5 SSE Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Security Service Edge (SSE) solutions are essential for protecting organizations from advanced security threats, but they’re not always ready to go right out of the box. From choosing a provider and deploying a SSE solution to changing the way your organization thinks about security, we’ll walk you through the most common SSE challenges and how to overcome them.

#1: Overcoming Teething Issues

Here’s how to overcome the most common (and most basic) SSE challenges:

Deploying Your SSE Solution 

Deploying SSE solutions can be daunting, particularly across large or distributed networks. 

You can expect another layer of difficulty if your business relies on legacy IT systems, which often struggle to mesh with cloud-based tools.

Solution:

• Kick things off with a pilot phase to spot and fix potential issues before a full-scale SSE rollout.
• Look for a cloud-native SSE solution with modular integration and phased deployment options to reduce disruptions and make it easier to connect with your existing systems.

Rolling Out New Security Policies

Rolling out new security policies can be difficult, especially when moving to an SSE solution or shifting security to the cloud. It often means rethinking how you handle access, monitoring, and threat detection. 

Without proper planning, it can overwhelm teams, stretch resources thin, and disrupt business operations.

Solution:

• Offer training for IT teams and users to help them get up to speed with the new policies and workflows.
• Choose an SSE solution with a unified console that makes it easy to roll out and manage policies, ensuring consistency across your organization.
• Pick a solution that smoothly integrates with your current setup and allows for updates without disrupting everyday operations.

Resistance to Change 

Resistance to change is natural, and getting buy-in from your network and security teams can be tough—especially if they’re used to working independently. 

SSE requires strong collaboration between these teams, after all. 

Solution:

• Encourage collaboration from the start by involving your teams in the planning and decision-making process for the new SSE solution.
• Clearly highlight the benefits of SSE to staff and stakeholders.
• Roll out your SSE solution in phases to give teams time to adjust and ease into the changes.

Skills Gaps

SSE solutions come with specialized skills that your security teams might not have, which means you may need to invest in training or bring in experts.

Solution:

• Choose a provider that offers helpful training resources, like tutorials, onboarding support, and step-by-step guides for deploying and using the SSE solution. 
• Look for a solution with an easy-to-use, centralized management platform to help your IT team gain visibility and stay on top of evolving security challenges.

Cost

SSE solutions can come with a hefty price tag, especially for larger organizations. 

Some providers aren’t very transparent about pricing either, adding hidden costs or extra fees for certain features or usage spikes.

Solution:

• Evaluate the total cost of ownership, factoring in both initial costs and potential long-term savings from the boost in efficiency and reduced risk exposure you’ll get from SSE.
• Choose an SSE provider with clear, flexible pricing—stay vigilant for hidden costs or unexpected charges when shopping around. 
• Consider a cloud-native SSE solution that removes the need for costly hardware and reduces setup and maintenance expenses. A solution with a centralized management console can also cut down on the cost of security admin.

#2: Boosting Performance 

Here’s how to overcome the issues around performance.

High Latency

Routing security traffic through cloud services can slow things down, which impacts user 

experience—particularly for mobile users around the world who need secure connections.

Solution:

• Choose an SSE provider with a global network of Points of Presence (PoPs) to reduce latency and improve speed. This ensures data travels less distance, improving performance and response times.

Bandwidth Issues

SSE solutions can put a real demand on bandwidth, especially in larger organizations with many users or locations.

Solution: 

• Choose an SSE vendor with a strong, scalable setup that can handle heavy traffic without performance dips.
• To keep things running smoothly, make sure your SSE solution deploys caching servers or edge appliances close to users. This reduces bandwidth consumption and improves access speeds. 

Scalability 

Organizations with fluctuating user demands may struggle to scale their SSE deployment, which can lead to performance bottlenecks.

Solution:

• Go for a cloud-native SSE solution with auto-scaling support, which dynamically adjusts resources based on demand. 

This is especially useful for businesses experiencing rapid growth.

#3: Finding the Right Provider

Choosing the wrong provider can undermine your security strategy and lead to unexpected costs. Potential risks include:

• Limited Features: Some providers may lack important features like ZTNA or CASB, leaving gaps in your security coverage.
• Insufficient Support: Poor customer support can expose your organization to vulnerabilities and leave you hanging during emergencies.
• Hidden Costs: Unexpected fees for additional features or usage spikes can strain your budget.

Solution: 

• Do your homework by evaluating SSE vendors based on their track record, features, and customer feedback. 
• Choose a provider with solid support, clear pricing, and comprehensive security features.
• Make sure your SSE solution can scale as your business grows and that your provider offers ongoing updates to address evolving threats. 

#4: Staying Compliant 

Meeting data privacy regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS is a constant challenge for organizations, especially for those working across borders or in highly regulated industries. 

Solution:

• Make sure your SSE solution includes built-in compliance features like audit trails and data residency controls to help you stay on track with regulatory requirements. These features simplify compliance and lower the risk of violations.

#5: Aligning SSE with Your Business Goals

It can be easy to be dazzled by the range of tools and features that some SSE vendors offer, but not every organization needs a full-scale SSE solution. 

Solution:

To help map out which solution best fits your business needs and goals, consider the following factors: 

• Business Size: Larger companies often benefit more from SSE’s scalability.
• Workforce Distribution: SSE is a great fit for businesses with remote or mobile workers.
• Security Posture: Consider how your current security setup will work with SSE.

Maximize Security with Check Point’s SASE

With the right partner, rolling out SSE and protecting your corporate network is easy. Check Point’s SASE delivers secure, high-speed access to both on-premises and cloud resources, leveraging:

• Zero trust architecture
• Advanced threat prevention
• AI-powered security

With Check Point’s SASE, you can safeguard critical assets, manage hybrid cloud environments, and deliver unmatched security—all from a single platform. 

Book your free demo today to see it in action.

FAQs