Versa Networks today scored another service provider victory with Comcast Business adding the software vendor's secure access service edge (SASE) to its managed services portfolio.

The new service builds on Comcast’s existing Versa SD-WAN offering and aims to better guard enterprise customers against ransomware, malware, network intrusions, botnets, and other cyberthreats.

"Managed service providers such as Comcast Business are standardizing on Versa SASE as it is the only solution to deliver fully integrated networking and security in a feature-complete single software image delivered via the cloud, on-premises, or as a blended combination of both," Versa CMO Mike Wood boasted in an email to SDxCentral.

And to Wood's credit, Versa's SASE offering has garnered accolades from Gartner for its approach to the fledgling networking and security framework.

Comcast became the first major U.S. cable operator to release a managed SD-WAN offering in early 2017 through a partnership with Versa. Today’s update expands beyond branch-to-branch networking to include remote access and cloud-delivered security functionality.

As the network edge continues to expand, businesses face new challenges securing traffic from threats like ransomware, Bob Victor, head of product at Comcast Business, said in a statement.

Versa’s SASE offering also includes support for zero-trust network access, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker, cloud-based firewalls, and a software agent for remote and hybrid workers.

This isn't the cable provider's first foray into the SASE space. Comcast Business also offers a SASE architecture that uses a combination of Versa's SD-WAN and Palo Alto Networks' Prisma Access cloud security platform, according to Shena Tharnish, the company's VP of cybersecurity products.

Tharnish describes Versa's SASE architecture as vehicle to address the growing demand for advanced security functionality beyond stateful firewall capabilities, especially in the mid-market, and for customers that prefer working with a single vendor for networking and security functionality.

Today’s announcement comes a week after Versa and Zscaler scored a contract to power Verizon’s first managed SASE offering. The new service underscores growing interest in the Gartner coined product category, especially among communications and managed service providers.

Both Verizon and AT&T are moving aggressively to bring managed SASE services to market. Verizon plans to bring additional SASE services to the market soon, and AT&T earlier this week announced Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma Access and Prisma SD-WAN would power its second managed SASE service. The carrier’s first SASE service is powered by Fortinet.