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Published
2023-01-15
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Framework in Enhancing Security for Remote Workers and Its Adaptability to Hybrid Workforces in the Post-Pandemic Workplace Environment
Arunkumar Velayutham
Cloud Software Development Engineer and Technical Lead at Intel, Arizona, USA
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9932-3166
Abstract
The rapid shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic has permanently altered the dynamics of workplace operations, prompting organizations to adopt secure, scalable solutions for distributed workforces. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), a cloud-native architecture, has emerged as a prominent framework addressing the growing need for security, flexibility, and performance in this new scenario. This paper analyzes the role of SASE in improving security for remote workers, showing how its capabilities adapt to a hybrid work model in the post-pandemic world. With the boundaries between home and office environments blurred, traditional security frameworks, reliant on perimeter-based approaches, are increasingly inadequate. SASE integrates wide-area networking (WAN) with security functions, such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), secure web gateways (SWG), firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), and cloud access security brokers (CASB), providing a unified solution to address the modern hybrid workforce’s needs. This paper explores how SASE enhances security for remote workers by decentralizing security services, improving visibility into cloud traffic, and dynamically adjusting access controls. Additionally, it explores how SASE adapts to the unique requirements of a hybrid work model, which balances remote and in-office work. The shift towards hybrid environments raises new challenges, including maintaining consistent security policies across varied locations and devices, reducing latency, and enhancing user experience. SASE integrates technical capabilities and strategic advantages, positioning itself as an important framework for managing security in hybrid work. This paper examines the contributions, challenges, and future developments of SASE in supporting secure, efficient, and flexible workforce models.
Keywords: cloud security, hybrid work, remote workforce, SASE, scalability, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
