1. Introduction

QKS Group defines Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) as “a cloud-based platform that converges network connectivity and security frameworks into a single solution, enabling secure and flexible digital transformation.” SASE combines the capabilities of WAN with cloud-native network and security functions to deliver seamless access to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) providers. SASE identifies end-users and devices, applies policy-based security, and delivers secure access to the appropriate application or data, reducing security risks such as data loss, malware, phishing attacks, and advanced threats. 

Current SD-WAN market is influenced by strong convergence of Networking and security functions, in a cloud native architecture. Also, users are more inclined towards Unified Single Vendor SASE, to simplify deployment, implementation, integration and Operation. This improves the overall visibility and management, across the distributed networks.

Also, Single Vendor SASE enables the Small and mid-size firms to have a better vendor management, as well as, support service dependency, reducing documentation complexity, and faster issue resolutions. Apart from the Single Vendor SASE, users are focusing on reducing the CAPEX expenditure, by opting for managed SASE service, resulting in optimized and efficient human resource management, strong implementation and management of network functions and security operations. This in turn reduces users’ in-house NOC team’s mundane tasks and focusing on improving the digital experience of the employees. This trend, especially can be seen in healthcare, government, and education sector, outsourcing their services to system integrators, , where Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are enabling smoother transitions from legacy systems to be unified cloud frameworks and users can focuse on value delivery to end users.

SASE represents a paradigm shift from traditional hub-and-spoke network models, offering a cloud-delivered architecture that connects users, devices, and locations securely, regardless of geography. The integration of AI and analytics within SASE enhances real-time threat intelligence, centralized visibility, and automated policy enforcement.

As vendors collaborate with technology partners and service providers to expand capabilities, SASE is no longer confined to early adopters, it has become mainstream across industries seeking scalable, secure, and intelligent connectivity.

2. Problem Statement

In today’s geopolitical scenario, with varying compliance requirements, data management strategies, and disaster protection scenarios, Users are looking for providers by not just looking at the feature list, but the vendor’s real-life capacity to handle those requirements. In today’s geopolitical scenario, users are looking for providers, who support their data compliance strategy, to tackle the compliance requirement. Users are looking for Sovereign SASE solution, with partnerships with multiple cloud providers, and support the hybrid deployment, to retain the data within the national borders. Enterprises need assurance that a vendor’s solution performs well in real-world conditions, across multiple regions, compliance frameworks, and workloads.

This has led to a growing focus on Sovereign SASE, where providers design solutions that meet local compliance needs while maintaining consistent performance globally.

This year’s iteration of SPARK Plus™ platform on the SASE market brings the real-world experience of users, and thier experience on vendors supporting users compliance management strategies, with Analyst’s granular view of the SASE providers’ real time functionality, peeling off the marketing layer of the providers. This gives the readers a comprehensive and a 360 degree view of the what actually lie on the platform, without CAPEX on the platform. The SPARK Plus™  supports users investment strategies on to the SASE platform’s with real-time data’s and information’s, from both analyst’s and end users.

3. Introducing SPARK Plus™ (Solution Framework)

To bridge this gap between analyst insights and user validation, QKS Group created SPARK Plus™, the world’s first Analyst + User Review Platform.

SPARK Plus™ combines in-depth analyst research with verified customer experiences, offering enterprises a 360° perspective on each vendor’s strengths, weaknesses, and real-world performance. It complements the detailed vendor evaluations presented in the SPARK Matrix™, adding a vital new dimension, authentic user feedback.

Each SPARK Plus™ report provides:

• A detailed overview of the vendor’s strategy and global presence
• Insights on mergers, acquisitions, and ecosystem partnerships
• Assessment of functional and enabling capabilities across the SASE architecture
• Analysis of customer adoption trends and vertical strengths
• A balanced view of key strengths, limitations, and roadmap direction

According to the recent iteration in the SPARK Plus™ Platform, Versa Networks’ has built a strong and long lasting relationship with Microsoft and other major cloud providers, for improved global footprint across the globe, having multiple PoPs’, across geographic regions, to support data sovereignty, while offering robust and secure network connectivity, with a very intuitive controller. Additionally, the SPARK Plus™ on Cato Networks delves into its global PoP footprint, cloud-first orchestration, and simplicity in policy enforcement. Meanwhile, the SPARK Plus™ on Fortinet explores its integrated approach to security and networking, examining how its Security Fabric architecture aligns with hybrid-cloud strategies.

What makes SPARK Plus™ unique is that, the vendor analysis includes pricing structures, partnership ecosystem, fundings and investments, investment viability, and support services. This transforms these insights from one-dimensional evaluations into a balanced, experience-driven perspective. It gives enterprises the confidence to move forward knowing that their decisions are backed by both expert judgment and real customer validation.

By uniting structured analyst evaluation and user-validated insights, SPARK Plus™ helps enterprises make confident, evidence-based SASE decisions that reflect both market leadership and operational reliability.

4. SPARK Matrix™ Coverage within SPARK Plus™

At QKS Group, the SPARK Matrix™ serves as the analytical foundation for evaluating technology vendors based on Technology Excellence and Customer Impact.

SPARK Plus™ builds upon this framework by layering in verified user experiences, translating ratings into practical performance perspectives. This enables decision-makers to understand how top-ranked vendors perform across industries and regions.

Industry Coverage:

• Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)
• Retail and E-commerce
• Healthcare and Life Sciences
• Manufacturing and Industrial
• IT & Telecom

Regional Coverage:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC)
• Middle East & Africa (MEA)
• Latin America

This breadth of coverage ensures that SPARK Plus™ supports both global enterprises and regional players, enabling CIOs, CISOs, and network architects to assess vendors like Cato Networks and Fortinet in the context of their operational, compliance, and geographical realities.

What makes SPARK Plus™ unique is that, the vendor analysis includes pricing structures, partnership ecosystem, fundings and investments, investment viability, and support services. This transforms these insights from one-dimensional evaluations into a balanced, experience-driven perspective. It gives enterprises the confidence to move forward knowing that their decisions are backed by both expert judgment and real customer validation.

5. Conclusion

The 2025 SPARK Plus™ SASE evaluation marks a major step forward in how SASE solutions are analyzed and validated. By blending analyst insight with authentic user validation, SPARK Plus™ delivers a complete, 360° perspective on the SASE market.

This combined analytical and experiential approach enables enterprises to navigate vendor complexity with confidence, identifying solutions that not only excel in technical innovation but also deliver proven value in real-world implementations.

As the SASE market continues to evolve, addressing data sovereignty, unified access, and zero-trust convergence, SPARK Plus™ by QKS Group stands as a trusted benchmark for informed, data-driven decision-making.

It bridges the gap between strategy and execution, empowering organizations to invest wisely in SASE solutions that align innovation with measurable business outcomes.