Security Service Edge (SSE) solutions

Secure business data, resources, and all users in your network with a complete SSE solution. The Security Service Edge (SSE) framework strengthens business security by combining user-centric authentication, granular access control, and seamless cloud integration to enable organizations to protect their assets across any environment.

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OVERVIEW

What is Security Service Edge (SSE)?

Secure Service Edge (SSE) is a framework that outlines multiple measures to secure and protect a business network, including robust threat protection. Network security solutions (FWaaS, CASB, SWG, and ZTNA) are combined into a single, cloud-native service via the SSE framework. By adopting these SSE solutions, businesses enhance their agility and capacity for preventing, identifying, and responding to network threats.

Benefits

SSE benefits

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Enhanced security

SSE solutions provide a comprehensive security approach that combines prevention, detection, and response capabilities across various threat types, environments, and layers of the network stack. With features like Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), NordLayer delivers multilayered protection that adapts to modern threats.

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Simplified security management

By consolidating multiple tools into a single, cloud-delivered platform, SSE simplifies the governance of enterprise security. NordLayer enables centralized policy management and visibility, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring consistent enforcement across all users and locations.

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Scalability & flexibility

SSE solutions are built on cloud-native infrastructure, making them easy to integrate into hybrid IT environments. NordLayer allows organizations to scale security controls instantly as teams grow or shift—without hardware limitations or complex deployment processes.

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Seamless yet controlled access

SSE provides secure, frictionless access to cloud, web, and private apps from any device or location. At the same time, it enforces granular access controls through zero trust principles, strong authentication, and continuous monitoring, ensuring that ease of access never comes at the expense of security.

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Where to start?

Consolidate your SWG, FWaaS, and ZTNA capabilities by using a single SSE vendor.

This will create an opportunity to improve your organization’s agility and ability to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats and reduce costs.

Start implementing the SSE framework today, or contact our specialist if you have any more questions.

SSE USE CASES

Align the SSE implementation with your business

The Security Service Edge (SSE) framework helps businesses control access to cloud and web services across users, locations, and devices. NordLayer supports access control mechanisms like ACLs and role-based policies to manage who can access specific tools and environments.

To ensure a secure browsing experience, NordLayer includes DNS filtering to block malicious websites and unwanted content, along with Download Protection to prevent harmful files from reaching user devices.

SSE CAPABILITIES

Why choose NordLayer as your SSE vendor?

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Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

Zero Trust follows a “never trust, always verify” approach — every user and device must be authenticated before gaining access to the network. NordLayer’s ZTNA capabilities help you:

  • Enhance network security
  • Keep data safer
  • Protect against new and existing threats
  • Minimize the impact of breaches
  • Improve compliance and visibility
  • Reduce costs
SWG filtering in NordLayer control panel

Secure Web Gateway (SWG)

SWGs enforce business policies to keep organizations compliant. NordLayer SWGs filter unwanted traffic through capabilities like application control and data loss prevention. NordLayer provides these SWG capabilities:

  • Filters out malicious threats
  • Blocks harmful websites
  • Sets bypass rules for safe web access

Free guide: learn what NordLayer offers & how to set it up in minutes

NordLayer guide

Additional info

Frequently asked questions

Security Service Edge (SSE) represents the security-focused portion of the broader Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) model. SSE delivers a cloud-native approach to access control, threat prevention, data protection, and policy enforcement—without requiring physical infrastructure. These software-based solutions are easily deployable and compatible with hybrid networks, making them ideal for modern, distributed organizations. SASE includes everything SSE offers but also incorporates SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking), which is often used when organizations require optimized connectivity across physical sites or need hardware-based network routing. However, not every company needs full SASE. Many businesses benefit from SSE alone, depending on their structure and connectivity needs—using SD-WAN doesn't necessarily mean stronger security, just different network optimization requirements. Originally introduced by Gartner in 2019, SASE is a cloud-delivered architecture that unifies security and networking functions—combining components like CASB, FWaaS, SWG, and ZTNA with SD-WAN for scalable, secure access across enterprise environments.