Company Updates

Evolving Threats, Intelligent Responses: AI and SSE in Versa’s SASE Strategy

By Brad LaPorte, Gartner Veteran and Industry Expert, Lionfish Tech Advisors & Jon Taylor, Director and Principal of Security, Versa Networks

May 15, 2024

The sophistication and frequency of threats necessitate a dynamic and intelligent approach to cyber defense. Artificial Intelligence (AI) combined with Secure Service Edge (SSE) is a pivotal element in this defense strategy, especially within the context of a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework. In this blog, we will explore how Versa Networks leverages these powerful tools to provide advanced data protection and maintain a robust security posture in the face of such evolving threats.

Introduction to the Evolving Threat Landscape and the Role of AI and SSE in Data Protection

Traditional security measures struggle to keep up with this pace of change, often reacting to only known threats rather than discovering and anticipating them. This is where AI and SSE become instrumental.

With its ability to analyze and learn from vast amounts of data, AI provides the predictive power needed to anticipate and prevent data breaches and exfiltration. Meanwhile, SSE forms the protective backbone and becomes the enforcement point of a SASE framework, offering a suite of security services designed to protect users and data regardless of location.

Deep Dive into Versa AI’s Capabilities Within the SASE Framework

Versa Networks has integrated AI’s predictive prowess into its SSE offering, part of its SASE framework, to provide preemptive protection against data breaches, data exfiltration, and enhance threat detection and response.

• Anomaly Detections and Analytics for Threat Detection
  VersaAI examines historical and real-time data to identify trends that may indicate a looming threat and enables organizations to take proactive steps to prevent breaches. This approach not only enhances security but also reduces the cost and impact of potential incidents/breaches.
• How AI Enhances Threat Detection and Response
  AI transforms threat detection and response from a reactive to a proactive and dynamic process. Machine learning algorithms learn from every interaction, constantly improving their ability to detect anomalies and unusual patterns that could signify an attack. Versa’s AI-driven system can make split-second decisions on potentially risky behaviors. This allows Versa to alert and provide rapid response to potential indicators of compromise (IoC). AI also works with features such as DLP, allowing the engine to analyze data and attachments and recognize hidden character strings in order to determine if there is confidential data attempting to be exfiltrated from within the corporate environment. This type of evaluation and response is crucial in mitigating the impact of attacks, limiting damage, and maintaining operational continuity.

Exploring Versa Networks’ Secure Service Edge (SSE) Offerings

SSE is fundamental in establishing a secure perimeter that extends beyond the traditional network boundaries. It encompasses various security functions such as secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and data loss prevention (DLP) are essential for safeguarding data as it travels to and from services that reside either on-premise or in the cloud to entities both within the corporate environment or remote.

This triad within Versa Networks’ SSE offerings ensures that data is secure and managed and utilized in accordance with the highest governance standards.

Step-by-Step Guidance on Integrating Versa AI and SSE into Your SASE Plan

Implementing Versa’s AI and SSE offerings into your organization’s SASE strategy can seem daunting, but it can be broken down into the following manageable steps:

1. Assessment: Evaluate your current security posture and identify areas where AI and SSE can enhance data protection.
2. Strategy Development: With the insights from the assessment, develop a SASE strategy that incorporates AI and SSE to address identified vulnerabilities and align with current and future business objectives.
3. Pilot Testing: Test to ensure that the developed configurations/policies are functioning as expected and move to a small pilot to bring live user traffic onto the solution in order to scan and protect data in real-time without compromising useability.
4. Implementation: Deploy Versa’s solutions within your SASE framework, ensuring that all components are correctly configured and optimized for peak performance.
5. Training: Train your security team on the new tools, how to identify IoCs, and how to prevent data theft.
6. Monitoring and Iteration: Continuously monitor the performance of the solution and make iterative improvements based on feedback and evolving threat intelligence.

By following these steps, organizations can build a robust SASE framework that effectively leverages the power of AI and SSE for advanced data protection.

Invitation to Explore Versa’s Innovative Capabilities

Versa invites you to explore the innovative capabilities of its AI and SSE offerings. Embrace the opportunity to transform your security strategy with intelligent, integrated solutions designed to address the complexities of today’s threat landscape and secure your digital future.

To learn more about how Versa Networks can empower your organization with advanced AI-driven security and robust SSE within a unified SASE strategy, contact our cybersecurity experts and schedule a consultation. Your journey towards a more secure and intelligent network environment starts today.

With this detailed exploration and guidance, we hope that organizations feel equipped to harness the power of AI and SSE within their SASE frameworks, ensuring that they stay one step ahead in the ever-evolving cyber battleground. Versa Networks is committed to providing the solutions and expertise required to navigate this new era of cybersecurity challenges.

This blog post is part of an ongoing series exploring the latest trends and technologies in cybersecurity. Stay tuned for future posts as we delve into the world of SSE, SASE, and beyond.