Part 2 of our SSE vs SASE series
In our previous piece, we explored why Secure Service Edge (SSE) might be all you need, without the complexity and cost of full SASE. But knowing SSE makes sense theoretically and actually implementing it are very different challenges. This is where many organisations stumble, often because they're still thinking in terms of traditional network architecture.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Your Current Network
Before implementing any new architecture, you need to conduct what we call a "network reality audit"—and the results are often uncomfortable. Start by tracking your actual traffic flows for a month. Where are users connecting from? What applications are they accessing? How much of your expensive MPLS capacity is actually being used for cloud services that would work perfectly well over standard internet?
Most organisations discover that their carefully designed network architecture is increasingly irrelevant to how work gets done. Users connect from home broadband that often outperforms corporate connections. Applications have migrated to cloud platforms that are optimised for internet access, not private network routing. Video conferencing works better with direct internet breakout than backhauling through corporate infrastructure. There’s a reason that the Unified Comms vendors have the removal of backhauling as the first architectural no-no.
The numbers can be stark. We've seen companies spending six-figure sums annually on private circuits where 80% of the traffic consists of Office 365, Salesforce, and other SaaS applications that perform better with direct internet access. Meanwhile, their users struggle with VPN performance issues when working remotely, despite having excellent broadband connections at home. This often leads to them simply turning off the VPN, and only connecting to the corporate environment when necessary... This neatly bypasses all those high-powered cybersecurity appliances sat at the other end of the VPN connection.
Rethinking Identity as Your New Perimeter
Traditional networks relied on physical and logical boundaries to determine trust. If you were inside the corporate network, you were trusted. If you were outside, you weren't. This binary approach breaks down when the corporate network becomes irrelevant.
SSE implementations must start with identity and context as the new trust determinants. This isn't just about multi-factor authentication, though that's essential. It's about continuous verification based on user behaviour, device health, location context, and application sensitivity.
The shift requires rethinking fundamental assumptions about access control. Instead of asking "are you on the corporate network?", the system asks "who are you, what device are you using, where are you connecting from, what are you trying to access, and does this request pattern make sense given your normal behaviour?"
This approach works consistently whether someone is in the office, at home, or in a coffee shop halfway around the world. The user experience becomes predictable and reliable, whilst security improves because decisions are based on current context rather than historical network location.
The Zero Trust Foundation
Zero Trust isn't just a marketing buzzword—it's the operational model that makes SSE possible. Traditional VPN architectures give users network-level access, essentially placing them "inside" the corporate network once authenticated. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) provides application-specific access with no network-level trust assumptions.
This granular approach eliminates many traditional security risks. Users can't browse the internal network, can't access applications they don't need, and can't move laterally if their credentials are compromised. The network becomes invisible to end users, who see only the specific applications they're authorised to access.
Implementation requires cataloguing every application, defining access policies based on user roles and contexts, and designing workflows that feel natural to users whilst maintaining security controls. It's more complex than traditional VPN deployment but provides vastly superior security and user experience outcomes.
The SD-WAN Pressure Campaign
Here's where many implementations go wrong. Vendors will argue that SD-WAN is a necessary stepping stone to SSE, providing application optimisation, traffic management, and "hybrid" capabilities during transition. The sales pitch sounds reasonable: maintain some private networking whilst gradually adopting cloud security services.
This approach often creates the worst of both worlds: traditional networking complexity combined with new security platform complexity. Organisations find themselves managing SD-WAN appliances, circuit relationships, and routing policies alongside new security tools and cloud services.
For most organisations embracing cloud-first strategies, SD-WAN optimisation provides minimal benefit. Cloud applications are designed for internet access and often perform worse when routed through complex SD-WAN policies. Users working remotely bypass SD-WAN infrastructure entirely, creating inconsistent experiences depending on access method.
The radical alternative is skipping SD-WAN entirely and implementing internet-only connectivity with SSE security services. This approach eliminates traditional networking complexity whilst providing superior security and user experience outcomes.
Building Your Implementation Roadmap
Successful SSE implementations typically follow a sequence that builds capability progressively whilst demonstrating value quickly. Start with a pilot group of users who already work flexibly and don't depend heavily on legacy systems. This provides a low-risk environment to validate the approach whilst building internal expertise and confidence.
Begin with identity and access management implementation, establishing the foundation for all subsequent security services. Deploy secure web gateway capabilities to provide consistent internet security policies regardless of user location. Add cloud access security broker functionality to gain visibility and control over cloud application usage.
Implement zero trust network access to replace VPN infrastructure with application-specific access controls. Deploy data loss prevention capabilities to protect sensitive information in transit and at rest. Throughout the process, measure everything: performance, security, user satisfaction, and operational overhead.
The key is proving that SSE provides superior outcomes to traditional approaches before attempting large-scale migration. Success with the pilot group builds organisational confidence and provides practical experience that informs broader deployment.
Handling the Legacy Problem
Every organisation has legacy systems that complicate SSE adoption. Industrial control systems that require local network access, legacy applications with hard-coded IP dependencies, and compliance systems that mandate specific network architectures all present real challenges.
The temptation is to use these edge cases to justify maintaining traditional network infrastructure for everyone. A better approach involves targeted solutions that provide private access only where genuinely required whilst moving everything else to SSE architecture.
Cloud-hosted virtual private networks can provide secure access to specific legacy systems without maintaining full WAN infrastructure. Application modernisation roadmaps can reduce legacy dependencies over time. Hybrid approaches can provide private access for specific use cases whilst defaulting to SSE for general connectivity.
Measuring Success Beyond Technical Metrics
Traditional networking focuses heavily on technical performance metrics: bandwidth utilisation, latency, packet loss, and availability. SSE implementations require broader success criteria that reflect business outcomes rather than just technical performance.
User experience metrics become crucial. How long does it take users to access applications from different locations? How often do they experience connection issues or need IT support? How does their productivity change when working from various locations?
Security metrics should reflect improved threat detection and response capabilities. Are you detecting more sophisticated attacks? How quickly can you respond to security incidents? How has your overall security posture improved with better visibility and control?
Operational metrics demonstrate the business value of reduced complexity. How much time does your IT team spend on network management versus strategic projects? How quickly can you deploy new users or locations? What are your infrastructure costs compared to traditional approaches?
Financial metrics should capture the total economic impact, including eliminated circuit costs, reduced operational overhead, and improved business agility that enables faster response to market opportunities.
The Cultural Challenge
Perhaps the biggest barrier to SSE adoption isn't technical but cultural. IT departments have invested heavily in networking expertise, certifications, and career development around traditional technologies. Network engineers may see SSE as a threat to their relevance and job security.
Managing this transition requires clear communication about how roles evolve rather than disappear. Network expertise becomes valuable for internet connectivity management, performance optimisation, and integration between SSE services and remaining legacy systems.
Security skills become increasingly important as the focus shifts from managing network infrastructure to managing access policies, threat detection, and incident response. The role of IT shifts from maintaining infrastructure to enabling business outcomes through technology.
The Competitive Advantage
Organisations that successfully implement SSE-first strategies often discover unexpected competitive advantages. The ability to hire talent regardless of location becomes significant in tight labour markets. Rapid expansion into new markets becomes possible without infrastructure prerequisites. Partnership opportunities emerge when network integration isn't a barrier to collaboration.
Business continuity improves dramatically when users can work effectively from any location with internet access. Disaster recovery planning simplifies when there's no physical infrastructure to protect or restore. Operational resilience increases when the business isn't dependent on specific network providers or technologies.
Making the Decision
The choice between traditional networking plus SSE versus SSE-first architecture ultimately comes down to honest assessment of where your business is heading. If applications are moving to the cloud, users are working flexibly, and business agility is increasingly important, then SSE-first provides a simpler path to better outcomes.
The transition isn't always straightforward, and legacy constraints may require hybrid approaches initially. But the goal should be clear: eliminate unnecessary networking complexity whilst improving security, user experience, and operational flexibility.
Your network is the internet. SSE makes it secure and manageable. Everything else is legacy thinking that's holding you back from the flexibility and efficiency your business needs to thrive in a cloud-first, work-anywhere world.
The question isn't whether this transition will happen, it's whether you'll lead it or be dragged into it by competitive pressure and user expectations. The organisations making this change proactively are finding themselves better positioned for whatever comes next.
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Ready to explore how SSE-first architecture could transform your organisation's approach to network security? Contact our team at Principle Networks to discuss your specific requirements and discover why eliminating network complexity might be the best strategic decision you make this year.
