Why Consider Outsourcing SASE Management?

As organizations continue to navigate the complex landscape of modern IT networks and cybersecurity, the decision to outsource Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) management has become increasingly compelling. SASE, a cloud-native approach that combines network security functions with wide area network (WAN) capabilities, offers a robust solution for securing access to data and applications across diverse environments.

However, managing SASE effectively requires specialized expertise, significant resources, and a deep understanding of both network architecture and security protocols. For many businesses, the challenge lies in balancing the need for advanced security with the operational demands of their core functions. This is where outsourcing SASE management comes into play, offering a strategic advantage that can enhance security posture, reduce costs, and improve overall network performance.

In this article, we will explore the top 5 reasons why outsourcing SASE management is a wise decision for your organization.

1. Expertise and Specialized Knowledge

One of the primary reasons to outsource SASE management is the access to specialized expertise that is often lacking within an organization. Managing a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture requires a deep understanding of both network security and cloud-based services, which can be challenging for many IT teams to master internally.

Access to Network and Security Experts

Outsourcing SASE management allows organizations to tap into the knowledge and experience of security experts who have dedicated their careers to understanding the intricacies of SASE. These experts are well-versed in the latest technologies, such as Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA), ensuring that your organization's network performance and security is always up-to-date and robust. This level of expertise is essential for implementing and maintaining a secure and efficient SASE architecture.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, with new threats and technologies emerging regularly. Staying ahead of these developments is a full-time job that requires continuous learning and adaptation.

By outsourcing SASE management, organizations can leverage the experience and ongoing training that these experts undergo, ensuring that their network design security posture remains aligned with the latest industry trends and best practices. For instance, internal or external certifications like CISSP as well as a continuous and close collaboration with IT teams of various customer organizations ensure that these experts are always knowledgeable about the latest SASE technologies and methodologies. This proactive approach to network optimization and security helps organizations avoid vulnerabilities and maintain a high performance and secure environment for their data and applications.

2. Cost Efficiency

Outsourcing SASE management can significantly enhance cost efficiency for organizations, making it a compelling reason to consider this approach. The recent Open Systems 2025 IT Infrastructure report confirms that managing SASE internally is more expensive: The data shows that 43% of organizations managing SASE internally expect substantial budget increases, compared to only 31% for those outsourcing their SASE management.

The financial benefits of outsourcing SASE are multifaceted, impacting both operational costs and capital expenditures.

Reducing Operational Costs

One of the key ways outsourcing SASE management reduces costs is by minimizing the need for extensive in-house resources. Traditional network and security infrastructures often require substantial investments in hardware, software, and personnel.

By outsourcing, organizations can shift from a capital expenditure (CapEx) model to an operational expenditure (OpEx) model, eliminating the upfront costs associated with purchasing and maintaining hardware and software. Additionally, the need to manage multiple point solutions is reduced, as SASE consolidates various security and network functions into a single, cloud-based platform. This consolidation simplifies management, reduces the number of tools to configure and troubleshoot, and lowers the overall cost of managing these technologies.

Control Over Spending

Outsourcing SASE management also provides organizations with greater control over their spending. With a pay-as-you-go model, organizations can dynamically scale their resources based on real-time demands, avoiding the need for overprovisioning and reducing unnecessary expenses.

This approach ensures that organizations only pay for the services they need, when they need them, which can lead to significant cost savings. Furthermore, outsourcing to a managed service provider (MSP) allows for a more predictable cost structure, as the MSP handles the complexities of network and security management, freeing up the organization's IT budget for more strategic initiatives.

3. Scalability and Flexibility

Scalability and flexibility are fundamental aspects of any modern IT infrastructure, and outsourcing SASE management can significantly enhance these capabilities. SASE, by its nature, is designed to adapt to the evolving needs of organizations, making it an ideal solution for businesses that require dynamic and scalable network and security solutions.

Easily Scalable Solutions

One of the key benefits of outsourcing SASE management is the ability to scale resources quickly and efficiently. SASE solutions are centrally managed and usually cloud-native, which means they can be easily scaled up or down based on the organization's needs.

This scalability is particularly beneficial for businesses experiencing rapid growth or those with fluctuating network demands. By leveraging a cloud-based model, organizations can avoid the need for expensive hardware upgrades and reduce the complexity associated with managing multiple point solutions.

Adaptability to Changing Business Environments

Outsourcing SASE management also allows organizations to adapt more easily to changing business environments. As businesses evolve, whether through expansion, adoption of new technologies, or shifts in remote work policies, SASE can seamlessly adjust to these changes.

This adaptability ensures that the network and security infrastructure remains agile and responsive to the organization's needs. For instance, SASE can support the secure access requirements of a distributed workforce, ensuring that remote workers have secure and reliable access to cloud-based applications and services without compromising security.

4. Improved Security Posture

Outsourcing SASE management can significantly enhance an organization's security posture, providing a robust and comprehensive security framework. This improvement is driven by several key factors, including the integration of advanced security features and the availability of continuous monitoring and support.

Comprehensive Security Features

SASE solutions integrate a wide range of security functions, including secure web gateways (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and firewall as a service (FWaaS), among others. These features work together to provide a unified security model that enhances threat prevention, detection, and response capabilities.

By consolidating these security services into a single platform, organizations can ensure consistent policy enforcement across all points of access, reducing the risk of data breaches and other cyber threats. This comprehensive approach also simplifies the management of network and security policies, making it easier to maintain a robust security posture.

24/7 Monitoring and Support

Another critical aspect of outsourcing SASE management is the availability of 24/7 monitoring and support. Managed service providers (MSPs) typically offer around-the-clock monitoring of the network and security infrastructure, ensuring that any potential network incidents or security threats are identified and addressed promptly.

This continuous vigilance is essential in today's dynamic threat landscape, where cyber attacks can occur at any time. Additionally, MSPs often have dedicated teams of network and security experts who can provide immediate support and incident response, further enhancing the organization's ability to respond effectively to security incidents. This level of support ensures that the organization's security posture remains strong and resilient, even in the face of evolving threats.

5. Focus on Core Business Functions

Outsourcing SASE management allows organizations to redirect their focus towards core business functions, which is essential for driving innovation, growth, and competitiveness. By offloading the complexities of network and security management, businesses can allocate more resources to strategic initiatives and improve overall productivity.

Shifting the Burden of IT Infrastructure

Managing a SASE architecture involves a multitude of tasks, including monitoring, troubleshooting, and updating network and security policies. These tasks can be time-consuming and require significant expertise, often diverting IT resources away from other critical business activities.

By outsourcing SASE management, organizations can shift the burden of these network- and security-related tasks to specialized professionals, ensuring that their internal IT teams can focus on more strategic and value-added activities. This shift enables businesses to maintain a high performance network and a robust security posture without compromising their ability to drive innovation and growth.

Enhanced Productivity

When IT teams are freed from the day-to-day management of network and security services, they can concentrate on projects that directly impact the organization's bottom line. This includes initiatives such as digital transformation, application development, and improving user experience.

Enhanced productivity also extends to the end-users, as a well-managed SASE platform ensures seamless and secure access to applications and data, reducing downtime and improving overall efficiency. By outsourcing SASE management, organizations can create an environment where both IT teams and end-users can operate more effectively, leading to increased productivity and better business outcomes.

The Strategic Advantage of Outsourced SASE Management

Outsourcing SASE management brings a wealth of benefits that can significantly enhance an organization's security posture, cost efficiency, and operational agility. By tapping into the expertise of specialized security professionals, organizations can ensure their networks are always available and secure.

This strategy not only offers greater scalability, flexibility, and control over spending but also allows internal IT resources to focus on core business functions. With 24/7 monitoring and support, improved visibility, and simplified security operations, outsourcing SASE management stands out as a strategic decision that can drive innovation and growth.

Consider partnering with a managed service provider to unlock these advantages and future-proof your organization's network and security infrastructure. Find more information on the top considerations when selecting a SASE provider in this blog.