As hybrid work, cloud adoption, and cybersecurity threats redefine the enterprise landscape, organizations are moving rapidly from traditional SD-WAN setups to Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)—a unified, cloud-delivered architecture that seamlessly combines networking and security. According to GlobalData, this convergence marks a decisive shift in how enterprises build scalable, secure, and policy-driven digital infrastructures.
Over the past decade, SD-WAN revolutionized enterprise connectivity by improving cost efficiency, centralizing control, and enabling Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). However, its siloed approach to security created operational complexity. Branch-level deployments required multiple point solutions for firewalls, secure web gateways, CASB, and threat protection—leading to rising costs and fragmented visibility.
“Networking and security are no longer parallel tracks—they are converging into one strategic priority.”
— Steven J. Schuchart Jr., GlobalData
SASE emerged as a natural evolution, bringing together SD-WAN, secure gateways, identity-driven policy enforcement, threat intelligence, and cloud-scale security under one platform. “Networking and security have been slowly merging for years, and the continual rise of cybersecurity incidents worldwide will only accelerate that trend,” says Schuchart.
The shift has also sparked major market realignments. HPE’s acquisition of Juniper and Arista’s purchase of VMware’s Velocloud SD-WAN signal intensified competition, while vendors such as Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, HPE, Versa Networks, and Arista are repositioning themselves to dominate the next wave of SASE innovation.
GlobalData notes declining demand for standalone SD-WAN deployments, as enterprises increasingly prioritize secure, cloud-based, identity-driven architectures. Integrated visibility, experience monitoring, universal policy enforcement, and MPLS alternatives are now seen as must-have capabilities at the enterprise edge.
“Enterprises want integrated, cloud-delivered platforms that unify networking and security,” Schuchart concludes. “Providers with proven strength in both SASE and SD-WAN are best positioned to lead this transformation and support the modernization strategies shaping the enterprise edge.”