SASE and SD-WAN technologies are evolving as enterprises prioritize unified network security.

For some time now, network technology and security strategies have been gradually converging over the years. According to a GlobalData study, the shift from software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) to secure peripheral access services (SASE), driven by hybrid work, migration to the cloud, and growing security challenges requiring simplified end-to-end architectures, is currently changing enterprise connectivity strategies.

The SASE and SD-WAN Competitive Environment Assessment report notes that over the past decade, SD-WAN has transformed enterprise routing by providing operational efficiency, centralized management, and the ability to use cost-effective broadband access alongside or instead of legacy multiprotocol tag switching (MPLS). It also notes that the SD-WAN single window model, policy-based traffic handling, and zero-trust network Access (ZTNA) support have helped accelerate adoption. 

However, as threats evolve and the management of isolated branch security systems becomes more complex, the analyst noted an increased need for consolidation. This served as the basis for SASE, which combined SD-WAN, firewalls, secure web gateways, CASB, ZTNA, and threat protection into a single cloud platform.

As a result, as noted in the report, SASE has become a central element of modernizing the security of branches and remote units. Additionally, the report says that enterprises are increasingly looking for architectures that combine routing, security, and policy enforcement, while reducing reliance on MPLS through secure broadband-based alternatives.

GlobalData believes that the pursuit of a universal policy based on identification, user experience monitoring, and scalable cloud management tools is changing approaches to vendor evaluation. She noted that major strategic steps also took place in the market in 2025, including the acquisition by HPE of Juniper and the purchase by Arista of the Velocloud SD-WAN solution from VMware, which led to a redistribution of competitive positions.

"For several years... it has become increasingly clear that most SD-WAN implementations will be security—related," said Stephen J. Shuhart, Jr., is a senior corporate security and infrastructure analyst at GlobalData. "Network technology and security have been gradually merging over the years, and the constant increase in cybersecurity incidents worldwide will only accelerate this trend. New standalone implementations of SD-WAN will continue, but this use case is declining."

The report, which focuses on key players driving the SD-WAN and SASE markets, notes that vendors such as Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Arista, HPE, and Versa Networks are shaping the next stage of SASE's evolution, each with their own unique approach reflecting their expertise in network technology or security. It also points out that as enterprises face operational pressures, the need to reduce costs, and the growth of a mobile workforce, SASE and SD-WAN are becoming essential to ensure secure, stable, and optimized access within a single operational framework.

"Enterprises need integrated cloud platforms that combine network capabilities and security," Schuhart added. "Vendors who have proven their effectiveness in both SASE and SD-WAN are best positioned to lead this transformation and support the modernization strategies shaping the edge of enterprise networks."

This report comes shortly after a similar Omdia analysis, which noted that for many organizations, Secure Access to Peripheral Services (SASE) has become a critical initiative to modernize their network and security approaches to better support hybrid work, cloud environments, and the use of generative AI applications. However, it warned that even six years after the SASE concept was introduced, many organizations still have difficulty implementing a truly unified SASE architecture from a single vendor.