Palo Alto Networks will put artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and next-generation zero-trust network access (ZTNA) at the center of its secure access service edge (SASE) plans for the upcoming year, according to SVP Kumar Ramachandran.

“In 2022, we saw companies embracing return to office to facilitate in-person collaboration,” he told SDxCentral. “We saw organizations ramping up their investments in cloud-delivered security and SD-WAN solutions to secure users, applications and critical data, irrespective of their locations.”

While the move to a “formal hybrid work model” combined with accelerated cloud and SaaS adoption provides users much needed flexibility, Ramachandran said it also expands the threat surface area for organizations.

But combining network and security modernization projects through the SASE framework provides additional benefits for organizations by “further simplifying operations for their teams,” and Ramachandran said Palo Alto Networks believes that AI/ML will “fundamentally transform the security and operational model.”

“The convergence of networking and security solutions, combined with AI and ML, will enable IT teams to predict and resolve issues with applications, networks, and security posture before they cause business disruptions,” he added.

These “cutting-edge capabilities” will drive increased productivity and enable IT organizations to go from a reactive to a proactive security posture.

Ramachandran said the vendor will release new capabilities in 2023 that use AI and ML to advance IT in “exciting new ways."

While security and user experience have historically been at odds with each other, Ramachandran said that in 2022 he saw the advancement of technologies that address user experience, like autonomous digital experience management (ADEM).

“User experience emerged as a prominent theme as organizations sought out SASE solutions,” he said.

Ramachandran explained AI/ML can bolster solutions that provide visibility into the end-to-end user experience with proactive insights, which can help organizations reduce the cost of troubleshooting and support services for employees.

Palo Alto Networks has been calling the security industry to shift to next-generation ZTNA – which the vendor introduced last year as ZTNA 2.0 – after claiming that traditional ZTNA products “have proven more dangerous than helpful” in today’s hybrid work and cloud migration world.

The vendor claims its Prisma Access solution (including its SASE platform) is designed to meet the ZTNA 2.0 requirements that identify applications at layer-7, enables access control at the applications and sub-application levels, and offer continuous trust verification, security inspection of all traffic, and control of data across all applications.

And Ramachandran said ZTNA 2.0 has been “gaining traction amongst security-minded early adopters,” adding Palo Alto Networks “expects ZTNA 2.0 to go mainstream in 2023.”

“ZTNA 2.0 is a great first step for organizations that are just kicking off their SASE journey,” he added.