Adopting SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) isn’t just about signing a contract with the vendor and installing it; it’s a transformation. Like any other transformation, success depends upon how well you prepare for it, roll it out, and refine the system continuously. Over the last few years, organizations have tried and failed. But the good thing is that we can learn from their mistakes. Let’s understand the best practices to implement a SASE solution to help make your journey smoother.
Start Small, Think Big
Businesses that jump straight into a whole organization roll out find themselves with problems like, user resistance, integration issues, or policy mistakes. The best move would be to begin with a pilot program that’s just for a select few departments. This way you get actual feedback from the employees and iron out the issues and come back stronger.
Put Identity at the Center
With SASE, identity is at the core of everything. Firewalls become obsolete when employees are working from a coffee shop, restaurants, from different countries or from their home. Businesses that lean heavily on identity providers like single sign on and multi factor authentication will likely see smoother implementation. In other words, SASE is only as good as your identity strategy.
Performance Matters as Much as Security
A very important factor is user experience; if the security features slow down people, then they’ll find ways around it. Businesses that focused on optimizing network performance like leveraging local points of presence, fine-tuning traffic policies, and ensuring low latency, saw much better adoption rates. This is where providers like TATA Communications help by offering SASE platforms that ensure peak performance alongside strong cyber security solutions, so you get the best of both.
Communicate With End Users Early
A mistake we’ve seen multiple organizations make is that they don’t communicate with their fellow team members, communication is a very integral part of a successful business. Rolling out a new security framework changes how employees view and interact with applications and data. Businesses that specify why the change was made to a SASE solution faced far less resistance from the employees.
Commit to Continuous Improvement
Real world examples have shown us that once you’ve implemented your SASE solutions, it’s not just a one-and-done solution. Threats evolve, businesses expand, and applications move across clouds. Businesses that treat SASE as a framework that needs continuous looking into by reviewing policies regularly, monitoring performance, and checking out new vendor updates saw long-term value and success. SASE is most effective when it’s managed effectively, not when it’s put on autopilot and left to do its thing. With how dynamic today’s industries are, it only makes sense to have continuous and rigorous monitoring of the SASE framework to make sure you are up to date.
Implementing a SASE solution can seem very overwhelming, but the lessons from real-world implementations are very clear: Start small, focus on identity, prioritize performance, communicate clearly, and vow to continuous monitoring. Once you’ve gotten these right, your SASE solution can become the foundation for secure, reliable and scalable connectivity that will only grow over time.