Building Resilient 5G Networks with the SASE Approach

In recent years, the proliferation of internet-connected devices has increased reliance on traditional networks for business operations. With the increasing use of network-connected devices, service providers and geographically dispersed enterprises recognize the need to upgrade their cybersecurity approach. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a novel technological advancement in this context.

As the adoption of 5G networks expands from individual telecom subscribers to industrial manufacturing units, ensuring security at every network level becomes crucial. 5G brings forth many promising improvements, such as enhanced speeds, wider bandwidth, superior connectivity, and reduced latency, all capable of accommodating an unprecedented number of devices. Nevertheless, new security hurdles accompany these advantages. The diversification of devices under 5G, ranging from IoT devices, sensors, and cameras to virtual assistants, expands the network's attack surface, creating additional vulnerabilities and opportunities for attackers to exploit. In this context, SASE offers a disruptive solution to address these security challenges effectively. This blog will explain SASE and how it helps deliver a secure 5G network.

What is SASE?

SASE is a network solution that combines wide-area networking (WAN) capabilities with network security services, all delivered as a cloud-based service. In other words, it is a secure, end-to-end, cloud-orchestrated wide-area network solution designed to address modern networks' evolving challenges, where traditional security and networking approaches may need to be more effective.

The key idea behind SASE is to combine networking and security functions into a unified cloud-based platform rather than having separate solutions for each aspect. By doing so, organizations can improve network performance, enhance security, and simplify network management.

The four pillars of SASE are:

• Secure Web Gateway (SWG): SWG protects against web-based threats, such as malware, phishing, and data exfiltration.
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): CASBs provide visibility and control over cloud-based applications and data.
• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS): FWaaS provides cloud-based firewalling capabilities.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): ZTNA provides secure access to applications and data based on user identity and device posture.

How SASE can be useful for 5G

Enterprise network teams can use the high-speed, low latency 5G network to the SASE cloud to give users direct, secure, and controlled access to SaaS, web, or ZTNA applications. They can also provide site-to-site or site-to-cloud/data center connectivity for IoT or legacy applications. The same SASE platform can orchestrate all of this. It means that all telemetry, logging, and audit data will be available in one place, which can improve operational efficiency.

SASE facilitates effortless 5G deployment for numerous devices through automated, zero-touch provisioning enabled by a SASE orchestrator. It dynamically adjusts to meet real-time capacity requirements by leveraging elastic auto-scaling and network intelligence.

SASE collaborates seamlessly with 5G network slicing, ensuring robust 5G service level agreements (SLAs) while maintaining end-to-end security. It also enables adaptable deployment of Gi-LAN services in different configurations. Including Secure SD-WAN, a vital SASE element, and network slicing ensures SLA compliance and delivers comprehensive end-to-end security, encompassing UTM, IDS/IPS, Anti-Virus, and other essential features.

Moreover, SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) can be highly beneficial for 5G networks in several ways:

Enhanced Security

SASE provides a unified and cloud-native security framework, protecting 5G networks from emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

Scalability

SASE allows seamless scalability for 5G deployments, ensuring smooth expansion as network demands grow.

Reduced Latency

By integrating security and networking functions at the edge, SASE minimizes latency and enhances the overall user experience on 5G networks.

Simplified Management

SASE streamlines the management of security policies, network configurations, and user access, easing the burden on IT teams.

Improved Performance

With SASE, 5G networks can deliver optimized performance, ensuring fast and reliable connectivity for users and applications.

Cost-Efficiency

By consolidating networking and security functions, SASE can lead to cost savings for 5G operators.

Zero Trust Architecture

SASE enables a Zero Trust security model, ensuring secure access and data protection for all users and devices connected to the 5G network.

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) Integration

SASE facilitates the integration of Mobile Edge Computing, enabling real-time processing and data analysis closer to the end-users.

Overall, SASE empowers 5G networks with robust security, agility, and performance to meet the demands of the modern digital landscape.

Conclusion

The combination of 5G and SASE has the potential to revolutionize conventional networking and cybersecurity practices. Especially enterprises can now seize the chance to restructure their networks, benefiting from enhanced performance, agility, and security, all while streamlining operations and reducing costs.

As a leading provider of cutting-edge technology solutions, ACL Digital is at the forefront of revolutionizing networking and cybersecurity practices through the convergence of 5G and SASE. Our expert team empowers enterprises to embrace the transformative power of this collaboration, unlocking enhanced performance, agility, and security while optimizing operations and reducing costs. Trust ACL Digital to lead your organization into a more connected and secure future.