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Thinking of security and SD-WAN? 4 SASE Trends you need to keep an eye on!

technavadmin IT Security, SD-WAN , , ,
Thinking of security and SD-WAN? 4 SASE Trends you need to keep an eye on!

By Chis Newell
Founder & President

Studies have shown that SASE framework will account for 25+ percent of SD-WAN and cloud security services by the end of 2027. As we progress into 2023 let’s take a closer look at 4 emerging trends of SASE that could impact the year ahead.

SASE is a framework, not just another security mechanism. As we progress into this structure, the payoffs, little nuances, and big strategies have become much clearer.

1. Consolidation of SD-WAN following SASE framework adoption

Undeniably, as SASE adoption gains traction, there will be a good number of SD-WAN and security consolidations. It was difficult to discuss security options with SD-WAN, the intervention of SASE framework certainly converges the conversation. SASE key product sets are combining:

  • Software-Define Wide Area Network (SD-WAN)
  • Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
  • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
  • Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
  • Centralized Management

Ever since businesses have embraced the remote office/users, IoT and home users, things have taken a solemn turn in a secure network edge. Simply, converging the conversation with a SASE framework, improves and secures networks.

2. Securing IoT devices

As employees continue to use a range of IoT devices, all mission-critical IoT will be looking to embrace SD-WAN with a SASE architecture. IoTs vital role is also its weakness. Because of IoTs mobility in business environments, security is an afterthought instead of a secure, faster, and reliable connection. It is important to note that all such IoT devices in the residential tech stack bleeding into the corporate environment pose a high risk.

Therefore, generating a holistic SD-WAN SASE awareness of all such devices (residential and business) will gain significance. Most SASE-based issues from IoT come from how invisible they are on the network.

3. SaaS Cloud Native Platforms & SASE

When looking to fuel digital transformations, SaaS makes it easier than not to move to the cloud.However, such benefits don’t come with a warning label. SASE’s security protects the most common bad actors facing SaaS applications.     

Phishing, malware, and account takeover are just some of the attacks SASE can stop or limit your organization’s exposure. 

While SaaS is an attractive way to transform to the digital age, protecting your journey is paramount.

4. SASE is redefining security for remote and home office networking

Since COVID disrupted the way of working, bad actors have been on a spree. According to Andrew Ossipov, CTO at Cisco, social engineering aimed at extracting credentials of corporates is fast becoming a daily occurrence because of a more significant number of remote workers. All thanks to feebly protected solutions connected to home and remote office networks with limited visibility.

With SASE on the scene, enterprises seek powerful ZTNA and SDP connections for various hybrid applications. More so, with increasing human-readable security policies for private, cloud, and SaaS network enforcement points.

Things will eventually boil down to a secure, end-to-end connectivity reinforcing a positive user experience across the length and breadth of applications.  

Wrap Up

Undoubtedly, as SASE solutions grow mature, integration capabilities will expand. 

The need for the hour is an optimal secure network and user experience, which the SASE framework provides. 

For customers looking to embrace the best-in-class solutions, you should team up with a supplier that has extended SASE capabilities and allows you to consume these capabilities as required.

Technology Navigation can help you find the SASE provider. Connect with us to learn more.

IT Trends for 2023: Reverse Migration, Cross Multi-Cloud, and Cost Control for SaaS

technavadmin Cloud / Data Centers, SaaS , , , , ,
IT Trends for 2023: Reverse Migration, Cross Multi-Cloud, and Cost Control for SaaS

By Chis Newell
Founder & President

As a key driver for emerging technologies, Cloud Computing has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s. A 2022 research study indicates at least sixty percent of corporate data is now stored in the Cloud. However, effective tracking of Cloud resources to prevent poor expense-related management remains a major challenge. No wonder, organizations stand unaware of their spending data or strategy, chiefly due to Cloud Services Sprawl.


This article is a mull over on IT trends for 2023 where reverse Cloud Migration, Cloud Sprawl, Cross Multi-Cloud, and Cost Control model for SaaS might gain prominence. Got questions about other technology verticals for this year?

Contact us here!

Reverse Cloud Migration — Transitioning from public to on-premises or private clouds

The theoretical concept of saving money in the Public Cloud has been channeling Data Migration needs for companies over the past decade. However, the last leg of 2021 saw organizations increasingly shifting their data to on-premise storage or Private Clouds while still utilizing the Public Cloud for Compute. The reasons weren’t obscure:

  • Value-added services and throughput rates raising public cloud expenses
  • Hyper-scale Cloud Platform providers (AWS, GCP, and Azure) failing to keep their operating margins lower and price gouging
  • Large data set migration cost for companies going past their estimated budget and data gravity truly impacting increased costs

Come 2023, a reverse Cloud Migration (from public to on-premise or private cloud) creates a predictable and less expensive price point for companies

Cross Multi-Cloud Computing is the game changer

Research depicts that more than ninety percent of large-scale enterprises with Multi-Cloud Architecture have their data distributed across providers.

As newer applications proliferate, data serves multiple use cases – analytics, streaming, business intelligence, and data sciences. Even with drawbacks like data silos and duplication, fragmented governance, and increased costs, cross-multi-cloud computing continues to gain leverage with organizations.

In essence, it can help organizations:

  • Work with an agile, cross-cloud, semantic business layer managing data lakes and warehouses.
  • Make cross-region data replication possible and still not impact primary data performance.
  • Analyze data for decision-making, irrespective of its location.
  • Ensure continuity of business as well as disaster recovery via cross-cloud replication.
  • Perform account migrations minus concerns of data portability.

Cost Control for SaaS- Channel budget for significant cloud assets

Cloud Cost Control for SaaS helps manage multiple facilities like software apps, storage, and virtual machines.

Reportedly, an industry survey on cloud cost control cited 40% of respondents admitting cloud cost control as the biggest challenge. For enterprises, this is a real change in how they conduct business.

It calls for a criterion to save time and money in tandem:

  • Adopt Cloud Cost Management Tools: Cloud cost management tools can raise alarms against any usual activity and helps define inventories for your Cloud computer and enterprise SaaS products. Further, it helps users log in seamlessly and optimize costs selectively.
  • Utilize a SaaS Aggregator: Many of the most prominent SaaS offerings can be managed through a single provider or aggregator.  Having the ability to manage SaaS subscriptions and products through a single GUI will leverage economies of scale and decrease management time

The takeaway

Embracing IT trends fueled by cloud demands draws attention to data, Compute Management, and possibly a Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure.

In essence, adopting a functional cloud and SaaS strategy will help put a leash on issues like Cloud Sprawl that lurks heavily upon organizations.

A good call would be to engage an optimization partner to bring intelligent views on cloud and SaaS expenses across all cost centers.

Do you have more questions or like to learn more about IT trends for 2023?

Contact us here!

EA or CSP? Good Question 

technavadmin SaaS , , , , , ,
EA or CSP? Good Question 

By Chis Newell
Founder & President

Traditional software licenses or head for the cloud? Is there a different way to procure cloud software/SaaS? These are some questions our clients ask as they look to leverage costs against their projected growth in the short, mid, and long-term. 

For firms using Microsoft products – which at last count is in the neighborhood of 650,000 including a whopping 91% of the Fortune 100 – this decision comes down to choosing between Microsoft’s Enterprise Agreement (EA) and its Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). Deciding which one is best for your business situation depends largely on who you are now and who you want to be in the future. 

The Case for CSP 

CSP Flexibility has become a huge part of many business plans because it can allow them to manage the ebb and flow of a volatile world with a lot less risk. Instead of the typical three-year agreement that is the foundation of EA, CSP allows you a more flexible purchasing cycle, which not only lets businesses have more elasticity with their budgets, but also means they are only paying for the licenses they use each month.  

For companies where there is a dedicated seasonal surge, this is a great way to upgrade the number of users needed for that specific window without having to take a bath on their price the rest of the year. Depending on the number of licenses purchased, CSP can have similar discounts as the EA, making the CSP decision easy from a financial and contractual perspective.  

In addition to the flexibility and license cost that the CSP provides, there are many providers that bake in Advanced or Premier Support, which eliminates the need to purchase a Premier Support contract, as required in the EA structure. Some CSP providers have their support onshore with 24x7x365 access, which is a nice change from the existing MS support model.  

The Case for EA 

EA is the primary licensing vehicle Microsoft has been using. It is for companies with at least 500 licensing stations that want software along with cloud service options for a minimum of three years, typically. It is a big package deal that naturally affords the customer some discounts due to the volume. That is, the more licenses you buy, the less you pay per license, if you can negotiate a better price. As the business scale and need to add or remove additional hardware, online services, or connected devices, you have a once-a-year process called the “true-up” without having to order them individually.  

There is a bit of measured risk with the EA, however. If the expected number of users does not meet what you’ve purchased during the first year, there’s no getting your money back. Most businesses are confident of their growth predictions before making an investment like this; but what happens in the event of something unforeseen and catastrophic like COVID-19 or a natural disaster that stunts or cripples your growth?  

Obviously, risk management is part of any business, but the limitations should be noted. If Azure is part of your company’s package, it is possible to reduce the number of licenses needed without cost starting in the second year, but that does not apply to the rest of Microsoft’s products. 

Conclusion 

Kudos to Microsoft for being cognizant of how different two businesses models for purchasing licenses and support. The choice then is to decide between the long-term EA at a sizable discount or the month-to-month CSP with similar discounts per license but a lot more flexibility and seemingly better support.