SASE (pronounced "sassy") stands for Secure Access Service Edge. It's a modern cybersecurity framework that combines networking and security functions into a single, cloud-delivered platform. Think of it as a one-stop shop for all your network and security needs, delivered directly from the cloud.

Here's a breakdown of what SASE offers:

• Converged Network and Security: Instead of having separate solutions for networking (like SD-WAN) and security (like firewalls, antivirus, etc.), SASE brings them together under one umbrella. This simplifies management and improves performance.

• Cloud-native Delivery: SASE solutions are delivered from the cloud, making them scalable, flexible, and accessible from anywhere. This is essential in today's world of remote work and cloud-based applications.

• Identity-centric Security: SASE focuses on verifying the identity of users and devices before granting access to resources. This Zero Trust approach ensures that only authorized individuals can access sensitive data, regardless of location.

• Enhanced User Experience: By optimizing network traffic and security policies, SASE can improve application performance and reliability, leading to a better user experience.

Key benefits of SASE:

• Reduced complexity and costs: Consolidating network and security functions simplifies management and reduces the need for multiple vendors and appliances.

• Improved security posture: The Zero Trust approach and integrated security tools provide comprehensive protection against cyber threats.

• Increased agility and scalability: Cloud-based delivery allows businesses to quickly adapt to changing needs and scale their network and security as required.

• Better performance and productivity: Optimized network traffic and secure application access enhance user experience and productivity.

Critical components of SASE:

• Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN): Optimizes network traffic and provides reliable connectivity to branch offices and remote users.

• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Verifies user and device identity before granting access to applications and resources.

• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): Secures access to cloud-based applications and data.

• Secure Web Gateway (SWG): Filters internet traffic and protects users from web-based threats.

• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS): Provides firewall capabilities from the cloud to protect against network attacks.

SASE is becoming increasingly popular as businesses move to the cloud and adopt remote work models. It offers a comprehensive and modern approach to network security that can help organizations stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape.

ThreatNG is a comprehensive security solution focusing on external attack surface management, digital risk protection, and security ratings; combined with its extensive investigation modules, it is a valuable tool for organizations looking to strengthen their security posture. Here's how it could work with SASE and other solutions:

ThreatNG and SASE: A Powerful Partnership

ThreatNG can complement and enhance SASE in several ways:

• Proactive Threat Intelligence: ThreatNG's continuous monitoring and intelligence repositories provide valuable insights into potential threats and vulnerabilities that could be exploited to target an organization's SASE infrastructure. This allows security teams to address weaknesses and strengthen their defenses proactively.

• Enhanced Risk Assessment: ThreatNG's detailed risk assessments, including BEC & Phishing Susceptibility, Breach & Ransomware Susceptibility, and others, can help organizations identify and prioritize areas of concern within their SASE implementation.

• Improved Security Posture: By identifying and mitigating external threats, ThreatNG helps reduce the attack surface exposed to SASE, making it more difficult for attackers to bypass security controls.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: ThreatNG's reporting capabilities provide valuable data that can be used to fine-tune SASE policies and configurations, ensuring optimal security and performance.

Working with Complementary Solutions

ThreatNG can also integrate with other security solutions to create a comprehensive security ecosystem:

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): ThreatNG's threat intelligence can be fed into a SIEM to provide context and enrich security event data, improving threat detection and response capabilities.

• Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIPs): ThreatNG can complement TIPs by providing additional threat intelligence sources and enriching existing data with detailed assessments.

• Vulnerability Scanners: ThreatNG's vulnerability discovery capabilities can augment vulnerability scanners by identifying external-facing vulnerabilities that internal scans may miss.

Examples with Investigation Modules

Let's look at how ThreatNG's investigation modules can be used in conjunction with SASE and other solutions:

• Domain Intelligence: Identifying exposed APIs or development environments can help organizations configure their SASE solution to restrict access to these sensitive resources.

• Social Media: Monitoring social media for mentions of the organization can reveal potential phishing campaigns or brand impersonation attempts that could be used to bypass SASE controls.

• Sensitive Code Exposure: Discovering exposed secrets in public code repositories can help organizations secure their applications and prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities to access their SASE infrastructure.

• Search Engine Exploitation: Identifying sensitive information exposed through search engines can help organizations configure their SASE solution to block access to these resources and prevent data leakage.

• Cloud and SaaS Exposure: Discovering unsanctioned cloud services or open cloud buckets can help organizations enforce their SASE policies and ensure that all cloud resources are appropriately secured.

• Dark Web Presence: Monitoring the dark web for mentions of the organization can reveal potential threats, such as planned attacks or leaked credentials, that could be used to compromise SASE security.

ThreatNG's comprehensive capabilities and extensive investigation modules make it a valuable asset for organizations looking to strengthen their security posture. By working with SASE and other security solutions, ThreatNG can help organizations proactively identify and mitigate threats, reduce their attack surface, and improve their overall security effectiveness.