MEF announced that Broadcom, Fortinet, and Versa achieved new certifications in the first module of its Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) products and services certification program.
The groundbreaking SASE certification program is designed to instill confidence in the market by validating reliable and consistent technology and managed service outcomes. It is a subscription-based ongoing test model that allows participating technology and service providers the ability to increase certification scores to deliver confidence in cybersecurity products to the market.
“The first SD-WAN certifications achieved under our SASE program mark a significant milestone, empowering enterprises to confidently adopt secure and reliable access solutions as they accelerate digital transformation and migrate more applications to the cloud,” said Pascal Menezes, CTO, MEF. “This certification paves the way for enterprises to confidently pursue full SASE certification and demonstrates MEF’s commitment to validating secure, high-performing networks.”
SASE certification comprises three test modules: SD-WAN, Security Service Edge (SSE), and Zero Trust – each of which must be successfully accomplished to achieve SASE certification.
SD-WAN: A Key Component of SASE
Enterprises worldwide have adopted SD-WAN to enable digital transformation, addressing changing workforce needs and cloud migration. SD-WAN offers improved application performance, centralized management, optimized connectivity, agility, security, cost, and other benefits.
As a key component of SASE, SD-WAN has become increasingly integrated with cybersecurity solutions to protect distributed environments.
Apart from Broadcom, Fortinet, and Versa, Palo Alto Networks is expected to achieve its SD-WAN certification shortly. These certified technology providers have received a rating on product effectiveness and will be listed in MEF’s registry of certified organizations.
The SD-WAN certification is now available to MEF membership at large while the full SASE certification is expected to be available in Q4 2024.
Comprehensive SASE Certification
The certification program is being delivered in conjunction with MEF partner CyberRatings.org (CRO), a world-class lab dedicated to sharing knowledge of how to build, manage, and apply testing providing transparency and confidence in cybersecurity products and services.
Technology provider testing is based upon compliance to MEF standards and methodologies, and test programs developed by CRO. After the completion of testing, MEF issues a report card to the technology provider based on testing results and badges will appear in the MEF certification registry with the ratings.
Once received, the SASE certification will ensure compliance to the MEF SD-WAN (MEF 70.1) standard, and industry-first standards for SASE (MEF 117) and Zero Trust (MEF 118).
SASE Spotlight at GNE 2024
SASE services and technologies will feature prominently at MEF’s Global Network-as-a-Service Event (GNE), Oct 28-30, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.
SASE services will be a crucial component of Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) offerings. NaaS enables service providers to bundle standardized services including a combination of on-demand connectivity, application assurance, cybersecurity, and multi-cloud-based services that enable enterprises to achieve business outcomes without having to build or maintain their own infrastructure.
Including certified SASE services as part of a provider’s NaaS offerings means enterprises can be assured that their cybersecurity solution works.
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