Security and Performance Testing for SASE and Zero Trust

This application note discusses the security and performance testing for SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and Zero Trust environments. It outlines the critical considerations and recommendations for validating SASE implementations, emphasizing the importance of realistic application and threat emulation to ensure effective security policies and functions. The document details three guiding principles for SASE validation, including the necessity of testing what will be deployed, characterizing the new normal by establishing key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensuring scale and resiliency of the cloud-native infrastructure. Additionally, it identifies challenges in SASE testing, such as validating edge cloud availability and performance, and provides six key recommendations for effective testing. These include taking a vendor-neutral approach, selecting appropriate traffic patterns, and providing intelligent reporting. The note concludes with a discussion of the quantifiable business results that can be achieved through effective SASE validation, highlighting lower costs, reduced risks, and improved customer experience.