Managed SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)

Managed Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a cohesive security framework that brings together network and security capabilities on a single cloud-based platform to reduce complexity and simplify management.

Traditional network security architectures rely on multiple point solutions such as VPNs, firewalls, routers with SD-WAN capabilities, and secure web gateways deployed at data centers, while managed SASE consolidates these capabilities into a cloud-native platform with centralized policy management and Zero Trust access, reducing complexity and improving security and performance.

Another important difference is that SASE protects users and endpoints at the network edge regardless of where they are located, while traditional network security leveraging VPNs routes all traffic back to a data center to apply security policies. This increases network latency, slows application performance, and degrades user experiences.

Security Service Edge (SSE) is a subset of SASE. SSE includes four critical services: Zero Trust Network Access, Cloud Access Security Broker, Next-Generation Secure Web Gateway, and Firewall-as-a-Service.

SASE combines SD-WAN with SSE technologies: Zero Trust Network Access, Cloud Access Security Broker, Next-Generation Secure Web Gateway, and Firewall-as-a-Service. Additional components like Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) and AI-based advanced analytics are also becoming key components of a SASE solution.

As more organizations pursue digital transformation, adopt cloud platforms, and embrace hybrid work models, more users and IT resources will reside outside the traditional network perimeter. Managed SASE enables enterprises to securely connect users to applications and resources from anywhere, delivering direct, low-latency access while maintaining strong, consistent security across the entire environment.

In addition, many enterprises operate with lean IT teams and may not have the specialized cybersecurity expertise that’s required to fully optimize, integrate, and manage complex network and security infrastructure. A managed SASE solution helps ease this burden by offloading day-to-day operations to a Managed Services Provider (MSP), enabling internal teams to focus on strategic business initiatives that drive the business forward.

One of the key capabilities of SASE for providing secure connectivity to remote and hybrid workforces is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). ZTNA provides strict, granular, identity-based access control, meaning it restricts access on a per-user and per-application basis, ensuring users only connect to the applications that they are authorized to access.

ZTNA asks who is accessing, what they are accessing, how they are accessing, where they are accessing from, if this is part of their regular user behavior, and more, all in a fraction of a second.

Most importantly, ZTNA provides a consistent and reliable user experience, ensuring users remain productive and able to connect to the resources they need to do their job from wherever they are.

Yes. ZTNA, often described as “the new VPN,” is a security approach that is based on the principle of Zero Trust: never trust, always verify. Unlike traditional VPNs, which assume that users who have network access are trusted, ZTNA verifies users’ identities and context continuously before granting access to applications and resources.

Managed SASE platforms provide centralized dashboards and analytics that give in-house teams real-time visibility into user activity, application usage, network performance, and security threats and incidents, which improves governance, compliance, and incident response. When SASE services are sourced from multiple vendors, it leads to fragmented management tools, limited visibility, and no unified view of overall performance. The result is increased management complexity and elevated risk for the organization.

Each deployment timeline is unique because every enterprise is at a different stage of their SASE evolution. Every company varies in size and complexity of network, and has its own infrastructure, risk profile, and business priorities. Phased implementations are beneficial in prioritizing high-risk use cases first and realizing value quickly, while reducing risk.

Yes. Because SASE is entirely cloud-based, it can support large, distributed enterprises with thousands of users, multiple locations, and multi-cloud environments, and is able to scale as the business grows.

Managed SASE reduces Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by consolidating network and security services under one platform and working with one provider. By merging multiple tools into a single solution, SASE can reduce both the complexity and cost associated with managing separate networking and security technologies, which lowers operational overhead.

Because SASE is cloud-delivered, it eliminates the need for separate investments in security appliances, firewalls, VPNs, and other hardware. In addition, cost savings come from faster deployments. MSPs have established deployment processes and expertise, enabling them to deploy SASE solutions more quickly and efficiently than in-house teams, reducing costs and delivering a higher ROI.

Partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) can be a strategic advantage for enterprises, especially if they have lean IT teams who lack the deep, specialized skills needed to manage complex security tasks at scale.

An MSP can augment in-house staff, easing workloads, closing expertise gaps, and strengthening network performance while helping to keep costs under control.

A co-managed approach provides flexibility and agility, enabling internal teams to focus on strategic initiatives, while outsourcing to MSPs ensures technical expertise, speed, and scalability.

Hughes is unique in how it approaches its partnership with each organization. Hughes acts as a strategic advisor—aligning technology and service strategies with its customers’ broader business objectives, and meeting customers wherever they are in their SASE journey.

Hughes is widely recognized for its leadership in SD-WAN, network performance, connectivity, reliability, and management, currently supporting more than 95,000 SD-WAN sites. With exceptional engineering expertise, strong vendor consolidation and oversight capabilities, and proven best practices for both initial deployment and ongoing operations, Hughes is uniquely qualified to help enterprises run more secure, resilient, and efficient networks.

Yes. Hughes can integrate SASE with your existing infrastructure and security tools, helping your organization optimize and extend your current investments while gradually transitioning to a unified SASE architecture.