The SASE Cloud enterprise hype as a solution for everything
Everyone is talking about SASE Cloud and how great that is, but what are the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) disadvantages and risks for enterprise customers? What are the dangers for your IT organization if you let yourself be seduced by the endless promises? Discover 10 reasons why you should sometimes not follow the SASE Cloud enterprise hype. Read what you can do to stay in control of your own independent cloud and network strategy.
10 disadvantages and risks of SASE Cloud
SASE Cloud is a wonderful innovation in the cloud, network and security field. Anyone can collaborate anywhere, anytime, hassle-free. But that doesn’t mean this technology is right for everyone. I have made a list of 10 reasons why this technology may not be the perfect cloud networking solution for your organization.
- Some legacy applications simply do not work well in a SASE cloud environment. This can lead to unexpected performance issues and still higher costs to keep them available on-prem.
- Your end users need to install all kinds of software and clients on their company laptops to access the cloud. Software on endpoints that you can no longer manage properly. It may lead to potential security risks.
- There may be all kinds of new challenges in the field of compliance and data management, because your corporate data is distributed across external (global) connections, security and cloud providers.
- Mission-critical and low latency applications that require direct connections between endpoints may not work as well.
- Certain protocols and features of network firewalls work less well in a SASE Cloud environment. In addition, in a cloud environment you have less control and flexibility over a web application firewall.
- A failure at a SASE Cloud provider can have major consequences for the availability of your data and systems. You can no longer manage this yourself because you are no longer behind the buttons of your own network.
- Not all cloud providers always work well and integrated together in a SASE environment. Pay close attention to this if hybrid and multi-cloud is becoming increasingly important for your organization.
- Do you opt for a SASE Cloud environment? Then you run the risk of a single provider lock-in. Ask yourself whether outsourcing the entire company network and security to a single provider is wise thing to do.
- It seems like SASE providers can do anything and have a solution for everything. But they differ from each other and some may fall short in terms of security or network performance. Make sure you compare various providers extensively and make use of trials and workshops before you make a choice.
- I personally find number 10 on my list very important. Because a move to SASE Cloud affects people in your IT organization. Outsourcing makes some functions redundant and knowledge and experience are lost. It also requires a new form of collaboration between network, cloud and security teams in your company. Take a good look at your internal organization to see if you are ready for this transformation and new form of collaboration.
How do I determine if SASE is right for me and what are the alternatives?
As you have read, SASE Cloud is not the best solution for everyone. I therefore always advise companies to work together with an experienced independent Managed Services Provider (MSP). A good and reliable MSP is not guided or influenced by technology partners and provides good individual independent advice. As an IT manager, make sure you use of the knowledge and experience of an MSP and request a cloud, network and security scan from various MSPs. Experienced specialists look at your technical IT organization, but they also take into account the culture and the human aspect of your IT organization. The right MSP will always help you with an exit and migration strategy, in case you discover that SASE Cloud or any other technology choice was not the right one for your organization.
Contact me for free advice
Do you want to know which MSPs I personally have good experiences with after many years of career and professional experience in data centers and connectivity? Please contact me and I will be happy to help you with good personal advice without any obligation. What do you think are the biggest disadvantages, cons and risks of SASE Cloud? Let me know in the comments section below.