Netskope Launches Next Gen SASE Branch with Borderless SD-WAN

Netskope has introduced the Next Gen SASE Branch, leveraging their acclaimed Borderless SD-WAN. This marks a significant advancement in infrastructure, reshaping the management of essential networking and security functions while optimizing enterprise branches globally.

Modern IT teams are increasingly in search of cloud-centric infrastructure solutions that seamlessly integrate network and security capabilities, minimize the burden of legacy technology maintenance, and accommodate the performance requirements of hybrid work environments. The Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework has positioned itself as a prominent influence in enterprise procurement choices. Gartner forecasts a substantial rise, estimating that by 2026, 60% of new SD-WAN acquisitions will be integrated into a unified SASE offering, a significant leap from the 15% observed in 2022. This trend underscores the growing importance of cohesive, cloud-driven solutions in shaping the future of IT infrastructure.

However, the current branch infrastructure is often rife with challenges. To date, most branch solutions:

• Depend on outdated SD-WAN and disparate network security technologies ill-equipped for optimal performance in cloud-centric, hybrid work settings.
• Encounter difficulties adapting to the proliferation of cloud applications and the widespread use of IoT devices across the enterprise.
• Face challenges with the maintenance-heavy burden of disjointed security point products and connectivity services lacking seamless connections or integration, resulting in substantial ongoing costs.
• Contribute to an existing state of inefficient, unoptimized branch infrastructure, coupled with insufficient security controls, maintaining an overall status quo that hinders operational effectiveness.

The Netskope Next Gen SASE Branch, driven by Borderless SD-WAN, integrates a unified SD-WAN and security appliance, the Netskope SASE Gateway. This incorporates a context-aware SASE fabric, zero trust-based security, and a cloud orchestrator powered by SkopeAI. Delivered as a unified cloud offering, the solution features a streamlined branch ensuring optimized and secure traffic flow from all locations and users to both cloud and on-premises destinations.

“We’ve designed the Next Gen SASE Branch with the biggest needs of enterprise businesses in mind, both today and in the future,” said Parag Thakore, SVP, Borderless SD-WAN at Netskope. “Organisations no longer need to manage a complex stack of solutions to operate their enterprise properly, nor do they need to sacrifice performance for security. With Next Gen SASE Branch, they can take full advantage of a one-platform, one-software, one-policy approach that Netskope Borderless SD-WAN uniquely and fully enables.”

“As a full-service managed service provider, we’ve partnered with Netskope and deployed their fully integrated SASE solution to modernize the branch and VPN infrastructure of many customers,” said Darren Carlson, CEO of Halo Global. “Utilising Netskope’s platform, we can expedite customer onboarding to provide a technology that streamlines infrastructure while enabling them to grow and secure their business.”

“The era of the hyper-distributed enterprise – where workers can be anywhere and applications are everywhere – is causing organizations across the globe to transform their network and security strategies,” said Brandon Butler, IDC Research Manager, Enterprise Networks. “Key capabilities for next-generation architectures include deeply integrated networking and context-aware security, cloud-based management, and advanced automation enhanced by AI/ML. Netskope’s Next Gen SASE Branch exemplifies the company’s approach to SASE by combining the important elements of Borderless SD-WAN via NewEdge with a portfolio of cloud-native and context-aware security capabilities.”

Netskope Next Gen SASE Branch includes:

– A Context-Aware SASE Fabric that supports more than 75,000 applications and cloud confidence index (CCI)-based smart QoS (quality of service) defaults, as well as AI/ML-based IoT device intelligence for traffic engineering, and VRF (virtual routing and forwarding)-aware segmentation and advanced routing delivered end-to-end across data centers and clouds. In addition, Borderless SD-WAN available on Netskope NewEdge delivers optimized Global WAN connectivity across transcontinental branches and high-performance cloud on-ramp from any branch, data center, or remote user to any SaaS, private application, or transcontinental region.

– Zero Trust Hybrid Security seamlessly merges cloud-delivered Secure Web Gateway (SWG) and Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) functionalities with on-premises features like Application Firewall, Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)/Intrusion Detection System (IDS), and Device Intelligence. Furthermore, Netskope ZTNA Next integrates SD-WAN optimization capabilities, presenting a unified zero-trust network access solution that facilitates the complete phase-out of legacy VPNs.

– The Cloud Orchestrator, energized by SkopeAI, simplifies network and security administration through a cohesive console, ensuring the enforcement of consistent policies across branches, remote sites, and diverse cloud settings. Additionally, it delivers end-to-end path visibility and exceptional application performance through Netskope Proactive Digital Experience Management (P-DEM).