The edge plays a security role in the total network. While the edge does open new points of attack, it offers companies a way to limit backend exposure. Placing controls closer to those edge areas enhances visibility into requests. At this point, applying security policies have the effect of creating a drawbridge between the edge and cloud core.
Cloud edge security prioritizes these kinds of gateway policies, and important security fundamentals such as data encryption. But the edge demands modern security practices, such as automated authentication of requests. One way to achieve edge security is through software-defined technologies. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is used to deliver these security controls and policies as a cloud computing service directly at the edge rather than at the data center. SASE rests on the concepts of digital identities, zero-trust, and real-time context—always verifying access and authentication rather than opening the door to “trusted” entities. For instance, if all security checks pass, but a request comes from a contextually ambiguous IP-address, then the request could be flagged, prevented, and later followed up on.