Why Are SASE Solutions Falling Short?
Insights From the 2025 Trends in Hybrid Work Survey
The 2025 Trends in Hybrid Work survey has uncovered some glaring dissatisfaction among users of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions. While SASE promised to unify security and connectivity for hybrid workforces, the reality appears to be far from ideal. Organizations increasingly express frustration with its inability to deliver on performance and simplicity, prompting many to consider alternatives.
Connectivity and Latency Challenges
One of the key issues reported by users of SASE is connectivity. Nearly 62% of respondents relying on SASE as their primary remote access solution highlight difficulties in maintaining a steady connection. For hybrid workers, unstable connections are not just a frustration—they’re a productivity roadblock. Adding to this, the latency introduced by traditional SASE tools significantly hampers user experience. High latency, when compounded by packet loss (a widespread issue in hybrid work environments), can cause throughput to plummet by up to 90%.
IT professionals also note that latency caused by SASE often reduces the efficiency of even high-bandwidth connections. Performance issues with conferencing, large file transfers, and other data-heavy applications are common complaints—problems that SASE was supposed to mitigate but instead struggles to address.
User Dissatisfaction and Plans for Change
Satisfaction levels among SASE users remain below expectations. Participants ranked SASE lower on "ease of rollout," "end-to-end performance," and "support needs" compared to other technologies like VPNs and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). This dissatisfaction is reflected in user sentiment—28.6% of organizations using SASE as their primary solution are planning to replace it entirely within 12 months. Nearly 94% of surveyed companies confirmed plans to upgrade or swap out their existing remote access strategies.
Exploring New Solutions
The shortcomings of traditional SASE frameworks have encouraged organizations to explore alternatives like Personal SASE. Unlike its conventional counterpart, Personal SASE prioritizes performance while maintaining robust security. By tackling latency and packet loss with innovative techniques like dynamic edge selection and automated packet recovery, Personal SASE promises an optimized remote access experience. These advancements aim to address the lingering connectivity and user-experience challenges that SASE seems unable to resolve.
The Road Ahead
The hybrid work era demands solutions that strike the perfect balance between security, performance, and simplicity. As dissatisfaction with SASE grows, organizations are clearly rethinking their approach. Moving forward, the focus will likely shift to versatile tools that ensure both worker productivity and operational efficiency—marking the rise of next-generation solutions like Personal SASE.
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