The shift in how we work has brought efficiencies and operational enhancements, but it also added complexity, created new attack vectors, and exacerbated existing security vulnerabilities. While the move to remote and hybrid work is significant, the seismic change in how we work is the move to the browser, as most apps are cloud-based. Additionally, on-prem and remote users are accessing these apps from the browser on a wide range of devices.
According to The State of Workforce Security, a 2025 study by Omdia, approximately 85% of the workday is spent on browser-related activities using SaaS and web apps, and 90% of organizations enable access to corporate data from personal devices. This broad adoption of SaaS and web apps has exposed the limitations of traditional browser security, and attackers are taking advantage of these browser vulnerabilities to breach it.
What About the Browser? Limitations of Existing Security Approaches
The explosion of browser-based apps is overwhelming traditional, perimeter-based security models. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), remote browser isolation (RBI), desktop-as-a-service (DaaS), and virtual private networks (VPNs) aren’t suitable. These security tools were not made to defend against attacks on compromised endpoints, sophisticated phishing, and unknown threats. They lack the granular data protection required when sharing sensitive corporate data through browsers.
Existing security solutions leave a distinct gap in protection between networks and endpoints. What’s worse is that while browsers have become the most popular application, traditional browsers do not have enterprise class security to protect sensitive data.
This is a massive and vulnerable attack surface. According to research by Palo Alto Networks, large organizations use approximately 10,000 SaaS and web apps. The threat is real and quantified by Omdia’s study, which found that 95% of organizations have experienced a browser-based attack.
Cybersecurity Secret Weapon: Secure enterprise browsers
Secure enterprise browsers protect your organization with consistent security for any user, device, location, and app because they are uniquely situated to serve as the first line of defense. Five ways that secure enterprise browsers materially improve cybersecurity are by:
- Extending enterprise security to unmanaged devices
- Protecting work where it happens
- Providing granular last-mile data controls to protect against intentional and accidental data loss
- Offering frictionless security for users in a web-first world
- Enabling multi-layered security, including data protection, web security, protection against malware on the endpoint, and defense against malicious extensions
Data used in all SaaS and web apps is protected by secure enterprise browsers, regardless of whether they are sanctioned by IT and run on managed devices or are part of the dreaded shadow IT. With more than 98% of organizations reporting some level of BYOD violation among employees, according to Omdia, secure enterprise browsers provide critical protection that is not available with other security tools.
Secure enterprise browsers can also restrict how data is used with AI tools. This addresses the concern of more than 65% of organizations surveyed in Omdia’s workforce security study, which said they have no control over what data is shared in AI tools.
Unique Capabilities of Secure Enterprise Browsers
Using secure enterprise browsers, IT can manage browser functions and enforce granular security controls while ensuring a seamless browsing experience. The power of secure enterprise browsers comes from the visibility they provide, control over user activities in the browser, rapid and streamlined deployment, and integrations.
Visibility and Control
Security has never gotten so close to your end users. Secure enterprise browsers protect more than the last mile with full visibility into and control over users’ actions in SaaS and web apps. They bring unprecedented protection to the last inch. Granular, context-based policies can be applied not just based on user profiles but also on where users are working and what they are trying to do. For instance, step-up MFA can be triggered if sensitive information is being accessed or shared, or unsafe or unapproved activity can be blocked.
The visibility possible with secure enterprise browsers also extends to encrypted network traffic. Secure enterprise browsers see traffic in the browser without having to decrypt it, which allows them to analyze it for threats which might evade traditional security which requires decryption, ensuring both security and privacy. Certain applications are not decrypted due to business policies or certificate pinning.
Rapid and Streamlined Deployment
Unlike other security tools, secure enterprise browsers can be rapidly deployed at scale, which is critical for growing organizations or those rolling out integrations related to M&As. Secure enterprise browsers have been standardized on Chromium, which makes it easier for IT teams to deploy and manage them at scale without custom configurations.
With secure enterprise browsers, you can also apply consistent security standards and controls across all users—regardless of platform. You can also deploy enterprise security engines through secure enterprise browsers.
Integrations
Secure enterprise browsers are designed to seamlessly integrate with your tech stack. The many security applications and services that can be quickly and seamlessly integrated include identity management and directory services, endpoint protection solutions, zero trust network access solutions, and SIEM and SOAR platforms.
Secure enterprise browsers can also be integrated with SASE (secure access service edge) and SSE (security service edge) solutions to optimize security and IT operations, streamlining and securing users' access from any device or location or to any application (web or non web). This integration dramatically boosts security operations and unifies visibility across the entire ecosystem.
Why Now Is the Time for Secure Enterprise Browsers
Secure enterprise browsers help you bring your enterprise security to the sprawling and complex modern work environment. Deployed in minutes, secure enterprise browsers support a wide range of high-priority use cases, including:
- Providing secure access for third-party contractors, agencies, and business partners
- Enforcing BYOD policies
- Facilitating M&A and subsidiary integrations and operations
- Enabling visibility into all encrypted traffic
- Delivering last-mile data controls
- Managing data usage in AI tools
- Controlling privileged users
- Identifying insider threats
It’s time for you to add secure enterprise browsers to your security portfolio. See for yourself how easy it is to protect all data and users on any device, from any location, and across all apps
