The worldwide Security Service Edge (SSE) market grew by nearly $1bn in 2022, according to a recently published report.

The findings, from Dell’Oro Group, demonstrate 38% growth as enterprises embrace cloud-delivered network security to give users safe access to cloud-based applications.

“The pandemic fuelled the need for cloud-based applications as employees shifted from working in the office to working anywhere,” said Mauricio Sanchez, Research Director, Network Security, and SASE & SD-WAN at Dell’Oro Group. “As employees return to the office, whether full-time or in a hybrid arrangement, cloud-based applications are here to stay and require solutions like SSE to secure them. SSEs are combining multiple security capabilities, such as CASB, firewall, SWG, and ZTNA, into an integrated platform that can protect all aspects of cloud applications.”

Sanchez additionally pointed out that the SSE market is crowded with over 20 vendors, and that the top three of these owned 58% of its value by revenue. These were Cisco, Broadcom/Symantec, and Zscaler. Firewall revenue exceeded $12bn for the first time on solid double-digit growth. The top three firewall vendors by revenue in 2022 were Cisco, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks.