By Jaye Tillson, Technologist, Evangelist, Advisor, Podcaster and the Co-Founder of the SSE Forum, HPE/Aruba
Batman and Robin, the iconic dynamic duo of the superhero world, have been a staple of popular culture for decades. I am sure many of us watched the show as kids, or even the recent films and series. Meanwhile, in the world of network infrastructure, a new dynamic duo has emerged that I believe will be as important to us: SD-WAN and Security Service Edge, which combine to form the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).
For those who are not familiar, Batman and Robin are two crime-fighting superheroes who have been working together since the 1940s. Batman is a master detective and martial artist, while Robin is his sidekick and protégé. Together, they work to protect Gotham City from criminals and other threats. Similarly, SD-WAN and Security Service Edge work together to protect networks from cyber threats.
SD-WAN is a software-defined networking technology that uses virtualization to simplify and optimize the management of wide-area networks (WANs). It replaces traditional hardware-based routers with centrally managed and controlled software. This gives organizations greater flexibility and control over their networks, making adding new sites and applications easier and optimizing network performance.
The Security Service Edge is a cloud-based security framework that integrates a variety of security services, including, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker, zero-trust network access, data loss prevention, and digital experience monitoring. It provides a unified security solution that can be easily integrated into any network architecture, including SD-WAN.
When combined, SD-WAN and Security Service Edge create a powerful security solution that can protect networks from a wide range of cyber threats, including malware, phishing, and ransomware. SD-WAN provides network optimization and flexibility, while Security Service Edge provides the security layer that is necessary to protect against today’s advanced cyber threats.
Just like Batman and Robin, SD-WAN and Security Service Edge work together seamlessly to achieve their common goal: protecting their respective domains from threats. Batman and Robin use their skills and gadgets to fight crime, while SD-WAN and Security Access Edge use their software and security services to protect networks from cyber threats.
The duo of Batman and Robin and the duo of SD-WAN and Security Service Edge have more in common than one might think. Both pairs work together to protect their domains from threats, whether it be criminals or cyber attackers. While the former is a fictional superhero duo, the latter is a powerful and practical security solution for modern networks. Both are examples of how partnerships and teamwork can achieve great things.
