Why unified Secure Assess Service Edge (SASE) matters now, and the Optus difference

The challenge organisations are facing

The way organisations connect users, applications and data has fundamentally changed. Hybrid work is now standard. Applications are increasingly cloud‑based. Users connect from offices, homes and remote locations across Australia and beyond.

At the same time, cyber threats continue to increase in scale and sophistication. These shifts are putting pressure on traditional approaches to networking and security, which were not designed with today’s operating environment in mind.

Many organisations are still managing separate security tools, multiple consoles and different vendors across network and security. This fragmentation makes it harder to maintain visibility, enforce consistent policies and respond quickly when issues arise.

That’s why Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE , has become a critical architectural shift for organisations looking to simplify secure connectivity and reduce operational complexity.

Why unified SASE is different

SASE is not about adding another point solution. It’s about bringing networking and security together into a single, cloud‑delivered platform.

A unified SASE architecture combines capabilities such as secure web gateway, zero trust network access, cloud access security broker, data loss prevention and SD‑WAN under a consistent policy framework. This enables organisations to apply security controls closer to users and applications, regardless of where they are located.

According to Steve Manley, Vice President ANZ at Palo Alto Networks, organisations are increasingly recognising that security must be designed into the network itself, not layered on afterwards. Customers are looking to simplify fragmented environments and adopt architectures that are better aligned to modern work and cloud consumption models.

When networking and security operate as one, organisations can gain better visibility, reduce complexity and support a more consistent user experience, while maintaining strong security controls.

Where Optus Managed SASE fits

Optus has launched Managed SASE, underpinned by Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE, recognised as a multi‑year Leader in SASE by Gartner¹.

Prisma SASE provides a single, integrated, AI‑ready platform that brings together security and networking services. It supports consistent policy enforcement, built‑in visibility across the user‑to‑application path, and zero trust access without reliance on legacy VPN architectures.

Speaking at Palo Alto Networks Ignite in Sydney, Ian Hocking, Enterprise Product Manager, f Optus Enterprise and Business, described the approach as delivering “one network, one platform, one team accountable, end to end,” for secure network operations.

He explained that Prisma SASE is “a single integrated, AI‑ready platform that we can use to deploy security and network services for our customers,” bringing together core security services alongside SD‑WAN in a unified architecture.

What differentiates Optus is not just the platform, but how it is delivered and supported.

One platform, one network, one accountable team

With Optus Managed SASE, security is not bolted on as an overlay. It is delivered as part of the network. Optus owns and operates the underlying connectivity and supports the service with Australian‑based network and security operations teams working together. This integrated model enables shared telemetry, fewer hand‑offs and faster resolution when issues occur.

As Ian Hocking highlighted, Optus combines network ownership with local expertise, including “an Australian‑based NOC and SOC with deep technical expertise.

This allows Optus teams to “fine‑tune policies, provide advice and, respond more quickly to incidents using advanced operational systems.”

Customers benefit from a single platform for network and security services, one point of accountability from design through to operations, and local expertise to fine‑tune policies, provide advice and respond quickly to incidents.

Rather than coordinating multiple vendors, organisations get an end‑to‑end service designed to work together from day one.

Designed to support how organisations work today

Optus Managed SASE supports flexible delivery models. Organisations can choose a fully managed service or work with Optus to design and deploy the solution, with the option to transition to managed services over time.

This flexibility helps organisations modernise at their own pace while maintaining control, supporting regulatory requirements and reducing operational overhead.

As Steve Manley observes, the convergence of networking and cybersecurity has been underway for some time, but organisations are now actively adopting architectures like SASE to better support modern work patterns and cloud environments.

Why unified SASE with Optus

Unified SASE is about more than technology. It’s about simplifying how secure access is delivered, operated and supported.

With Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access as the platform, and Optus delivering and supporting it across network and security, organisations get a working system rather than a collection of disconnected tools.

As Steve Manley summarises, the shared objective is to remove unnecessary complexity so businesses can move with confidence and perform at full speed.

One platform. One network. One team accountable end to end.

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Reference
¹Gartner, July 2025, Gartner Magic Quadrant for SASE Platforms