Secure access service edge (SASE) delivers converged networking and security solutions to lower risk without compromising performance. It utilizes tools such as zero trust network access (ZTNA), firewall as a service (FWaaS), software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN), and secure web gateway (SWG) to achieve a host of benefits.

Many managed service providers (MSPs) offer the converged model of SASE as a way to combine services into a single solution that elevates performance while eliminating security gaps. The result is a service delivery that is efficient, more effective, and cost-optimized.

If your company is considering deploying SASE, you may want to employ the assistance of an MSP to help you overcome common hurdles such as optimizing network and security design, configuring services, and developing an ideal end user experience. Here are five reasons why you should enlist the help of an MSP:

Expert Assistance: A managed services provider will have extensive experience in security and networking that help you overcome obstacles and stay on track for a successful deployment. A provider will be familiar with the major provider platforms and be able to help you navigate the ins and outs of various options. They will assist you in leveraging the best technology for your priorities.

Scale: Managed service providers have the facilities to support clients all over the globe. Multi-tenant architectures keep customer data segmented and delivered to customers’ dashboards. They have a global presence and can service clients all over the world.

Achieving Value Faster: An MSP will help shorten the time between project launch and full deployment, allowing you to deliver value more quickly than you would with an in-house team less experienced in handling a SASE implementation.

Determining Priorities: With any migration project, IT departments can struggle with knowing where to begin, especially if they have a number of different line-of-business managers chiming in. A managed services provider helps you prioritize efforts and align different projects as they make sense, such as incorporating an SD-WAN adoption into a bigger SASE project.

Successful Implementation: Your MSP will have a plan for pre- and post-implementation. They will have experienced common pain points and have expertise in streamlining every step of your project. They will have worked with a variety of sizes of businesses, as well as different industries, so you can count on their ability to address operational challenges.

There are three basic service models that companies can choose between for implementing SASE with an MSP:

·         Build and Operate: The MSP coordinates the rollout, but then also handles ongoing monitoring and performance management.

·         Build and Transfer: Once deployment is complete, your in-house team takes over.

·         Takeover: You build and deploy your SASE, but then outsource management to a service provider.SASE successfully converges security and networking with a single console, but getting there can be a challenge without the right in-house talent. Contact us at eXemplify for guidance in leveraging the right solution paired with the ideal managed service provider.