Strengthening nonprofit cybersecurity with SASE and SSE solutions

Cybersecurity is constantly evolving as threats from malicious actors persist. As the battle against threat actors intensifies, secure access service edge (SASE) and security service edge (SSE) have emerged as critical frameworks for organizations. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they serve distinct roles in a nonprofit’s cybersecurity strategy.

What are SASE and SSE?

SASE (pronounced "sassy") is a comprehensive security framework that integrates network and security functions. SSE is a subset of SASE that focuses solely on the security layer, excluding the networking component. The primary distinction between these two frameworks lies in their scope. In addition, SASE is a holistic solution that requires hardware and software components, while SSE is largely software-based, deployed through cloud services and endpoint agents.

The benefits of SASE/SSE

As nonprofits transition to hybrid and cloud environments, traditional firewall-based security models are no longer sufficient. Organizations require flexible security solutions to protect remote users, cloud applications and data across distributed environments.

Whether an organization implements a SASE or SSE solution, the benefits are significant. Enhanced security is the most obvious benefit. Nonprofits can better monitor and control their data, helping reduce the risk of data breaches and protecting sensitive information.

Furthermore, a SASE or SSE solution improves data flow and traffic management. Organizations can optimize their network’s performance while preventing malicious traffic from reaching endpoints.

In addition, these platforms often utilize zero trust network access, which enforces least-privilege access, limiting users to only the necessary resources and decreasing the likelihood that a cyberattack will run rampant over the entire environment.

SSE is also a great solution for organizations that have moved out of the data centre business and have all their workloads in a public cloud. By filling the void left by traditional VPNs that may no longer be needed or supported, SSE provides secure access to the internet and private resources.

Additionally, software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) is a key component of SASE, and many organizations are moving toward this standard. SD-WAN is about intelligent connectivity and resiliency as organizations move to the cloud and become hybrid or cloud native. SASE builds on SD-WAN by using SSE components, adding agents to the endpoints for protection that follows the user or device.

Best practices

Implementing SASE or SSE requires careful planning and alignment with the nonprofit’s goals. The first step is to choose a reputable vendor that has the necessary experience and technical knowledge to meet your organization’s specific needs.

Your vendor’s solution should provide a single management portal to streamline policy enforcement and reduce administrative overhead. Keep in mind that once your solution is implemented, you will still need to monitor and adjust your approach as needed. Effective cybersecurity involves continuously evaluating and updating your policies in response to emerging threats.

Potential challenges

While the benefits of SASE and SSE are clear, nonprofits may still run into potential obstacles to implementation. First, there are the cost considerations, as transitioning to SASE or SSE may require a significant investment.

And not all costs are financial. Setting up security policies from scratch can be resource-intensive, and staff members may require training on new security processes.

However, nonprofits can overcome resource issues by leveraging AI-driven analytics and automation to streamline policy updates and enhance operational efficiency. Furthermore, providing clear communication and user-friendly training will help ease the transition for staff members.

As with all elements of organizational success, the tone that leadership establishes is crucial. Making sure that people understand why the solution is being implemented and how it will benefit stakeholders will help the implementation go more smoothly.

Measuring success

Nonprofits implementing SASE or SSE should track several metrics to ensure the effectiveness of their approach. For example, what is the impact on uptime and network performance? Organizations can also monitor latency, packet loss and connection stability.

It is also helpful to track the reduction in cybersecurity incidents, such as malware infections, phishing attempts and unauthorized access. Nonprofits will want to measure their stakeholders’ adherence to policies and the frequency of security alerts.

Of course, cost savings is a key indicator. Organizations can assess the reductions in operational expenses and IT workload that their improved security posture provides. Less tangible, but just as important, is the improved peace of mind that enhanced security can bring to an entire organization.

The takeaway

As cybersecurity threats increase, SASE and SSE provide nonprofits with the tools to secure networks, endpoints and cloud applications. More vendors are entering this market, which will drive down pricing and make these solutions more accessible. By choosing the right solution and adhering to best practices, nonprofits can strengthen their cybersecurity posture while maintaining high-performance connectivity and optimizing network performance.