CASB vs. SSE: Which Cloud Security Solution is Right for You?

As modern businesses continue to embrace the cloud, the challenge of securing sensitive data and maintaining compliance steadily becomes more involved and complex.

Cloud access security brokers (CASBs) and security service sdge (SSE) are designed to bolster cloud security, but you may not know how to choose between them. Understanding their differences in scope and structure can help you make a well-informed decision to guide your cloud security strategy. But first, let’s examine CASB vs. SSE: What can they do and where they sit in the cloud security landscape in relation to one another?  

CASB is one of the core components of SSE. Both solutions enhance cloud security.

Organizations have the option of setting up CASB software alone or as part of an overarching SSE strategy. 

What is CASB?

CASB refers to on-premises or cloud-based security policy enforcement between cloud service providers and their consumers. These points enable organizations to inject their enterprise-wide security policies as employees access cloud-based resources.

CASB reduces the risks associated with cloud applications and network connections. The software also allows organizations to identify abnormal use patterns that may signal noncompliant behaviors. 

The four pillars of CASB

CASB’s four pillars help organizations extend their security control to cloud-based services. 

• Compliance: Organizations are responsible for preserving the privacy of the data they collect and upholding regulatory compliance as per, for example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and regional requirements. 

• Visibility: CASBs increase visibility around user activity so IT teams have a line of sight into high-risk activities that may hurt operations. The added visibility of cloud application usage helps safeguard business data and employees.

• Data security: CASB solutions complement on-premises data loss prevention tools by extending protection to cloud services. They give organizations more awareness and clarity about how their sensitive business data moves between their on-premises and cloud environments. 

• Threat protection: Effective CASBs shield organizations from outside hackers and insider attacks by alerting them of suspicious activity and unauthorized behaviors.

Benefits and limitations of CASB

Two of the primary benefits of CASB entail providing comprehensive visibility of cloud usage and safeguarding sensitive business information. CASBs equip IT teams with monitoring and management capabilities that can uncover potential security threats, such as an employee using an unauthorized application. Additionally, CASBs help protect data in transit and at rest with encryption, tokenization, and data loss prevention (DLP) features. 

Despite their valuable advantages, CASBs present some limitations worth considering. As StrongDM explains, integrating a CASB with an organization’s existing IT infrastructure is complicated. “The main limitation of a CASB solution is integrating it with the rest of your organization’s standalone security solutions. Each additional cybersecurity solution increases the complexity (and subsequently the cost) of managing security since every security solution must be acquired, provisioned, monitored, and maintained separately.”

CASB pricing also raises concerns for some organizations. The cost for these tools depends on the range of services included and the type of access that’s beingbrokered. Many CASB pricing models comprise annual licensing plus per-user cost, which is why larger organizations may feel some budgetary strain. However, IBM put the global average cost of a data breach in 2024 at $4.88 million, so it’s worth weighing the risks of a data breach against the price of CASB solutions. 

Features of CASB

CASB offers several key features to enhance cloud security:

• Visibility: Provides visibility into cloud usage, including sanctioned and unsanctioned apps, user behavior, and data flows.
• Data loss prevention (DLP): Protects sensitive data by preventing unauthorized sharing, downloading, or uploading of confidential information.
• Threat protection: Detects and prevents threats like malware, phishing attacks, and ransomware.
• Compliance monitoring: Ensures compliance with industry regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

What is SSE?

Security service edge is a broad security framework that secures access to the web, cloud services, and private applications. It encompasses a wide range of protection capabilities, like access control, data security, monitoring, and acceptable use policies. In most cases, SSE is a cloud-based service, but it can also include on-premises elements. 

The security service edge is a subset of the security access service edge (SASE). SSE combines security services such as secure web gateways (SWGs), firewall as a service (FWaaS), zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and CASBs. SSE comprises part of the SASE framework as shown below:

Core capabilities of SSE

Think about SSE as a unified security platform that brings together various security functions into a single service model. The core capabilities or services of SSEare explained.

• Secure web gateway (SWG) is a comprehensive web security approach designed to protect organizations from threats, enforce security policies for traffic, and ensure employee compliance. SWGs form barriers between users and the internet for cyber threat protection. 

• Zero trust network access (ZTNA) hinges on a strict “never trust, always verify” principle that assumes every user or device, whether internal or external, could be a threat to security. This principle minimizes the risk of unauthorized access. ZTNA also requires authentication from every user or device, regardless of location. Further, each user or device must be continuously validated before accessing applications or resources. 

• Firewall as a service (FWaaS) is a cloud-based approach to traditional firewall protection that delivers web filtering, advanced threat protection (ATP), intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and domain name system (DNS) security. 
• CASBs are security solutions that sit as enforcement points between cloud applications and user services to protect data. 

Together, these services and solutions enforce policy control, detect threats, and prevent attacks across the web, cloud services, and private applications. 

Benefits and limitations of SSE

One of SSE's primary benefits is its ability to manage security through a single platform. This integration simplifies deployment in order to provide a cohesive solution that businesses can adapt to their unique environments. 

SSE’s scalability and flexibility also impress users. As organizations adopt cloud-based applications and services, traditional on-premises security solutions struggle to keep pace. Since SSE is usually a cloud-based service, it readily accommodates growing data needs and supports distributed workforces. 

While SSE consolidates many security platforms, it doesn’t offer complete protection. Firewall.cx says that “nonuser traffic, malicious traffic, and wide-area network (WAN) malware propagation are not considered. A 360° approach to SSE, which provides advanced threat protection for east-west and north-south traffic, is required to counter this.”

Determining whether to use an all-in-one solution for all SSE technologies or a combination of individually integrated tools can also affect the success of an SSE implementation. Some teams may struggle if they don’t have an approach that best suits their organization. 

Features of SSE

• Zero-trust network access (ZTNA): Enforces strict access controls based on the principle of least privilege. Users and devices are continuously verified before granting access to resources.
• Secure web gateway (SWG): Filters web traffic to protect users from malicious websites, phishing attacks, and malware.
• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS): Provides network security by filtering traffic and blocking threats.
• Remote browser isolation (RBI): Isolates web browsing sessions to protect against web-based threats.

CASB vs. SSE: Head-to-head

CASB and SSE are both critical when it comes to cloud security. Understanding their differences helps clarify how to use them.

Choosing between CASB and SSE

If you’re choosing between a CASB and SSE, weigh the following considerations to determine which solution addresses your organization’s needs.

Security needs scope

CASBs manage and secure cloud applications and data, whereas SSE offers a broader, more unified security approach by integrating multiple security functions. If your primary focus is securing cloud applications and managing shadow IT challenges, a CASB makes sense for your organization. However, if your organization needs a comprehensive security framework covering cloud access, web traffic, and network security, SSE might be the way to go. Plus, SSE includes CASB as part of its framework.

Bandwidth for complexity

Setting up an SSE solution can be more complicated than a CASB because it involves integrating multiple security functions. Organizations have to make certain that their existing IT infrastructure can support an SSE implementation and that they have the appropriate staff to manage the integration.

Cost considerations

Due to its comprehensive nature, an SSE solution costs more than a CASB. Budgeting and planning for the initial investment and ongoing licensing costs of both CASBs and SSEs are necessary for effective planning. To grasp the investment fully, consider any training, onboarding, or headcount costs associated with a CASB or SSE implementation. 

SSE vs. CASB: frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q. What is SASE and SSE? 

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a broader concept that encompasses SSE. SASE is a framework that delivers a wide range of network and security services, including SSE, SD-WAN, and ZTNA.

Q. Are SASE and SD-WAN the same?

No, SASE is not the same as SD-WAN. While SD-WAN primarily focuses on optimizing network connectivity, SASE provides a more comprehensive security solution. 

Q. Is SASE a proxy?

While SASE can leverage proxy-based techniques for certain security functions, it's not limited to proxy-based approaches. 

Q. How does a CASB work?

A CASB typically works by analyzing network traffic, inspecting data, and enforcing security policies. It can detect and prevent threats, such as malware, phishing, and data loss.

Don't let your data get lost in the storm

CASBs and SSE offer valuable, distinct security benefits. CASBs excel at managing and securing cloud-specific applications and data, whereas SSE integrates multiple security functions into one framework to offer a more comprehensive approach. Assessing your organization’s requirements and needs will help you choose the best solution when considering CASB and SSE as part of a comprehensive cloud security strategy.

SSE is one part of secure access service edge (SASE) solutions. Learn more about what a SASE architecture can do for your organization.