SASE: The Future of Adaptive Cyber Security
An open conversation with the CEO of Northbridge Systems
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity has become a top priority for organisations of all sizes.
To help us understand the future of cybersecurity, we sat down with Mike Harte, our CEO. With over 38 years of experience in the field, Mike shares his expertise on Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and how it’s revolutionising the way organisations secure their digital journey in today’s hyper tech-driven world.
Let’s meet Mike.
Thank you for joining us today, Mike. Could you start by telling us a bit about your background and Northbridge System’s mission?
Mike: Absolutely! I’ve been in the technology industry for over 38 years and my background is in Physics and Electrical Engineering. We established VoIP Pty Ltd in 1999 in Australia (one of the first to implement VoIP technology in the region).
Over the last 25 years, we’ve evolved our services beyond VoIP technology to UC and collaboration, IoT, network and connectivity. To match our broadened scope, we needed to move beyond ‘VoIP’ for our company name. Enter, Northbridge Systems by VoIP Pty Ltd.
At Northbridge Systems, our mission is to democratise cyber security to empower a resilient future. And we do this by developing adaptive security and network solutions that support and sustain organisations as they navigate their digital transformation journeys. We believe in staying ahead of the curve by embracing game-changing technologies and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
In a nutshell, it’s 24/7 monitoring and management of cyber security, operational excellence, technical know-how and network fabric expertise.
That’s impressive! How does Northbridge System’s focus on adaptive security align with the current trends in digital transformation?
Mike: Great question. Digital transformation is all about leveraging technology to improve business processes, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation. However, as organisations become more digital, they also become more vulnerable to cyber threats. Adaptive security is crucial because it allows us to respond dynamically to these threats in real-time. By continuously assessing and adjusting our security measures, we can ensure that businesses remain protected without hindering their growth or innovation.
One of the buzzwords in cybersecurity right now is SASE. Can you help explain what SASE means in simple terms and why it’s so important?
Mike: Of course! SASE is a new cybersecurity framework that combines networking and security into a single, cloud-based service. Think of it as a unified approach to secure network access, where security features like firewalls, secure web gateways, and zero trust network access are all integrated into one platform. This makes it easier for organisations to manage and scale their security as they grow and adapt to new digital demands.
That sounds promising. What would you say are some key benefits of SASE for service-led organisations, especially compared to traditional security approaches?
Mike: SASE is a game-changer for a number of reasons:
- Simplified Management: With SASE, you have one platform that combines all your security needs, which reduces complexity and makes management much more straightforward.
- Scalability: As your organisation grows or changes, SASE can easily scale with you. Whether you’re adding new users, locations, or applications, SASE ensures you remain protected without needing to overhaul your security infrastructure.
- Reduced Costs: By consolidating multiple security functions into a single service, SASE can lower costs associated with hardware, maintenance, and administration.
- Enhanced Performance: SASE optimises network performance by routing traffic through the closest and most efficient points, ensuring faster and more reliable access to applications and data.
- Zero Trust Security: SASE embraces the Zero Trust Network Access model (by Gartner), which means it verifies every access request regardless of where it comes from. This is especially critical as more employees work remotely and access corporate resources from various locations.
In summary, SASE will streamline your network and security functions into one integrated solution. By reducing operating costs and network complexity, SASE optimises performance while enhancing security.
It simplifies device management, flattens network structures, and allows better control and oversight. SASE empowers organisations to transform their digital operations seamlessly and cost-effectively, ensuring robust protection and efficient network management.
So, it sounds like SASE helps organisations overcome the limitations of traditional security approaches.
Mike: That’s correct. Traditional security models were designed for a time when most employees worked on-premises and applications were hosted in dedicated data centres. However, today’s work environment is highly distributed, with many applications moving to the cloud and employees working from literally anywhere.
Traditional security solutions struggle to keep up with this shift because they’re often rigid and location-dependent. SASE addresses these limitations by providing a flexible, cloud-delivered security model that adapts to the modern workforce and IT landscape. It ensures consistent security policies and protection, no matter where your users or applications are located.
Coming back to Northbridge Systems, what sets it apart (out of so many others in the industry) to help organisations transition to SASE and enhance their security posture?
Mike: At Northbridge Systems, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Our enhanced (and continually evolving) range of services help organisations adopt SASE seamlessly.
- Our team of experts works closely with clients to understand their exact needs and design a tailored SASE solution that fits their requirements.
- Our commitment is to provide comprehensive support, from initial assessment and planning to implementation and ongoing management.
- Our goal is to ensure that teams within organisations can enjoy the full benefits of SASE while focusing on their core operations and growth.
Sounds like a Swiss-army-knife approach. Ultimately though, what people want is value. What value does Northbridge Systems’ give its customers?
Mike: The biggest value we give our customers is our expertise, know-how and unwavering commitment.
Our history and heritage lie in the 25-year legacy of serving Australian organisations, most of whom continue to trust us today. Every customer we serve, we do so knowing they’ve put their faith in us and it’s something we take very seriously.
Having been in the industry for so long, we’ve seen it all. We adapt and continue to learn to wield change to our advantage and pass that benefit on to our customers.
As a technically focussed business, our premise is to understand the technology immensely and completely so that we can render services that are aligned to customer outcomes.
In a nutshell, the Northbridge value is that we’re your ally, every step of the way.
Thank you, Mike, for sharing your expertise with us today. It seems that SASE is synonymous with the future of cybersecurity, and Northbridge Systems is well-positioned to lead the way.
Mike: Thank you! It was a pleasure discussing SASE and its transformative impact on cybersecurity. We’re excited to continue helping and empowering organisations to secure their digital journeys.
And there you have it. When it comes to ensuring your cybersecurity is intact, SASE is your lifeforce.
Stay tuned for more insights and expert interviews as we explore the latest trends and technologies in the world of cybersecurity.
FAQ
What is SASE and how does it benefit critical service-led and government organisations?
SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a cloud-native security architecture that combines networking and security functions into a single, integrated platform.
For Australian healthcare and government organisations, SASE offers enhanced data protection, improved compliance with regulations like the Privacy Act, and seamless secure access for remote workers and telehealth services.
It provides a unified approach to security, reducing complexity and costs while improving overall cybersecurity posture.
What should Australian organisations consider when implementing SASE?
When implementing SASE, Australian healthcare and government organizations should consider the following:
- Evaluate current security infrastructure and identify gaps.
- Ensure the chosen SASE solution integrates well with existing systems.
- Plan for staff training to manage the transition to new interfaces and protocols.
- Consider the solution’s scalability to accommodate future growth.
- Verify the provider’s compliance with Australian data sovereignty requirements.
Note: SASE offers numerous benefits; it’s an emerging technology, and implementation may require careful planning and execution to maximize its potential.
How does SASE address the challenges of remote work and cloud adoption in Australia?
SASE is designed to meet the needs of modern businesses with distributed workforces and cloud-based applications. It replaces traditional VPNs with a flexible, modular model that supports remote workers and branch locations effortlessly.
SASE’s cloud-native architecture enables quick deployment of security services, allowing organizations to adapt rapidly to changing security requirements and threats, which is crucial in Australia’s evolving digital landscape.
What security features does SASE offer?
SASE integrates multiple security services into a single platform, including:
- Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN)
- Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS)
- Secure Web Gateways (SWG)
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
This comprehensive suite of tools ensures consistent security policies across all users, devices, and cloud applications, strengthening an organisation’s overall security posture.
How can Australian organisations implement SASE effectively?
When implementing SASE, Australian organisations should consider the following steps:
- Evaluate current security infrastructure and identify gaps
- Choose a SASE solution that integrates well with existing systems
- Plan for staff training to manage the transition to new interfaces and protocols
- Consider the solution’s scalability to accommodate future growth
- Verify the provider’s compliance with Australian data sovereignty requirements
It’s recommended to work with experienced SASE providers or consultants who understand the specific needs and regulatory environment of Australian businesses.
What are the cost implications of adopting SASE?
While there may be initial implementation costs, SASE can lead to significant cost savings in the long run. By consolidating multiple network and security tools into a single cloud-based solution, SASE reduces the complexity and operational costs associated with managing various security solutions.
This is particularly beneficial for Australian organisations looking to optimise their IT spending while enhancing their security capabilities.
