Versa Networks has recently entered the sovereign SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) market, offering businesses the ability to deploy SASE solutions on their own premises or private clouds. This approach appeals particularly to organizations with stringent security and compliance requirements that necessitate control over their data and infrastructure.
Historically, SASE has typically been delivered as a software-as-a-service (SaaS), where network security functions are managed via cloud-based solutions. However, as enterprises experience increasing concerns regarding privacy and control, the demand for sovereign SASE has grown. Versa’s new offering allows organizations to run the SASE platform on their hardware rather than relying on shared cloud services.
CEO Kelly Ahuja explained that the decision to develop sovereign SASE stemmed from conversations with customers looking for greater privacy and control over their networks. This product builds on Versa’s previous offerings, evolving from a standard cloud-based service to a private SASE solution, and now to a fully sovereign deployment, where the core software operates on customer-owned infrastructure.
The architecture of Versa’s sovereign SASE is highly customizable. It operates on the Versa Operating System (VOS), which integrates various networking and security functions in a single-stack architecture. Customers have the flexibility to select their compute resources, maintaining full control whether they opt for on-premises systems or private cloud solutions. The platform supports containerized and virtual machine deployments, enabling organizations to select a setup that best fits their infrastructure model.
In addition to storing data on their own hardware, enterprises can integrate their unique threat intelligence and customize security protocols while ensuring complete data sovereignty. The support model for sovereign SASE is distinct from traditional cloud services; it allows organizations to develop support capabilities internally while Versa offers level 3 support without needing direct access to the customer’s environments or data.
Versa is also enhancing its features to include advanced security tools that traditionally operated in the cloud, such as malware detonation and sandboxing, while retaining the same depth of functionality found in its cloud solution.
Looking ahead, Versa Networks envisions expanding its sovereign SASE offerings, alongside innovations in universal SASE, emphasizing the platform’s role in building self-protecting networks through an integrated network-security framework and automated processes. Ahuja noted, “Our motion is really for helping customers build their own self-protecting network… driven by the convergence of network and security into a single stack.”
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