Why Network-as-a-Service is Reshaping Enterprise Connectivity

Francis Bell, Head Of Marketing | Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes

Cloud computing didn't just change how we think about servers and storage - it revolutionised our entire approach to consuming technology. What started with Infrastructure-as-a-Service has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem where everything from platforms to software is delivered on-demand. Now, Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is bringing that same transformation to the last piece of the puzzle: connectivity itself, often enhanced through Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) frameworks that combine networking and security seamlessly in the cloud.

The Network Bottleneck

Here's the reality: while organisations have been rapidly adopting cloud services for agility and cost efficiency, their networks have largely remained stuck in the past. Fixed contracts, rigid capacity planning, and hardware-dependent architectures that take months to modify. It's like having a Ferrari engine in a horse-drawn carriage.

Most businesses today run hybrid or multi-cloud environments. Applications span AWS, Azure, on-premises data centres, and edge locations. Users work from everywhere. Yet the network connecting it all? Often still built on 20th-century thinking.

NaaS changes this by applying cloud principles directly to networking: elastic scalability, consumption-based pricing, and software-defined control. Instead of owning physical infrastructure, organisations consume networking capabilities as a service - scaling up for peak demand, scaling down when it's quiet, and paying only for what they use. When combined with SASE, these networks also integrate security functions directly into connectivity, ensuring access is both fast and protected from emerging threats.

The Perfect Storm for NaaS Adoption

Several forces are converging to make NaaS not just attractive, but essential:

• Distributed Everything: Applications live in multiple clouds, users work from multiple locations, and data flows in every direction. SASE complements NaaS here by ensuring consistent security and connectivity policies across every location and cloud environment.

• Security Demands: With cyber threats evolving daily, security can't be an afterthought bolted onto the network. SASE architectures embed security directly into the network fabric, offering firewall-as-a-service, zero-trust access, and secure web gateways as integrated services.

• The OPEX Shift: Capital expenditure on networking hardware ties up budgets and creates depreciation headaches. Operational expenditure through NaaS aligns costs with actual usage and business outcomes, while SASE reduces the need for separate security investments.

• Compliance Complexity: For sectors like healthcare and government, meeting regulatory requirements while maintaining agility is increasingly challenging with traditional infrastructure. NaaS and SASE simplify compliance by delivering secure, auditable, and centrally managed connectivity.

Where SASE Enters the Picture

Network-as-a-Service works hand-in-hand with Secure Access Service Edge - a framework that unifies networking and security functions in the cloud. Think of NaaS as the delivery model and SASE as the architectural blueprint.

Through SASE, capabilities like SD-WAN, firewall-as-a-service, secure web gateways, and zero-trust access controls are delivered as integrated, cloud-native services. This convergence eliminates the traditional separation between networking and security teams, tools, and budgets.

For organisations dealing with complex compliance requirements - like NHS trusts needing HSCN connectivity or local councils requiring PSN access - this unified approach simplifies both deployment and ongoing management, while maintaining robust security.

Moving Beyond the Hype

Every technology trend attracts its share of marketing noise, and NaaS is no exception. But strip away the buzzwords, and you'll find genuine business value:

• Faster Time-to-Market: New sites, services, or connections can be provisioned in days rather than months. SASE-enabled networks also allow secure access to be provisioned at the same time, reducing deployment friction.

• Predictable Costs: Usage-based pricing models eliminate the guesswork from network budgeting. Scale up for projects, scale down during quiet periods, and pay for what you actually consume.

• Real-Time Visibility: Cloud-delivered networks come with built-in analytics and monitoring. SASE platforms provide visibility not just into traffic and capacity, but into security events and access policies across the network.

• Reduced Risk: Outsourcing network infrastructure and security to specialists reduces the burden on internal IT teams while ensuring expertise is always available when needed.

The Public Sector Opportunity

For UK public sector and healthcare organisations, NaaS combined with SASE offers particular advantages. Meeting compliance requirements while maintaining operational flexibility has traditionally meant choosing between security and agility. Modern NaaS platforms designed for these sectors can deliver both.

Consider an NHS trust expanding telehealth services. Traditional networking would require months of planning, procurement, and deployment. With NaaS and SASE, secure HSCN connectivity can be established quickly, scaled as the service grows, and monitored through a single portal - all while maintaining full audit trails for compliance and integrated security.

Choosing Your NaaS Partner

Not all NaaS providers are created equal. The difference between success and frustration often comes down to three factors:

• Platform Maturity: Can the platform actually deliver the flexibility it promises, or are you still dependent on manual processes behind the scenes?

• Service Expertise: Does your provider understand your sector's specific requirements, or are you getting generic, one-size-fits-all solutions? Providers offering SASE-integrated NaaS have a distinct advantage here.

• Commercial Flexibility: Are you locked into rigid contracts, or can you adapt your services as your needs evolve?

The Road Ahead

Network-as-a-Service represents more than just a new way to buy connectivity - it's a fundamental shift towards treating networking as a strategic enabler rather than a necessary cost. Organisations that embrace this shift, particularly with SASE integration, position themselves to adapt quickly to changing business requirements, emerging technologies, and evolving security threats.

The question isn't whether NaaS will become mainstream - it's whether your organisation will lead that transformation or scramble to catch up.

For forward-thinking IT leaders in healthcare, government, and regulated industries, now is the time to explore how NaaS with SASE can simplify complexity, reduce costs, and accelerate digital transformation - without sacrificing the security and compliance your sector demands.

Discover how Cloud Gateway can help you connect securely, scale efficiently, and stay compliant.