GTT: Why IT Leads Are Turning to SASE to Assuage Cyber Fears

In a time where threats are running rampant, gauging what is the biggest concern can sometimes be a difficult question to answer. 

Yet a GTT study unveils a significant shift in enterprise cybersecurity strategies, driven by the proliferation of cloud technologies and remote work models. 

The report, "Trends and Solutions for a More Secure Perimeter", highlights the growing adoption of advanced networking and security solutions to combat increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

The research, conducted by Hanover Research, surveyed 314 high-level IT professionals from various industries globally, representing organisations with at least five enterprise network locations and annual revenues exceeding US$200m.

Addressing security concerns

The study reveals that undetected vulnerabilities, ransomware, data theft and network interruptions are the primary concerns for IT leaders, with response rates ranging from 46% to 43%. 

"Once inside, a hacker can steal sensitive data, exfiltrate intellectual property, disrupt operations, plant further malware and use the compromised network to launch attacks on others — all without being detected,” says Tom Major, Senior Vice President of Product Management and Technology at GTT.

To address these threats, 35% of enterprises have implemented Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) frameworks, whilst 42% have deployed Security Service Edge (SSE) solutions.

What SASE/SSE offers

The adoption of SASE and SSE frameworks signifies a shift towards more integrated and comprehensive security approaches that addresses these concerns. 

SASE combines VPN and SD-WAN capabilities with cloud-native security functions, whilst SSE focuses on the security services component of SASE.

"Organisations that deploy a layered framework like SASE can bring about the comprehensive shift to a zero-trust corporate security posture, enabling employees to maintain simple and secure access to data and applications anywhere in the world,” says Tom.

SASE offers a unified approach to network security that addresses multiple vulnerabilities simultaneously. 

Its zero-trust architecture aligns well with the needs of remote and hybrid work environments. Additionally, SASE provides robust data protection and threat prevention capabilities that are crucial for combating ransomware and data theft. 

The framework's cloud-native nature also ensures network resilience, helping to mitigate interruptions.

In light of the growing threat, the study also reveals a trend towards greater integration between security and networking teams. 

Approximately two-thirds of security and networking teams collaborate to manage SD-WAN, SASE and SSE solutions where deployed. This integration reflects the recognition that effective cybersecurity in today's complex threat landscape requires a holistic approach.

"This is driving stronger collaboration between security and networking teams, as they work together to integrate security measures directly into their network infrastructures for enhanced protection and agility,” says Kimberly Pate, Managing Research Director at Hanover Research.

Future Outlook

As cyber threats continue to evolve and network architectures become more complex, organisations are increasingly looking to build security into the fabric of their networks. 

"The survey results indicate that enterprises today are entering into an increasingly complex and sophisticated threat landscape posing unprecedented risks to their operations,” says Kimberly.  

This underscoring the urgent need for organisations to adapt their security strategies to meet these evolving challenges.

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