SSE (Secure Service Edge) is a security concept that combines and converges security (and sometimes compliance) services into a unified, cloud-delivered platform. This includes security capabilities like SWG, CASB, ZTNA, DLP, and more. With SSE, organizations can centralize their security management, ensure security for distributed and local workforces, and scale their operations while ensuring a positive user experience. SSE is a subset of the broader SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) framework, which integrates networking aspects into the solution as well.

SSE Components

SSE ensures secure access to the internet, SaaS applications, and private applications hosted in data centers or the cloud. SSE is a core part of the broader SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) framework and focuses solely on the security services without network transport components. This includes:

  • Secure Web Gateway (SWG) – Real-time web filtering to protect users from accessing malicious or inappropriate websites. This is done by enforcing policies for internet browsing. As a result, SWG protects against malware, phishing, and other web-based threats.
  • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) – A gatekeeper between users and cloud services, ensuring secure usage of SaaS applications. This is done by providing visibility into cloud application usage and enforces security policies. As a result CASB protects against some Shadow IT, protects sensitive data and helps detect threats.
  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) – Identity-based access management. This is done through the principle of least privilege and MFA. As a result, users only access resources they are explicitly authorized for.
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) – Monitoring and protecting sensitive data in transit or at rest. This ensures data protection and compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Threat Intelligence and Analytics – Insights into user behavior, application usage, and network activity. This helps identify and mitigate evolving cyber threats.
  • SSL/TLS Traffic Decryption – Decryption and inspection of traffic, providing visibility for identifying threats before they enter the perimeter.
  • Unified Policy Management – A centralized platform to define and enforce consistent security policies across all components. This simplifies administration and reduces operational complexity.

How Does SSE Work?

SSE is a cloud-delivered security architecture that ensures that users, devices, and applications are protected while connecting to company resources in a distributed environment. It primarily focuses on securing the connection between users and cloud services.

SSE combines multiple security functions, SWG, CASB, ZTNA, DLP, and others,into a single platform.

As a cloud-native solution, SSE typically operates through a distributed set of edge locations worldwide, ensuring that security services are applied consistently and quickly regardless of where the user is located. This supports hybrid and remote work environments at scale.

SSE solutions inspect traffic (including encrypted traffic) using techniques like SSL inspection. This ensures that malicious content is detected and blocked even if the traffic is encrypted.

SSE enforces access controls, like MFA and by checking device health (e.g., whether the device is patched and secure). Every access request is verified based on identity, device, location, and context. Trust is never assumed, regardless of whether the user is inside or outside the corporate network.

Finally, SSE platforms continuously monitor access activity and user behavior, with real-time alerts used to detect threats.

What are the Benefits of SSE?

SSE provides several significant benefits for organizations. These include:

  • Simplified Security Architecture – By eliminating the need for multiple, disjointed tools, SSE simplifies management and reduces administrative overhead. This is opposed to implementing each security solution separately, which creates integration challenges, inconsistencies due to overlapping policies, blind spots, and user friction, and is difficult for IT to manage.
  • Enhanced Security Posture – SSE ensures fine-grained access control, real-time monitoring, and protection against threats like malware, phishing, and data exfiltration at the network level. These are consistent across users, whether accessing resources on-premises or in the cloud.
  • Improved User Experience – Users experience seamless and secure access to applications, whether hosted on-premises or in the cloud, from any location. When SSE is a part of SASE, global points of presence minimize latency and ensure faster connections.
  • Support for a remote and hybrid workforce – Employees working remotely or in hybrid setups can securely access resources without relying on traditional VPNs, which can be slower and less secure.
  • Easily Scalable – Organizations can quickly adapt to changes, such as onboarding new users or expanding to new regions, without extensive infrastructure changes.

What are the Drawbacks of SSE?

SSE secures enterprise networks with cloud-delivered security capabilities. However, SSE also introduces the following challenges:

  • Vendor lock-in – Enterprises relying heavily on a certain SSE provider might face challenges switching vendors due to differences in technology stacks, configurations, and data migration complexities.
  • Initial investment – Transitioning to SSE may involve significant upfront costs, including technology acquisition, integration, and staff training.
  • Security blind spots – While SSE covers network security and threats entering the perimeter, it does not cover the browser-SaaS app dimension. This includes threats like malicious browser extensions, GenAI, ‘shadow’ SaaS, identity risks, and 0-hour web vulnerabilities.
  • Expertise required – Effective deployment and management of SSE solutions require skilled personnel. Organizations lacking in-house expertise may struggle to use the platform optimally.

How Browser Security Complements SSE

While SSE protects the network, organizations still have to find a solution for protecting the centerpiece of their modern workspace – the browser. Browser security complements SSE by securing traffic between the browser and SaaS apps, and back. This includes protection against GenAI, ‘shadow’ SaaS, identity risks, 0-hour web vulnerabilities, and malicious browser extensions not protected-against by traditional SSE solutions

A browser security solution continuously monitors browsing events, analyses risk and proactively prevents threats in the live web session. For example, phishing attacks, malicious browser extensions, and account takeovers. SSE has limited or no ability to protect against these threats.

For example, in phishing site attacks, the browser security extension can analyze the phishing page, identify the threat and block the page. SSE, on the other hand, is based on URL filtering and lacks visibility into the session itself, missing approximately 60% of phishing sites. 

Malicious browser extensions can also be mitigated by browser security extensions, which scans installed extensions, analyzes risk and disables risky ones. SSE does not provide protections for this type of malware.

Finally, SSE has limited visibility into apps, while browser security extensions authenticate users to apps and analyze behaviors. This allows them to prevent account takeover attempts.

See how LayerX complements SSE and SASE solutions in this ebook.