# Swissport Soars to Secure Connectivity: Ditches VPN Maze for Cato’s SASE Platform

## Swissport Soars to Secure Connectivity: Ditches VPN Maze for Cato’s SASE Platform

Swissport, a global leader in airport ground and cargo handling services, has taken a significant leap towards secure and seamless connectivity by migrating to a global Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture powered by Cato Networks. Faced with the limitations and complexities of legacy technology, including a cumbersome VPN maze, Swissport opted for a more modern and agile solution to secure its 26,000 users worldwide.

The move highlights the increasing adoption of SASE platforms by large, geographically dispersed organizations looking to streamline their security and network infrastructure. Before embracing Cato Networks, Swissport likely faced challenges common to businesses reliant on traditional VPNs: complex management, performance bottlenecks, and limited visibility into network traffic. The transition represents a shift “from friction to flow,” as the VentureBeat article that revealed the news puts it, signifying a move towards greater efficiency and control.

By deploying Cato’s SASE platform, Swissport gains several key advantages. A SASE architecture consolidates multiple networking and security functions, such as SD-WAN, secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and zero trust network access (ZTNA), into a single, cloud-native platform. This unified approach allows Swissport to achieve real-time control over its global network, improve user experience, and bolster its security posture.

The benefits of a SASE implementation like this are multifaceted.

* **Enhanced Security:** Features like identity-aware access, encrypted traffic inspection, and TLS inspection provide robust protection against modern threats. Furthermore, the inherent zero trust nature of SASE ensures that users are only granted access to the resources they need, minimizing the attack surface.
* **Simplified Management:** Consolidating security functions into a single platform drastically reduces the complexity of managing a global network. This allows Swissport’s IT team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than constantly patching and maintaining disparate security appliances.
* **Improved Performance:** SASE optimizes network performance by routing traffic directly to cloud applications, bypassing the need to backhaul traffic through corporate data centers. This results in faster access to critical applications and a better user experience.
* **Scalability and Agility:** A cloud-native SASE platform can easily scale to meet the changing needs of a dynamic business like Swissport. It also allows for rapid deployment of new security features and policies.

Swissport’s decision to embrace Cato Networks’ SASE platform reflects a broader trend in the industry. As organizations increasingly rely on cloud-based applications and a distributed workforce, traditional network and security architectures are no longer adequate. SASE offers a more agile, secure, and scalable solution that can meet the demands of the modern enterprise. The transition for Swissport likely also leverages technologies like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, further highlighting the interconnectedness of cloud services and modern security architectures. This move positions Swissport to operate with increased efficiency and enhanced security in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.