In January, GTT Communications added a single-vendor SASE offering from Fortinet to its managed Secure Connect portfolio. The expansion combines Fortinet’s leading security and networking technologies — including ZTNA, CASB, secure web gateway and firewall-as-a-service — with GTT’s portfolio of managed SD-WAN and professional services. In this Q&A, GTT vice president of solutions architecture Americas Rich Vidil and vice president of channel development Americas Blaise Brady sound off on the evolving SASE market, the growing need for managed SASE and what to look for in a vendor. ChannelVision: Why should SASE be top of mind for channel partners in 2024? Rich Vidil: SASE continues to be at the epicenter of telecommunications, IT and security initiatives for enterprises in 2024. The key drivers behind it, migration to the cloud, remote/hybrid work, zero trust, etc., remain as strong and relevant as ever — and they show no signs of abating any time soon. In a recent study by Gartner, companies have more than125 SaaS applications deployed, and in a recent Forbes article, 84 percent of the workforce is now hybrid, further substantiating the trends of cloud, hybrid work and zero trust. Blaise Bradley: SASE is a great entry point for partners to start the selling conversation with existing customers or prospective buyers. It has been said time and time again that SD-WAN and SASE are still growing, and the customers who bought the technology three-plus years ago are realizing they didn’t get the full bang for their buck, or the technology is an addition to their network, not a true solution. Managed SASE from suppliers like GTT are GTT discusses SASE sales on heels of adding Fortinet to portfolio A Single View on SASE CYBER PATROL 36 CHANNELVISION | MARCH - APRIL 2024 Rich Vidil Blaise Brady
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