Understanding the Security Service Edge (SSE)

Is your company looking for a solution to secure its network? If your employees use cloud-based applications or telecommute, a SSE-type device is the way to go. In fact, the Security Service Edge is a set of services guaranteeing the security of company data wherever employees connect.

Discover our guide to Security Service Edge:

How do I define the Security Service Edge?

The Security Service Edge is a set of security services designed to protect the network from online threats such as malware, data theft and phishingattacks. Unlike traditional devices whose protection is primarily focused on the core network, the SSE moves its security functions to where users and devices connect.

So, if a company employee uses his or her laptop or business smartphone from home to work, his or her use will be secure. Similarly, users of cloud applications will gain peace of mind, as the HSE secures remote data flows.

With telecommuting on the increase and mobile devices on the rise, the Security Edge Service makes perfect sense.

What are the advantages of Security Service Edge?

Security Service Edge offers many advantages for companies and organizations that are in step with the times:

As this is a cloud-based security solution, protection is optimal: the network is protected on site, but also remotely. Company employees can therefore use cloud applications or telecommute without fear of online threats.
With SSE, there's no need to route network traffic to a centralized security device, reducing latency and improving performance, which has a positive impact on the user experience.
Security Service Edge gives companies greater flexibility. They can deploy new services and adapt to their users' needs much more easily than with a purely centralized solution.

What's the difference between SSE and SASE?

If you're looking for a solution to secure your corporate network, you've probably heard of SASE: Secure Access Service Edge.

How is it different from ESS? Which system is best for your organization?

Let's take a closer look at these 2 approaches to IT security.

SSE: a component of SASE

SASE platforms consist of 2 building blocks:

SSE: this is the section that focuses on unifying the security services (SWG, ZTNA, CASB and FWaaS).
WAN Edge: this is the tranche that focuses on network services (SD-WAN, WAN optimization, quality of service, etc.).

The Secure Access Service Edge is therefore a broader device than the SSE. However, one of the reasons why SASE is so relevant to businesses is that it is dedicated to SSE.

What are the 4 components of Security Service Edge?

The ESS comprises 4 main departments:

SWG: the secure web gateway blocks unsecured Internet traffic before it enters the company's internal network.
ZTNA: zero-trust network access provides remote users with more secure access to internal applications.
CASB: the cloud access security broker is a barrier placed between cloud services and their users to protect the network from threats.
FWaaS: firewall as a service is a next-generation device that promotes maximum security.

Although these are the 4 major components of ESS, there are many others:

Browser isolation solution
Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
Decoding

How does Security Service Edge compare with traditional solutions?

Ensuring the security of a company's network requires comprehensive measures to prevent and eliminate online threats.

Today, ESS offers many advantages over more traditional network security solutions:

With ESS, a company's cybersecurity is not directly linked to its network. This is a major advantage that drastically reduces the risks associated with remote network use. Security Service Edge is cloud-based, so it can follow users wherever they are.
SSE enables companies to implement a zero-trust policy. Before a user can access an application, 4 factors are analyzed to check that there is no risk: the user, the device, the application and the content.
Unlike traditional security devices, the network architecture of an SSE solution favors low latency and high performance. As a result, users are no longer obliged to install cumbersome and therefore slow VPNs to protect their data.
Last but not least, the Security Service Edge ensures optimum cost control, as all services (SWG, ZTNA, CASB, FWaaS, DLD, CSPM, CBI, etc.) are located on a single platform.

Good to know: SSE can be combined with the SAML protocol to further enhance user authentication and guarantee protection of the network and its data.

Is your company considering the installation of an SSE-type security solution? Contact our consultants to find out more about our products forensuring your network's cybersecurity.

If you have any questions about the implementation or choice of Security Service Edge, we'll answer all your questions, enabling you to make the right decision to prevent malicious attacks on your company's network, while optimizing performance for your users.