Why SASE Alone Can’t Stop Modern Attacks

The SASE Security Gap

SASE helps secure network access, but it focuses on traffic enforcement rather than threat detection. Attackers who gain initial access can move laterally undetected, exploiting gaps in network, cloud, and identity security.

How Attackers Evade SASE

1. Compromised credentials 

Attackers use stolen credentials to bypass SASE protections and move across SaaS, cloud, and on-prem environments.

2. Insider threats & trusted access abuse 

SASE enforces access controls, but it can’t detect when legitimate accounts are being misused.

3. Lateral movement beyond the perimeter 

Once inside, attackers navigate cloud and identity systems, avoiding SASE visibility entirely.

The Real-World Consequences of SASE Visibility Gaps

In a Scattered Spider–style attack (as illustrated below), SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) provides useful access control and traffic filtering, but it would not detect attacker behavior after access is granted. SASE enforces policy, connectivity, and secure remote access—but Scattered Spider operates inside those policies, using valid credentials and legitimate services.

SASE Secures Access—Vectra AI Secures What Comes Next

SASE is critical for securing network access, but it does not detect post-access threats. Once an attacker is inside, security teams need visibility into their movements across the environment.

SASE applies security policies to traffic and users, but:

• What if an attacker already has valid credentials? SASE trusts authenticated users, even if their accounts are compromised.
• What if an insider abuses access? SASE enforces policies, but it can’t detect malicious activity from trusted users.
• What if the attack moves beyond the network? Cloud, SaaS, and identity-based threats bypass SASE visibility.

How Vectra AI Fills the Gap

The Vectra AI Platform provides real-time threat detection beyond the network perimeter, closing security gaps that SASE alone can’t.

• Detects compromised accounts: Uncovers identity-based attacks that abuse valid credentials to bypass access controls.
• Exposes threats in cloud & SaaS: Detects attacks in Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, AWS, and other environments beyond SASE reach.
• Works alongside SASE: Complements SASE by detecting real threats, reducing false positives, and enabling faster response.

With Vectra AI, you can stop attackers who slip past access controls—before they escalate.

How Vectra AI Complements SASE

Rather than replacing SASE, the Vectra AI Platform integrates with your existing edge controls—leveraging the same signals to detect identity-based and lateral-movement threats that SASE alone can’t see.

Vectra AI doesn’t replace SASE, it enhances it by detecting the threats that access policies miss.