53% Organizational Silos Derail SASE Adoption. Only 7% of Enterprises Unlock Full Value Amid Internal Roadblocks

18 November 2025

New global research from Xalient reveals that SASE investment is vital for enterprise security, but approximately 53% of organizations are still in the early implementation stages.
Although 80% of respondents are concerned about cybersecurity threats, breach or fear of breach is the least influential factor in choosing a SASE solution.

Xalient has released its global research report, SASE Uncovered: The Realities of SASE Implementation in 2026. The study reveals that 96% of surveyed organizations face challenges in deploying SASE, a technology in high demand as IT systems evolve to support hybrid work, cloud migration, and integrated security. Only 7% of global respondents say their SASE capabilities are fully mature and aligned with business needs. Meanwhile, 53% of respondents admit they’re still at the early, tactical stages of deployment, revealing that most organizations are only beginning their SASE journey.

The research, conducted by Opinion Matters, surveyed 700 IT Network and IT Security leaders from large organizations with over 2,000+ employees across the UK, US, Canada, and the Benelux region. According to the findings, 80% of respondents express concern regarding cybersecurity threats, while IT Network and IT Security professionals have differing priorities for SASE deployment. Notably, breach or fear of breach ranks lowest among both groups as a driver when selecting a SASE solution. IT Network leaders surveyed prioritize operational efficiency, while IT Security leaders focus on secure access and cloud protection. Encouragingly, both groups recognize the broader value that SASE can deliver, aligning around its potential to drive multiple outcomes across the organization.

Dave McGrail, Head of Business Consultancy at Xalient, comments, “SASE should be a business imperative in today’s volatile threat landscape. The organizations that will thrive are those that recognize SASE as a strategic journey, not a one-time project, and invest in continuous education, stakeholder alignment, and agile architectures. Only then will they unlock the full promise of secure, resilient connectivity for the future.”

The Business Case for SASE

SASE is increasingly used in enterprise security, with 34% of respondents indicating that their main reason for implementation is to ensure secure remote access for hybrid or remote workforces. However, the primary driver for SASE adoption varies depending on the desired business outcome, such as improving operational resilience, reducing costs, or meeting regulatory requirements.

Top SASE Benefits

Although IT Network and Security leaders have different motivations for adopting SASE, both recognize its value in modern threat protection and its benefits for both infrastructure and security. IT Network leaders cited consolidation and simplification (28%) and improved operational efficiency (24%) as top benefits of SASE adoption. Both IT Network and IT Security professionals benefited from updated threat protection without hardware or software upgrades (24%). IT Security leaders emphasized the benefits of secure remote access for hybrid and remote workforces (29%) and secure cloud adoption and migration (24%).

“While SASE maturity levels are still developing, it’s clear that organizations adopting these solutions are already realizing meaningful benefits. Beyond the tangible outcomes such as improved network performance, streamlined security updates, and more flexible remote access, many are also reporting softer gains such as enhanced operational resilience to better user experiences,” McGrail adds. “This demonstrates that even early-stage adoption can deliver measurable value and set the foundation for long-term transformation.”

Barriers to Adoption Despite Security Benefits

SASE offers a dynamic, cloud-native approach to address evolving cybersecurity threats, outperforming traditional on-premises solutions. Despite these benefits, IT teams still face significant barriers to SASE adoption. Only 4% of respondents reported no barriers, while the top challenges were redirected funding to other priorities (38%), internal politics and conflict (30%), and lack of acceptance of the business case (29%).

“Our research makes it clear: deploying SASE is not just a technical challenge, but an organizational and strategic one. The true obstacles are rarely about technology but rather about aligning people, priorities, and vision across the business. To maximize the return on SASE investment, organizations must move beyond surface-level implementation and drive adoption with clarity, collaboration, and a relentless focus on business value.” adds McGrail. As a result, external expertise is key to overcoming these challenges.

Partner Expertise is Proving Essential

Eighty-one percent of respondents rely on external partners for implementation, and more than half depend on them for ongoing maintenance and support.

“By leveraging external expertise for SASE deployment and ongoing management, businesses can overcome common barriers such as skills gaps and integration challenges while enabling internal teams to concentrate on strategy, policy, and delivering sustained business value,” McGrail concludes.

The research reveals that SASE is now essential for organizations seeking agility, security, and resilience in the face of mounting cyber threats and budget pressures. As organizations continue to adapt to an evolving digital landscape, prioritizing robust and secure connectivity is key to addressing current challenges.

Download the Report

Download the full SASE Uncovered report for detailed findings and insights.

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