Part 3 of a three-part series
Secure access service edge (SASE) technology has demonstrated it can address many of the security concerns that arise at the intersection of on-premises, cloud, and edge systems, which many organizations need to combine to keep up their digital operations. But adopting SASE comes with its own challenges (part 1), and it's not a one-and-done process.
To build an effective SASE framework, organizations need to rethink security governance, shift the focus of their policies, retrain teams internally, and build new relationships externally. This transition can last six to 18 months, maybe longer, and requires maintaining security on both legacy and SASE systems simultaneously (part 2).
Stage 1: A Comprehensive Infrastructure Assessment
The audit phase typically uncovers shadow infrastructure: older appliances that nobody remembers deploying, redundant security tools performing overlapping functions, or point solutions that are never fully decommissioned after purchases of broader platforms. Beyond inventory, organizations need to document network topology, traffic flows, application-to-application dependencies, and the compliance requirements that drive current security policies.
Doing this kind of self-assessment will help make clear which aspects of SASE are most important for the organization and what it already has in place to achieve those ends, says John Grady, principal analyst at Omdia.
"Ask yourself where you want to be two and three years down the road," Grady says. "Take that assessment and build out your road map."
Stage 2: A Pilot Deployment in Controlled Environments
Begin with pilots that target specific segments, which minimize impact should issues occur. Ideal pilots could include remote-worker populations (where traditional VPN limitations are most acute), new branch locations not yet migrated from legacy infrastructure, or noncritical software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications where security gaps don't threaten core business operations.
Pilot deployments should run for extended periods — typically three to six months — to capture seasonal variations, integration edge cases, and performance patterns under different load conditions. Establish performance baselines, validate that SASE policies correctly permit required traffic while blocking unwanted flows, and develop operational procedures for incident response, policy changes, and troubleshooting specific to the SASE platform.
"Start where the biggest pain is," Grady says. For example, if it's remote access, start with zero-trust network access. If it's branch connectivity, then software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN). If it's SaaS control, then cloud access security broker (CASB).
Stage 3: Phased Migration of Workload Groups
Rather than attempting to cut over the entire security infrastructure, migrate workload groups sequentially. Allow time to validate each migration before advancing to the next. Typical phases may include remote workers and mobile devices, branch office networks and SD-WAN connectivity, centralized cloud application access, and sensitive on-premises workloads.
By migrating remote work first, organizations gain operational experience with SASE platforms while addressing the highest-pain legacy VPN problems, building internal expertise and organizational confidence before tackling more complex scenarios. Branch-office migration naturally follows, extending SASE benefits to distributed locations and consolidating networking functions — from Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) to SD-WAN — through SASE, often delivering immediate cost savings that fund remaining migration efforts.
Each migration phase should maintain coexistence with legacy infrastructure for one to three months to enable a rapid rollback if unexpected issues arise.
Stage 4: Policy Redesign and Governance Evolution
SASE implementation should trigger comprehensive policy redesign, rather than mechanical translation of legacy rules. Organizations should conduct "policy housekeeping" activities during migration windows, removing shadow rules, eliminating overly permissive policies, consolidating overlapping rules, and applying consistent naming conventions that enable future policy maintenance.
Modern SASE governance should embrace least-privilege principles in which users and applications receive only the permissions necessary for specific jobs, rather than broad network access based on location. Identity-driven policies — where access depends on user identity, device security posture, and application sensitivity — require organizations to rethink role structures and access management practices that evolved around network-based security.
This redesign process is best conducted in collaboration, with security teams understanding policy intent and business owners understanding actual access requirements. This ensures SASE policies reflect both security principles and operational reality.
"Create a road map to sequence policy changes and do the quick wins first while maintaining long‑term alignment to zero‑trust principles," advises Dave Shackleford, founder and CEO at Voodoo Security.
Stage 5: Bridging Skills Gaps Through Training and Organizational Evolution
SASE implementation demands IT skills that diverge substantially from those of traditional network and firewall administration. Network administrators accustomed to managing MPLS circuits and firewall rule bases need to understand cloud-native architectures, API-based automation, identity integration, and zero-trust principles. Security teams focused on threat detection and response need expertise in cloud-delivered security, policy orchestration across distributed points of presence, and debugging security enforcement on cloud platforms that lack local visibility. Teams typically start with the chosen platform's official academy or certification track, which typically bundles architecture overviews, hands‑on labs, and product‑specific deployment patterns. If acquired as a service through a managed security services provider or managed services provider, that company will often provide the training.
Stage 6: Continuous Optimization and Governance Evolution
SASE implementation does not conclude with the initial deployment; instead, it launches an ongoing optimization cycle in which organizations continuously refine policies, validate that security enforcement aligns with business requirements, and adapt to evolving threat landscapes.
Organizations should establish quarterly policy reviews to assess whether current SASE policies still reflect business requirements, whether policy changes have introduced unintended gaps, and whether threat intelligence indicates the need for policy adjustments. Performance monitoring should track application-specific metrics to ensure that latency, throughput, and reliability remain acceptable as user populations and traffic volumes grow.
The most successful SASE implementations treat the platform as a living infrastructure that requires continuous attention. Enterprises on the SASE migration path should also acknowledge that successful transformation requires one to two years for a comprehensive global deployment, substantial investment, and fundamental organizational changes that require IT leadership commitment.
Organizations that adopt this mindset — establishing SASE governance structures, appointing champions responsible for ongoing optimization, and building continuous improvement into IT operations — can realize substantially greater value from their SASE investments.
The move from legacy appliance-based security to unified SASE is challenging precisely because the transformation runs deeper than technology. It requires rethinking how organizations govern security in cloud-native architectures. However, the promised results are high: operational simplification, security improvements, and support for distributed workforces.