Versa Networks’ Sovereign SASE Targets Nation-State Threats With On-Prem Architecture
Versa Networks today announced the general availability of Versa Sovereign SASE (secure access service edge) deployment model that enables enterprises and service providers to operate secure access service edge infrastructure entirely on-premises. The company said this provides enterprises, governments and service providers full control over networking and security through an air-gapped, self-managed SASE stack. Versa Networks’ president and CEO Kelly Ahuja said Versa Sovereign addresses enterprise needs for data privacy, regulatory compliance and operational resilience amid increasing cybersecurity threats and evolving data sovereignty laws.
“The growing importance of cybersecurity and resilience to organizations, coupled with the growth in regulatory demands and the shifting geopolitical landscape, means that organizations are taking a deeper look into data sovereignty. This means that many organizations – particularly large, transnational ones – will want to balance their technology choices with the flexibility of addressing their sovereignty concerns,” said Fernando Montenegro, vice president and practice lead, cybersecurity, at The Futurum Group.
In addition to evolving data sovereignty laws, moving data, applications and security in-house, or at least keeping systems in their nation, helps to address enterprises targeted by nation-states and other well-funded threat actors by integrating strict data control measures and moving systems on-premises. By enforcing zero-trust and localized data processing, sovereign systems aim to minimize external threats – especially those posed by third parties in the supply chain. Sovereign architectures eliminate dependencies on third-party service providers. For instance, proponents of sovereign systems often contend that keeping security controls and traffic protection within national boundaries helps to ensure that threat detection and response occur closer to the data source, cut down latency and improve privacy and security.
Large Enterprises, Service Providers Seek On-Prem Security
Ahuja explained to Security Boulevard that Versa Sovereign SASE began as a product that service providers and large enterprises requested to be built. “This is not something that is going to be deployed. We already have customers that have deployed the sovereign SASE infrastructure, and we are seeing the requests and the demand go up,” he said. Defense departments worldwide have adopted the platform to modernize cybersecurity frameworks for tactical battlefield communications, highlighting its suitability for mission-critical environments. While financial services have adopted this SASE deployment to increase security and meet stiff regulatory frameworks, the hospitality industry seeks greater cost controls, he explained.
Futurum Group’s Montenegro confirmed this trend. “This interest gives rise to several vendors offering deployment options for their technologies that support specific deployments in select jurisdictions. This can take the form of the vendor using specific legal entities or locations or providing customers with flexible deployment options for their own “on-premises” deployments at their desired locations,” he said.
Specific regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), regional data residency laws and regulations like DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) drive the need for sovereign systems.
Ahuja explained that the sovereign SASE architecture ensures compliance by routing data through designated geographic zones, preventing unauthorized cross-border transfers and maintaining audit-ready logs within jurisdictional boundaries. For instance, healthcare and financial institutions leverage Sovereign SASE to meet strict requirements for sensitive data handling, avoiding penalties. The ability to enforce granular on-premises policy controls enables customization for niche regulations, such as sectoral data localization rules in APAC countries.
Versa Sovereign SASE complements Versa Networks’ existing SaaS and private gateway offerings. For managed service providers, Sovereign SASE enables new revenue streams through customized SASE offerings while maintaining control over infrastructure. Major carriers like T-Mobile, Tata Communications and Lumen have leveraged the technology to launch branded security services, including T-Mobile’s SIM-based SASE. The architecture enables providers to repurpose existing network assets while meeting strict local compliance requirements, particularly in markets like India and Europe, where data residency laws are stringent.
The shift toward sovereign systems reflects a broader computing trend prioritizing data privacy concerns and data self-determination amid increased geopolitical tensions and AI-driven data exploitation risks. Sovereign clouds, which IDC has forecast to grow into a $250 billion market by 2027, highlight this trend. “As we see more jurisdictions enforce a variety of regulatory mechanisms covering areas including data security, data privacy and more – including, yes, the ramifications of AI – we expect the topic of sovereignty to grow in importance for enterprise buyers,” Montenegro said.
