Zayo adds Netskope's Service Edge (SSE) capabilities to its growing managed service set

Zayo has established a partnership with Netskope, a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) provider, to enhance the security capabilities of its Managed Edge portfolio.

The partnership brings Netskope's Service Edge (SSE) capabilities to Zayo's Managed Edge portfolio to deliver network protection and application performance for Zayo customers — from edge to core to cloud.

Zayo’s timing could not have been better.

A recent Gartner report revealed that by 2025, 80% of enterprises will have adopted a strategy to unify web, cloud services, and private application access using a SASE/SSE architecture. However, the research firm noted that seamless integration of security, networking, and performance is essential to fully realize SASE's benefits. 

Adding Netskope to Zayo’s Managed Edge provides management and security to defend against network security threats, meet regulatory compliance requirements, and enable seamless and scalable hybrid work.

Michael McKerley, Senior Vice President of Managed Services at Zayo, said that the capabilities of both companies enable it to deliver a more comprehensive managed solution set for its customers.

“Our partnership with Netskope is enhancing how we secure our managed edge-to-core-to-cloud solution even further,” he said. “Zayo brings the largest independent fiber network, customized management, and AI-driven network observability. Netskope brings a feature-rich, industry-leading, secure service edge. The result is an enhanced SASE offering with stronger security for the most demanding cybersecurity needs.”

Zayo has also enhanced its software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN) with co-hosted gateways that provide a direct, private, and secure link into the cloud, legacy network infrastructure, and all locations. With these enhancements, Zayo’s Managed Edge provides a complete, co-managed, end-to-end networking solution with comprehensive connectivity, security, monitoring, and management.

The service provider’s partnership with Netskope and its managed service portfolio also helps business customers navigate the complexities of adopting SASE and SD-WAN services. Another potential differentiator for Zayo’s managed networking solutions is its wide-reaching network.  

Zayo’s Managed Edge allows customers to seamlessly integrate legacy network infrastructure, on-net and off-net locations and bring off-net buildings into the Zayo fiber network. The provider claims it can reduce network costs by reducing cloud egress fees and eliminating pricey network builds. Zayo’s co-hosted gateways integrate with fiber into private cloud gateways to create an edge-to-core-to-cloud solution.

Zayo can ensure network performance through its co-hosted gateways to ensure reliable application and cloud performance by seamlessly integrating with Zayo’s fiber network for private, always-available enterprise network connections.

“Organizations are often hesitant to utilize SASE and SD-WAN because transitioning from their prior network connectivity can be difficult and cumbersome,” said McKerley. “This partnership and the SD-WAN enhancements we’ve made give our customers the best of all worlds.”

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