you will want to reduce operational overhead, which means simplifying the management of a system. VPNs often require monitoring and additional security, as well as network access, which can be expensive.
A SASE consolidates all of the networking and security functions onto one platform, which means you won’t have to check the firewalls, the SD_WAN, or the web gateways. It’s all done for you.
Better Support for Hybrid Workers
Many jobs are now hybrid or remote.
VPNs have the limitation of being designed for fixed, location-based networks, which means remote workers often have to download separate VPNs to conduct online work.
A SASE is location-independent, which means your workers can access it on the go, in the office, or at home, with all the same benefits and no lagging.
So, if a SASE sounds ideal, get your business signed up for one today and see how it can simplify hybrid working and online security in 2025.
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