Enhancing Enterprise Security: The Case for Enterprise Browsers

In today's corporate landscape, workers spend 75% of their time within web browsers or in virtual meetings. These platforms have become the cornerstone of productivity and collaboration, with heavy reliance making them the prime target for cyber attackers. In 2023, over 80% of breaches began in web applications or email according to Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report. These findings underscore the critical need for robust security measures to protect against evolving attack vectors that exploit common user behaviors particularly where enterprise access is concerned.

Hackers Capitalize on Unmanaged Devices

Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report of 2023 found that unmanaged devices are the target for 80-90% of ransomware attacks with global attacks increasing 200% in recent years. Yet an estimated 47% of companies still allow employees to access their resources on unmanaged devices, authenticating through credentials alone. 

In early June, Snowflake made headlines as 165 of their customers were the target of a wide-scale breach. Mandiant’s investigation found that a threat campaign obtained access to Snowflake customer instances in part through stolen contractor credentials obtained through malware on unmanaged contractor machines.

The productivity gained from the utilization of owned, unmanaged endpoints and the need for security are two important but competing interests. We need to look beyond classical endpoint protection for different security solutions in this scenario. Enter Enterprise browsers.  

What are Enterprise Browsers?

Enterprise browsers represent a critical solution to bolstering cybersecurity defenses in the face of these escalating threats. Enterprise-grade solutions offer enhanced security features such as centralized management, stricter access controls, and built-in security protocols. These features are designed to protect against a wide range of cyber threats including monitoring and blocking certain browser extensions and malicious downloads.

Let’s talk about two ways enterprise browsers can help companies manage contractor (and in-house) risk:

1. Blocking malware downloads. When we cannot utilize EDR tools, managed browser policies can help us prevent malware from making its way onto an endpoint in the first place.
2. Browser Patching. Browser vulnerabilities are a constant risk. Managed browser patch policies can make sure that your users are always accessing their work from the latest patches. 

Challenges in Enterprise Browser Adoption

The benefits are clear, so why has adoption been slow? Enterprise browsers are expected to become the core platform for delivering workforce productivity and security software on both managed and unmanaged devices by 2030, but today less than 10% of organizations currently utilize managed browsers or extensions. There are two key factors contributing to this low adoption rate: complexity and cost. 

Complexity

The deployment and management of enterprise browsers is complex for several reasons:

• Deployment and management. Distributing enterprise browsers to the workforce and ensuring utilization can be an organizational challenge. Enterprise browsers need to be appropriately configured and integrated with the rest of an organization’s security tech stack to maximize efficacy. 
• User experience considerations. As Bruce Schneier once said, “security is a balance between protection and usability.” Organizations need to ensure that settings are strict enough to prevent external intrusions without compromising functionality. If settings are too strict, the likelihood of employees losing productivity or finding non-secure workarounds increases. Similarly, employees accustomed to familiar customer-grade browsers may resist switching to enterprise solutions perceived as less intuitive or feature-limited, despite their superior security posture.
• Resource constraints. IT teams today are increasingly tasked with a broad spectrum of responsibilities that extend well beyond traditional infrastructure management. They often lack the specialized training and resources to effectively and independently mitigate cybersecurity risk. This coupled with the complex, piece-meal nature of a cybersecurity tech stack can leave organizations vulnerable.

Cost

Complexity of deployment and management directly impacts the second key factor affecting low adoption rate: cost. Cost can be broken down into two key categories: software procurement and utilization. 

Zip’s Approach to Enterprise Browser Security

Zip Security simplifies enterprise cybersecurity by integrating all key components of a security tech stack into one easy-to-use platform. This integration allows for one-click deployment of security measures utilizing pre-built compliance frameworks to ensure organizations are protected against cyber threats. 

Zip strategically chose Chrome Enterprise Core as its initial enterprise browser integration due to its cost-effectiveness (no-cost) and widespread usage (Google Chrome has a global browser market share of approximately 65% across all device types). Zip has simplified how to deploy Chrome Enterprise Core by tightly integrating with leading endpoint management providers (Microsoft Intune, Jamf).

By leveraging Chrome Enterprise Core, Zip Security enables organizations to centrally manage and secure browser configurations, extensions, and updates across all endpoints. This centralized approach not only enhances security by enforcing consistent policies but by streamlining IT administration tasks, thereby reducing operational overhead and improving overall efficiency.

This approach also empowers organizations to enforce compliance with regulatory requirements and internal security policies. By enforcing security configurations and providing real-time monitoring and alerts, the platform enables proactive threat detection and rapid response to potential security breaches.

Future Outlook

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the adoption of comprehensive security solutions becomes increasingly vital for safeguarding organizational assets and maintaining operational resilience. While initial deployment costs and IT resource investments are considerable, the long-term benefits in terms of enhanced cybersecurity posture, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency justify these expenditures.

Looking ahead, the integration of advanced technologies and continuous innovation in enterprise browser security will play a pivotal role in addressing emerging threats and ensuring sustainable cybersecurity practices. By embracing proactive measures and investing in robust security solutions, organizations can protect their sensitive data, preserve customer trust, and position themselves at the forefront of secure digital transformation.

If you and your organization are looking to activate Chrome Enterprise Core or want a complementary security consultation, reach out to Zip Security.