Strategic insights CISOs are challenged by increasing operational complexity as disjointed networking and security products lead to multiple points of integration, inconsistent policies, and discrete management interfaces. This drives a strong need for organizations to modernize their networking and security infrastructure by converging multiple solutions under a single SASE platform. SASE vendors should emphasize simplified management, converged networking and security services, and a single-pass architecture to deliver greater business outcomes with optimized network performance, a better user experience, and an improved security posture. The single-vendor SASE approach is gaining popularity, and Frost & Sullivan expects the shift from a best-of-breed SASE approach to a single SASE offering to increase in the next 3 years. Deploying SASE components from multiple vendors often results in complex implementation, configuration, and integration processes. Organizations will continue to consolidate vendors when achieving SASE and emphasize streamlined networking and security management through a converged SASE approach. SASE vendors should continue to reinforce the comprehensiveness of their converged SASE offering by incorporating organically developed networking and security capabilities or that of acquired technology companies to address the evolving networking and security requirements in today’s fast-changing business environment. Organizations that have embarked on the SASE journey will request that more advanced capabilities be integrated with the broader SASE portfolio. As such, vendors need to strengthen and expand their SASE portfolio from time to time to meet customers’ evolving needs and new use cases that leverage the power of AI, 5G, and IoT. It is also important for vendors to enhance their security capabilities against potential threats and vulnerabilities by integrating more proactive security measures, including endpoint protection, XDR, and IoT security to ensure they can offer comprehensive protection to customers. © 2023 Frost & Sullivan. All rights reserved. This document contains highly confidential information and is the sole property of Frost & Sullivan. No part of it may be circulated, quoted, copied, or otherwise reproduced without the written approval of Frost & Sullivan.