# Network Security & SASE — where enforcement happens — your edge, a provider's cloud, the application, or DNS

*A TechBag category guide. Last reviewed 2026-10-03.*

- Canonical: https://www.thetechbag.com/browse/network-security-sase
- Routes: 4

## The routes

### Firewall & Network Security

The throughput number on the datasheet is measured with every inspection feature switched off. Turn them on and you are buying a different box.

- 17 products compared
- Guide: https://www.thetechbag.com/browse/network-security-sase/firewall-network-security
- Boundary terms resolved: Firewall vs NGFW · UTM vs NGFW · SD-WAN vs MPLS · SD-WAN vs SASE

### SASE & SSE

Most organisations buying SASE only need SSE — and are quoted for both.

- 23 products compared
- Guide: https://www.thetechbag.com/browse/network-security-sase/sase-sse
- Boundary terms resolved: SASE vs SSE · Single-vendor vs dual-vendor SASE · What SSE excludes · SASE is not 'firewall, evolved'

### Zero Trust Access

ZTNA replaces the VPN for applications. It does not replace it for everything — and the gap is where projects stall.

- 24 products compared
- Guide: https://www.thetechbag.com/browse/network-security-sase/zero-trust-access
- Boundary terms resolved: ZTNA vs VPN · Agent-based vs agentless · ZTNA vs zero trust as an architecture · Network-level access inside a ZTNA product

### Secure Web & DNS

DNS filtering is the cheapest security control you can deploy and the easiest to bypass. Both facts matter.

- 44 products compared
- Guide: https://www.thetechbag.com/browse/network-security-sase/secure-web-dns
- Boundary terms resolved: DNS filtering · Proxy / secure web gateway · CASB inline · CASB API

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*Vendor-neutral. Nothing gated. https://www.thetechbag.com/browse/network-security-sase*