Kordia unveils Secure Edge SASE to tackle tool sprawl

Kordia has launched Kordia Secure Edge, a cloud-delivered secure access service edge product built on Fortinet technology.

The service combines networking and security functions in a single offering. Kordia said the product targets organisations managing hybrid work patterns and a growing number of security and connectivity tools.

Glen White, Executive GM Cyber Security, Cloud and Connectivity at Kordia, said the company shaped the offering through customer and industry feedback.

"Kordia Secure Edge is designed to meet the reality of hybrid work. Our customers have told us they want simpler, stronger security solutions and a better experience for line-of-business apps, that is both easy and efficient to manage," said White, Executive GM Cyber Security, Cloud and Connectivity, Kordia.

Tool consolidation

Kordia pointed to what it described as "tool sprawl" in large environments. It said some organisations run dozens of separate products across network and security teams.

"Some of the customers we've spoken to recently have as many as 70 or 80 network and security tools in their environment, what we're calling 'tool sprawl'. With Secure Edge, we can help customers reduce their tool count, cut complexity and reduce their risk with a unified platform back by Fortinet," said White.

Kordia Secure Edge sits in the secure access service edge market, commonly referred to as SASE. Vendors and service providers position SASE as a way to centralise network access and security policy across users, devices and locations, including remote workers and branch sites.

Fortinet foundation

Fortinet said its FortiSASE platform underpins the service. Kordia described Fortinet as the technology partner behind the launch.

Nick Frantzen, Service Creation Manager at Fortinet New Zealand, described the scope of the underlying product and how it aligns with Kordia's service model.

"Fortinet's Unified SASE offering is engineered to converge zero trust, SSE and Secure SD-WAN in one operating system and client, with AI-driven security and digital experience monitoring built in. Together with Kordia's managed delivery and local connectivity advantages, customers get the simplicity and outcomes they're seeking, from faster access to stronger, consistent controls," said Frantzen, Service Creation Manager, Fortinet New Zealand.

Kordia said the service applies zero trust controls and inline security at the closest cloud edge. It said this keeps policy consistent across devices on and off corporate networks.

Feature set

Kordia said Secure Edge includes secure web gateway, firewall-as-a-service, SSL inspection, intrusion prevention and DNS security for internet access. It also includes universal zero trust network access for private applications.

The offering also includes cloud access security broker and data loss prevention for software-as-a-service use. Kordia said it includes secure SD-WAN and end-to-end digital experience monitoring. Kordia said users manage these functions through a single console and agent.

Kordia said customers can adopt Secure Edge in phases. It positioned VPN replacement through ZTNA as an early step. It also described full consolidation as a longer-term pathway.

Local presence

Kordia said Fortinet's local SASE point of presence in Auckland provides an in-country option for organisations with New Zealand operations. It said the Auckland point of presence integrates with a broader global network.

The service can run over Kordia's network or third-party networks, and customers can choose fully managed or co-managed delivery. Kordia provides discovery and assessment, policy design and validation, implementation and ongoing optimisation. It also offers quarterly reviews and continuous tuning.

Kordia described itself as a Fortinet expert-level partner. It said it has more than 30 Fortinet-certified engineers and a New Zealand-based Security Operations Centre. The company said the product targets organisations that want fewer point tools and licences and a single management platform for network and security operations.