Can I Use SASE with Linux Systems?

Linux is one of the most preferred operating systems by organizations around the globe as it is imbued with enormous benefits such as open-source and nice security features that will quickly expose potential flaws to a variety of people.

But SASE is a good security architecture that can be integrated to make it increasingly secure. However, several business owners are unsure if SASE can suitably integrate with their Linux OS.

Let’s read further to find out how.

 

But first, What is Linux OS?

Linux is an open-source operating system initiated by Linus Torvalds, who previously worked at UNIX OS. Hence, Linux works like UNIX and can be used across mobile systems and computers.

One of its most attractive qualities is that it can be used freely without any initial payment for its features. And when you need to use it for servers, it doesn’t cost as much as many of its competitors.

One other distinctive feature of the Linux OS is its modification ability. Anyone with programming skills can easily modify it to suit their goal. It also has a group working online consistently to make it deliver improved security options to its users. Linux has unique qualities that make it highly admired among companies that deal with sensitive user data.

 

What is SASE?

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a modern system for improved network and cybersecurity systems that combines SD-WAN with other network and security services such as Zero Trust, SWG, CASB, and FWaaS, among others, to form a substantial cloud-based security architecture to ensure highly secure company resources and data from potential attacks.

A common SASE definition is a cloud-native infrastructure for network and security architecture, integrating multiple security technologies to create a secure connection between users, devices, endpoints, and resources.

The birth of SASE has helped to simplify and enhance private data security operated and delivered from the cloud. With the high rate of attacks on organization databases, SASE, one of the most advanced security frameworks today, can be reliably considered for promoting efficiency and enhancing security within organizations that run remote and hybrid work systems.

SASE benefits from multiple insecurity services that work cohesively with network connectivity. And when used together with Linux OS, it would assure more secure operations on the system.

 

How The SASE Architecture Works

SASE infuses different components into its architecture to deliver an efficient security system. It combines SD-WAN and other vital components, which include Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Secure Web Gateways (SWG), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS).

The outcome of such fusion is a multi-regional and multi-tenant platform for security that is not limited by data centers, employees’ locations, on-premises offices, or cloud services.

SASE doesn’t depend on leverage inspection engines in data centers. Instead, the inspection engines are situated in a nearby point of presence (PoP). A SASE client such as a branch office equipment, a mobile device with client access, or an IoT device will deliver traffic to PoP to inspect and forward to the critical aspects of the SASE architecture or the internet.

The Key SASE Defining Traits:

Software Defined Wide Area Network Service. SASE engages SD-WAN to connect PoPs employed in networking and security software to improve user experience and avoid latency issues. Traffic infrequently touches the internet, and when it builds a connection, it does so to the global SASE backbone.

Cloud Architecture. SASE delivers its services from the cloud, leveraging cloud architecture and resources without being restricted to specific hardware requirements and no service chaining. Software multi-tenancy should be the focus to encourage reasonable pricing and instantiate speedy expansion. Software multi-tenancy is a software architecture that involves a single software sample running on a server and delivering multiple tenants. The tenant is a user who has chosen to share common access while making specific privileges to the software instance.

Allocated policy and inspection enforcement. SASE goes beyond just linking services and they also secure them. Inline traffic encryption and decryption. SASE.services should include traffic inspection with numerous engines working in parallel. Inspection engines should cover sandboxing and malware scanning with other SASE services such as DNS-based protection, distributed denial of service (DDoS), and local regulations, which include General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which should be effective in SASE security policies and routing.

Identity-driven. SASE offers services with access granted per device or user identity and location rather than their site.

SASE and Linux Compatibility

Since Linux is a popular OS that many companies use, and despite the SASE prevalence, many business owners want to be sure that they can integrate the architecture without problems.

Organizations want to improve their security infrastructure but do not want to have to change their Linux OS for SASE. Hence, they want to be sure that Linux OS is compatible with the security model.

1. Integrated SD-WAN

The SASE model is integrated with SD-WAN structures and operated only on software. The procedure is sufficient to prevent the dangers of public networks without forcing the companies to create hardware for SD-WAN alone. This corresponds with a key reason – affordability – behind the Linux choice by companies.

2-) Customizable Security Infrastructure

As a customizable security infrastructure, SASE allows organizations to create suitable and efficient architecture that explicitly fits their organization. Unlike many other frameworks that lack flexibility and can only be integrated without being adjustable to suit the company’s requirement. It has a variety of services that you can choose from to meet your organizational needs.

Linux also functions similarly. It is open-sourced and only offers what a company needs to work efficiently. You can create the preferred network security structure with the fusion of Linux and SASE.

3. Edge-To-Edge And Granular Security

SASE components such as Zero Trust ensures granular security by adopting the least-privilege strategy, which, when adequately set up, will assure that all requests are granted based on the user’s specific needs. In essence, no situation of complete access is granted to a single user.

In this case, Linux and SASE complement each other perfectly. Linux users do not have implicit access to resources and can not do everything in a Linux OS. Its systems are complex, just like SASE, to prevent threats more effectively than its competitors. The combination of the two systems is perfect for ensuring granular and edge-to-edge security.

SASE-Linux Compatibility – Wrap Up

Like SASE, Linux is increasingly gaining high preference as an OS and server provider among business owners. And while having fears about its compatibility with SASE is quite understandable, making a move to integrate the two frameworks will be a perfect answer to fixing security issues in your network.