March 11, 2025 · James Player · 5 min
Older, more outdated security architectures are struggling to meet the demands of modern businesses, due to their rigid and fragmented nature. Security Service Edge (SSE) offers a flexible, cloud-based solution that addresses these challenges, paving the way for a full SASE integration.
Modern businesses rely heavily on optimized and secure access to applications and data across both on-premises and cloud environments. However, rigid security architectures composed of disjointed point solutions can’t adapt to new business needs or evolving threats. This inflexibility results in reduced business agility and heightened risk, which is exacerbated by a shortage of cybersecurity skills and the high cost of outsourced support.
Introduced by Gartner in 2019, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is the convergence of network and security, often through a single technology. Two years later, Gartner put forward another option: Security Service Edge — a convergence of numerous security features, without the integrated network capabilities.
Both options can transform legacy architectures into streamlined, future-ready environments, but organizations must decide which path they should take. Some opt to go all-in from the start, embracing full SASE solution, while others prioritize security first with SSE—which works with an existing network infrastructure—then gradually convert their existing framework into full SASE.
Legacy architecture creates some significant challenges to digital transformation, including:
SSE allows enterprises to shift from a rigid, disjointed IT architecture to a converged security platform delivered as a cloud service. It enables rapid adaptation to new business and security requirements, such as cloud migration and work-from-anywhere models.
With SSE, companies benefit from reduced costs and complexity, simplified management through a single interface, self-healing infrastructure and automatically evolving defenses against new threats. In addition, organizations gain the flexibility to manage their infrastructure independently or co-manage it with preferred partners.
SSE offers a variety of use cases and benefits that support organizations’ digital transformation journeys, including:
SSE makes it simple for organizations to transform their security while leveraging their existing WAN edge appliances for connectivity. This convergence significantly reduces costs, complexity and management overhead while improving resiliency and visibility.
As they progress in their digital transformation journeys, the natural next step is a transition to a full, single-vendor SASE solution, which includes deploying SD-WAN and consolidating networking capabilities into the SASE cloud.
Research shows by 2025, 80% of enterprises implementing SSE will do so through a consolidated solution offered by a managed services provider like Windstream, rather than using separate, stand-alone services. Windstream’s SSE solution seamlessly integrates next-gen security capabilities with your existing network environment for maximum protection with minimal disruptions.
By embracing SSE, businesses can future-proof their IT infrastructures, ensuring they remain agile, secure and ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
James Player is the senior product manager for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Security Service Edge (SSE) at Windstream Enterprise, and is responsible for the entire product management lifecycle and launch orchestration of these strategic solutions. He has 25 years of experience in the telecom industry, having previously been the product manager for the company’s SD-WAN solutions, including Fortinet SD-WAN and VMware SD-WAN.
