SonicWall reinforces its secure access strategy with Cloud Secure Edge (CSE), a cloud-native solution that enables organizations to modernize remote access using a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) approach, replacing the traditional VPN-based model with a more secure, granular and reality-aligned access for hybrid work.
The evolution of work models and the acceleration of digital transformation have radically changed how users access corporate applications. According to industry studies, more than 70% of organizations are already operating in hybrid or remote models, while most workloads are distributed across on‑premises infrastructure, multiple public clouds, and SaaS applications. Moreover, the rise in targeted attacks against identities and credentials has made secure access a strategic priority for IT and cybersecurity leaders.
Traditional VPNs, designed for an environment where users connected to a centralized corporate network, today face challenges related to performance, scalability, operational complexity, and security. In addition, by granting access to full segments of the network, a compromised credential can enable lateral movement and expand the attack surface. “Applications are no longer solely in the data center and users work from anywhere. Continuing to protect that environment with technologies designed for a different context adds complexity without solving the underlying problem,” explains Sergio Martínez, SonicWall country manager for Iberia and Italy.
From Network Access to Application Access
Against this legacy model, SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge shifts the focus from the network to the user’s identity and the application they need to access. Based on Zero Trust principles, CSE continuously verifies the user’s identity, the device state, and the context of each connection before granting access. Rather than opening a full tunnel into the corporate infrastructure, the platform only authorizes access to the specific resources the user is allowed to reach.
This approach reduces the attack surface, limits lateral movement within the organization, and enables uniform security policies regardless of where users or applications reside. It also provides secure access to both private resources and SaaS and Internet applications, delivering a faster user experience and simplifying management for IT teams.
A Unified Platform to Simplify Security
Cloud Secure Edge bundles in a single cloud platform capabilities that traditionally required different solutions, such as remote access VPN, web proxy, access control, and traffic inspection. This consolidation helps reduce operational complexity, centralize security policy management, and accelerate deployments without the need to add new infrastructure. Moreover, as a fully cloud-managed solution, organizations can scale access for employees, locations, and external collaborators quickly, maintaining a consistent user experience and a high level of protection.
“The move toward Zero Trust architectures is not only about improving security but also about simplifying operations. Many organizations manage different solutions to address problems that today can be tackled from a single cloud platform. Our goal with Cloud Secure Edge is to reduce that complexity, improve the user experience, and strengthen protection against today’s threats,” says Sergio Martínez.
