Secure access service edge (SASE) remains an intriguing idea, but the reality of this security-networking hybrid is getting lost in translation, according to a new report from ABI Research.

The firm noted that the rapid shift in work environments has put pressure on enterprises to quickly shore up their networking and security needs. This has led to strong interest in SASE platforms that are being packaged as complete solutions in easy-to-deploy as-a-service models.

However, the still nascent SASE market remains at a stage where vendor promises could fall short of enterprise expectations.

“Consolidation and convergence are essential to driving the value proposition and re-aligning perception with reality,” explained Reece Hayden, enterprise connectivity, and distributed and edge computing research analyst at ABI Research, in a statement. “The three areas where this will be vital will be within the private network backbone, zero-trust architecture, and single pane of glass visibility. As these facets of SASE will be critical to its appeal to enterprises.”

Hayden added that the SASE market will need to run through a maturity cycle before it’s able to capitalize on that appeal.

“Over the next few years, it will be interesting to see how vendors bridge these gaps,” Hayden noted. “ABI Research predicts that a combination of M&A, organic development, and partnerships will deliver the most value in the short, medium, and long run.”

One hurdle remains how vendors are approaching the space. Some are coming from the networking side, taking advantage of their expertise in providing enterprises with on-site equipment and services. Others are coming from the security space, taking advantage of their history and experience in … well … security.

Netskope Chief Strategy Officer Jason Clark recently told SDxCentral that he doesn’t expect a true single-vendor SASE solution will be available this decade.

In the meantime, ABI Research's Hayden said managed service providers are set to benefit.

“MSP's role as trusted advisors and provisioning of end-to-end managed services will mean that enterprises, especially SMEs, will favor MSPs after the period of vendor lock-in fades,” he noted. This could provide an opportunity for traditional telecom operators and their expanding 5G networks to act as “a one-stop-shop for the management of underlay (cellular network) and overlay (SASE) services.”

“Converging SASE and 5G is likely to have significant performance synergies, as drawing security to the edge of the network will allow 5G enabled end-users to securely access applications,” the ABI report notes. “At the same time, SASE’s single-pass architecture will help securely deliver the performance promises of 5G.”

Hayden did add that this combination does need to work through its own integration issues, specifically citing core architectural differences that will require “re-building SASE on 5G standards.”

Luckily, there is time. Despite a near constant stream of SASE launches and updates, ABI Research predicts larger enterprises are still three to five years away from beginning to adopt SASE.

“This means that, as the opportunities of SASE are wide-ranging, every enterprise, independent of size, must aim to realign expectation with reality and keep an eye on this underdeveloped but continuously evolving market,” Hayden added.