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SASE Market Growth Exceeds Predictions

The telecommunications landscape is rapidly evolving, and a recent report from the Dell'Oro Group reveals compelling statistics that illustrate this transformation. In the third quarter of 2025, the global Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) market demonstrated a remarkable year-over-year growth of 21%, reaching nearly $3 billion. This stands in stark contrast to the struggling legacy Access Router segment, which faced a steep decline in revenue, plummeting by 25%. This shift not only signals the growing acceptance of SASE as a preferred solution but also highlights the fading relevance of traditional access routers.

As enterprises continue their digital transformation journeys, SASE is emerging as the go-to architecture for secure networking across branches, remote locations, and cloud services. Traditional questions regarding the need for integrating networking and security have transitioned into discussions about the urgency of reallocating budgets from legacy systems towards modern platforms that offer both capabilities.

Mauricio Sanchez, Sr. Director at Dell'Oro Group, emphasized the broader implications of these statistics, stating, "Enterprise SASE buyers are no longer asking whether to converge networking and security, but how quickly they can move budgets out of legacy Access Routers and into platforms that deliver both." This sentiment reflects a significant shift in enterprise strategy, moving decisively towards SASE as a long-term solution.

Key Takeaways from the 3Q 2025 Report

The report highlights several key trends shaping the SASE and SD-WAN landscape:

1. Top SASE Vendors: Zscaler emerged as the leading SASE vendor by revenue, followed closely by Cisco and Palo Alto Networks. The fierce competition between Zscaler and Cisco, where the margin between them was less than one percentage point, indicates a dynamic market where innovation and customer service are critical.

2. Rise in Security Service Edge (SSE): SSE revenue surged 20% year-over-year, accounting for nearly a third of the total SASE revenue. This underscores that cloud-based security remains a significant entry point for many enterprises adopting SASE.

3. SD-WAN Growth: SD-WAN revenue also rose by 23% year-over-year, as enterprises began aligning their branch refresh plans with broader SASE and Zero Trust initiatives rather than simply replacing Access Routers with like-for-like solutions.

4. Widening Gap: The stark contrast in growth rates—21% for SASE versus a 25% decline in Access Routers—illustrates the accelerated shift in how enterprises are strategically re-architecting their network connectivity.

As we look ahead, the prospects for the SASE market remain optimistic. Analysts anticipate continued robust demand that could yield double-digit growth in 2026, representing an impressive increase of nearly 500% since Dell'Oro Group began tracking this market in 2019.

Conclusion

The findings presented in the Dell'Oro Group's report are a clear indicator of the telecommunications industry's ongoing transition towards modern, integrated solutions for networking and security. As businesses re-evaluate their technological investments, the momentum behind SASE will likely not only sustain but expand, potentially reshaping enterprise networks for years to come. The critical takeaway for technology leaders is the urgent need to adapt to this changing landscape by embracing solutions that not only secure their networks but also streamline operations and enhance overall performance. The time to act is now, as SASE continues to gain ground in a rapidly evolving digital world.