Evaluating SASE: five use cases to protect, secure, and modernize

SASE is often discussed as a single architectural shift, but in practice, organizations approach it through a series of focused decisions. This document outlines four common use cases that reflect how organizations evaluate SASE based on their current priorities, existing infrastructure, and risk posture.

The first use case examines the transition from traditional VPNs to universal ZTNA as organizations rethink how users securely access private applications in cloud first environments. The second explores the need for consistent security across users, web traffic, and SaaS applications, addressing visibility and policy gaps created by fragmented security tools. The third focuses on modernizing branch connectivity with secure SD WAN to better support cloud and SaaS traffic while simplifying branch operations. The final use case brings these capabilities together, highlighting how a unified SASE architecture can reduce complexity, streamline deployment, and simplify ongoing operations.

Together, these use cases provide a practical framework for organizations that are evaluating SASE and looking to move forward with clarity and confidence.