Gartner introduced the concept of SASE in 2019 as a response to the growing need for a more comprehensive and unified approach to network security.

SASE combines several network security technologies, such as SD-WAN, firewall as a service (FWaaS), cloud access security broker (CASB), zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and more, into a single cloud-based service. This approach simplifies network management, improves security, and enhances user experience by offering a unified and consistent security policy across all devices and locations. With SASE, organizations can secure their network infrastructure, reduce network complexity, and streamline security operations while providing their employees with secure and flexible access to cloud applications and data. SASE is rapidly gaining popularity as more organizations adopt cloud-based applications and services and as remote work becomes more prevalent.