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SASE Strategy Roundtable

We invited a distinguished group of CTOs and CISOs from a broad sweep of organisations to discuss the role of SASE. It didn’t take long for AI to rear its head. 

What is SASE?

We started with a brilliant short summary from Adam Start, SASE Regional Sales Manager at Palo Alto Networks, who were hosting us at their HQ on the 55th floor of 22 Bishopsgate in the City. 

SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is an advanced solution with BOTH security and networking advantages. It operates around the core strategic element of enforcing access based on identity across the platform, and encompasses Zero Trust, Visibility and Data Sovereignty. 

Adam explained: “You find SASE means different things, at different times, to different people, depending on priorities.” 

From Adam’s deep experience with many customers, he finds that the common drivers to introduce SASE include:

  1. Removing cyber risk 
  2. Addressing business resilience
  3. Enhancing audit/compliance efficiency throughout the estate
  4. Enabling efficiency and automation (whilst ensuring a consistent experience across a hybrid landscape) 

“If you can’t see it, you can’t secure it.” 

Adam’s top tip?  

 “When embarking on a SASE project, ensure ALL your teams – security, networking, helpdesk, governance – are involved. Working together gets the best outcomes. And remember visibility is key: If you can’t see it, you can’t secure it.” 

Kashif Iqbal, presents SEGA's story Kashif Iqbal presents SEGA’s story

SEGA share their story

We were delighted to then welcome Kashif Iqbal, Director of Technology Services & Cyber Security at SEGA Europe, who shared SEGA’s experience of deploying SASE in a digital-first environment with a dispersed hybrid workforce across Europe. 

Kashif explained that they were evaluating SASE as a Proof of Concept (POC) when Covid hit and it quickly became a critical part of their business strategy. 

“For us, SASE stopped being an IT project and became a business enabler. 

“It removed architectural bottlenecks, combined teams together and supported our global workforce. IP is a critical part of our business; SASE helps us protect that and makes our cyber security and network much more intuitive to manage.” 

 

Ideal’s Richard Evans heads-up the roundtable discussion

Opening up the debate – AI to the fore

The event then opened out to a roundtable discussion. With senior technology leaders from FTSE 100 enterprises, the NHS, Education, Construction and expert consultants, views still coalesced around three core themes. 

  1. Securing AI usage – everyone wants to explore the benefits of AI, so they don’t want to prohibit access, but are concerned about policing secure access to apps and the potential cyber risk of embedding AI tools in their operations and services. Is SASE the answer? 
  2. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) – is a big consideration. A number of high-profile cases last year showed the enormously damaging and expensive potential consequences – and everyone at the table was well aware that the majority of incidents do not get reported.
  3. Educating users is key. Providing more user-coaching, creating a team to address cyber behaviours, guiding users towards best practise rather than adopting a punitive approach were all seen as priorities. “Educate the users and work with them.” 

Richard Evans, Chief Solutions Officer at Ideal who chaired the roundtable, said:

“It was an extremely productive afternoon with senior people sharing and learning together. We had people, pre-, post, and mid- SASE deployment; those shared perspectives were invaluable.” 

Kashif Iqbal and Stuart Wright from SEGA

Next steps?

SASE is not normally a single implementation; it’s usually a bespoke journey that depends on your organisation, your operations, your strategic business objectives and any immediate threats or needs. 

If you are considering SASE as a solution but are not sure if it’s right for your organisation – or as is true for many organisations, you don’t know where to start – we have an interactive SASE Assessment tool that can help.

Just get in touch and we’ll arrange to run through it with you. 

Thank you for a fabulous afternoon 

With sincere thanks to Kashif Iqbal at SEGA Europe, all of our delegates for the lively and vibrant discussion and to Adam Start and his team at Palo Alto Networks for co-hosting such a thought-provoking and inspiring event. 

Many also came to our Tech on Tap social gathering at the end of the session, rounding off an exciting day for everyone involved at Ideal.  See you at the next one?