Best Secure Service Edge (SSE) Platforms 2025

What are Secure Service Edge Platforms?

Secure Service Edge (SSE) platforms secure cloud-based services, web access, and applications. SSE’s cloud framework brings together Cloud Access Security Broker Services (CASB), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateways (SWG), and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) capabilities. It provides threat protection, access controls, application, and data security. Secure Service Edge platforms facilitate the management of complex security and access requirements without adversely impacting application users. SSE evolved from Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).

Similarities and Differences between SSE and SASE

Both platforms offer unified cloud-based solutions that bring together network access and security components. In SSE user security features are emphasized over network connectivity features. SSE provides security to networked services, while SASE balances security for users with networking functions that can support a range of network services, data, and applications across multiple, large, distributed networks. SASE’s functions also include Privileged Access Management, Identity Management, and networking capabilities.

SSE can be considered a subset of SASE, as SASE installations will include SSE solutions while SSE implementations do not require the full range of SASE functionality. Unlike SASE, SSE implementations do not include SDWAN services, WAN optimization, or Quality of Service (QoS) features. SSE is geared toward end users and can have a narrower focus on securing access to cloud services and applications for a single business unit or location.

Secure Service Edge Platforms Features

Secure Service Edge platforms include many of the following components and features:

• Secure access to cloud services across SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS
• Secure access to the web and applications
• Cloud Access Security Broker Services (CASB)
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
• Secure Web Gateways (SWG)
• Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS)
• Cloud Data Protection (CDP)
• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
• Cloud Browser Isolation (CBI)
• Threat Detection
• Scalability

Secure Service Edge Platforms Comparison

Consider the following when purchasing Secure Service Edge platforms.

SSE vs SASE: SSE can be implemented incrementally as a path to a complete SASE solution, involving less cost and complexity while still being sufficient to safely secure a remote workforce. A SASE solution will involve more planning but will comprehensively address, a wide range of cloud-based resources, IoT, edge computing, network traffic controls, and WAN acceleration,

Licensing options: Many vendor platforms offer both SSE and SASE with licensing options that facilitate upgrading from SSE to SASE as needed.

Single Vendor vs Multiple Vendor Approach: It is possible to build out an SSE framework with all its components coming from a single vendor or by picking and choosing components from multiple vendors. A single vendor approach simplifies installation, integration, and support, while a multi-vendor approach can potentially offer additional or enhanced functionality.

Pricing Information

Business IT infrastructure and requirements vary greatly, thus businesses will benefit by obtaining a custom price quote based on their environment and needs. Pricing is driven by the number of locations and users. Prices begin at around $130 and range to a few hundred dollars a month per location with the additional cost of $6 to $10 a month per user.