As organizations continue to manage increasingly sophisticated IT environments and widespread hybrid work models, the demand for secure, scalable network access remains a top priority. This 2025 Secure Network Access Report, based on insights from 411 IT leaders and cybersecurity professionals, explores the trends, challenges, and strategies that are shaping secure access today.
Key findings include:
- SASE Urgency Required: With 32% implementing, 31% evaluating, and 24% planning SASE adoption within the next year, momentum is building. However, with only 8% fully deployed, slow progress leaves organizations vulnerable, making it critical for distributed workforces to prioritize SASE for stronger security.
- Remote Access as a Top Driver for SASE: 45% of participants identified secure remote and hybrid access for employees as their primary driver for adopting SASE solutions. This focus is vital, as 42% of respondents noted employees as the user group posing the greatest risk to business security. Traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) often increase these risks, causing high latency, reduced performance, and inadequate security. SASE mitigates these issues with technologies like Software Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN), optimizing traffic flow and performance while ensuring secure, seamless access for remote and hybrid employees.
- Zero Trust on the Rise: With 38% of organizations currently implementing Zero Trust and another 42% planning to do so within the next year, this security model has become a key focus for managing access in distributed environments and reducing insider threats.
- Challenges in SASE Implementation: 48% of respondents pointed to integration with existing systems as the most significant barrier to adopting SASE. Policy management across different environments (44%) and user disruption during transitions (38%) were also identified as common challenges. Managed services help address these integration challenges by connecting existing infrastructure with SASE components, ensuring minimal disruption and faster time-to-value.
- Leveraging MSSPs to Address Expertise Gaps: 47% of respondents cited lack of in-house expertise as the primary reason for turning to Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). Partnering with MSSPs can help streamline complex deployments like SASE, offering the expertise needed for seamless integration, improved network visibility, and reduced costs through a unified approach to security and performance.
This report provides in-depth analysis of these trends, alongside actionable recommendations for overcoming the challenges of SASE and Zero Trust implementation. We extend our thanks to Hughes for supporting this critical research project. Their commitment to advancing secure access solutions has made this comprehensive analysis possible.
We hope that the insights provided in this report will guide your efforts to enhance security and protect your organization against evolving threats.
