If your organization has poor network connectivity and lacks a strong security solution, it will likely lead to network vulnerabilities. Network vulnerabilities frequently result in cyberattacks that can cost your organization hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair your network.
Because of the detrimental consequences that result from cyberattacks, data breaches, and malicious software, reliable network security solutions are important to help avoid significant disruption to your business.
Fortunately, there are many network security solutions available for your organization. Understanding the differences between FWaaS and SASE will help you determine which of these two is the better solution for your organization.
Coeo understands how important reliable network security is to an organization and has delivered thousands of network security solutions to organizations to improve their security and help them avoid cyberattacks.
By the end of this article you will understand what FWaaS is, what SASE is, the differences between the two, and which one is the better solution for your organization.
What is FWaaS?
Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), is a cloud-based firewall that provides advanced network security functions.
This solution enables your organization to deploy, manage, and scale firewall security through the cloud without the need for expensive on-premise hardware and infrastructure making it less costly and more flexible than traditional firewalls.
FWaaS allows you to secure your network no matter where you are or what device it is being accessed from making it a better solution for a remote or hybrid work environment.
FWaaS delivers more capabilities than traditional firewall services thereby providing more in-depth security.
For example, instead of offering only the network traffic inspection that traditional firewalls provide, FWaaS also includes next-gen firewall capabilities such as intrusion prevention and detection and URL filtering.
What is SASE?
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), is a cybersecurity network that combines SD-WAN with enhanced security.
Combining the two provides organizations with better network connectivity and security in a single cloud-based solution.
SASE identifies users and devices in the network and applies policy-based security rules resulting in more secure access to data no matter where users are connecting from or what devices they are using.
Because SASE provides constant security across a network, data can be delivered directly to a connection source instead of having to be sent to a data center to be monitored.
If you would like to speak with our team to learn more about FWaaS or SASE or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment.
The differences between FWaaS and SASE
While FWaaS and SASE are both reliable security solutions that have some similarities, they also have unique differences. It is important to understand these differences so you can determine which one is the better alternative for your organization.
The key differences between FWaaS and SASE include:
Focus
One of the key differences between FWaaS and SASE is that FWaaS focuses on providing traditional and advanced firewall capabilities to secure network traffic and connections.
FWaaS solutions emphasize perimeter network security defense, access control, traffic filtering, and threat prevention.
On the other hand, SASE combines network security and Wide Area Network (WAN) capabilities to provide a more security-focused SD-WAN solution.
In a nutshell, FWaaS focuses strictly on security by providing both traditional and advanced firewall solutions while SASE focuses on both security and WAN technology.
Capabilities
These two solutions have somewhat different capabilities or approaches to security.
FWaaS solutions include the capabilities that traditional firewalls have such as packet filtering and application control as well as advanced firewall capabilities such as Secure Web Gateway (SWG) features.
On the other hand, while SASE incorporates security services like FWaaS, it also provides additional security solutions such as CASB, ZTNA, and, DLP.
Deployment
The final significant difference between the two solutions is how they are deployed to customers. FWaaS can be delivered as a cloud-based solution, virtual appliance, or hybrid configuration while SASE solutions can only be delivered via the cloud.
Which solution is the better choice for your organization?
Now you understand what FWaaS is, what SASE is, and the differences between the two solutions. However, it is also important to understand which solution is the better choice for your organization.
If your organization already has a WAN or reliable network connectivity and is only looking for an effective network security solution, a FWaaS solution may be the better choice.
However, if your organization is looking to improve network connectivity while enhancing security, a SASE solution may be the better alternative.
Additionally, if you are looking for enhanced security features and solutions that can improve your network security such as CASB and ZTNA, a SASE solution may be the right choice for your organization.
Keep in mind, though, that FWaaS and SASE solutions can also be integrated together to provide maximum security and improved network connectivity.
If your organization wants to reduce or eliminate the risk of having network vulnerabilities, integrating both solutions into your network infrastructure may be the right fit for your organization.
Determining which solution is the right fit for your organization
Now you know what FWaaS is, what SASE is, the differences between the two, and which solution is the better fit for your organization. This will help you determine which solution your organization should invest in.
No one wants to have poor network security that can result in network vulnerabilities leading to cyberattacks. Cyberattacks can cost your organization hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair your network following an attack.
This makes reliable network security important for all organizations to prioritize to avoid the consequences of cyberattacks.
With so many network security solutions available on the market it can be difficult to determine which solution is the best choice for your organization.
Coeo understands how important reliable network security is to an organization and has delivered thousands of network security solutions to organizations to improve their security and prevent cyberattacks.
We want you to understand the differences between FWaaS and SASE so you can determine which solution is the better choice for your organization.
If you would like to speak with our team to learn more about FWaaS or SASE or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment.
Now that you understand the differences between FWaaS and SASE and which one is the better choice for your organization, check out this article to learn about the things to consider when looking for a SASE solution:
