In a recent discussion between Dorene Rettas, Co-founder of Cyber Security Tribe, and Brian Kenyon, Founding Team Member & Chief Strategy Officer at Island, the conversation delved into the pressing challenges confronted by CISOs, shedding light on the intensifying threat landscape and the risks in cybersecurity.
Increased Attack Surface and the Threat of AI
The discussion started with the escalated threat landscape, accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic's transformative impact on work environments. The shift to remote work brought forth a proliferation of vulnerabilities, widening the attack surface. Kenyon highlighted the persistent challenges in cybersecurity, citing credential harvesting and the omnipresent threat of ransomware across various sectors as recurring concerns of Security and IT leaders.
Kenyon noted that while the attack surface has grown, the tactics remain the same, including credential harvesting and ransomware. He highlighted the potential threat AI poses, as it can learn from data and may not have robust security controls. Rettas added that the browser, now the most widely used application in the enterprise, was not created with enterprise security in mind, which is a growing concern.
Enterprise Browser: Enhancing Security and User Experience
The conversation pivoted to the often-overlooked vulnerability of web browsers within enterprise security frameworks. Kenyon discussed the shift to cloud and the increased reliance on browsers for enterprise control.
He emphasized the need for better control over browsers, ensuring secure access to applications and improving the user experience. Kenyon also noted the potential of a more instrumented browser for the enterprise, which offers enhanced security controls over what traditional browsers offer.
A question was raised about whether an Enterprise Browser could replace technologies like VPN and VDI, to which Kenyon responded affirmatively, noting that an Enterprise Browser could route traffic indiscriminately of the host OS and could act like a virtualized environment, thus improving user experience and security.
Island's success stories encompass diverse use cases across 120+ customers. Notable applications include securing unmanaged devices, optimizing VDI deployments, and selectively deploying browser security measures to specific user groups within an organization, offering tailored solutions for varying security needs.
Conclusion
As the dialogue concluded, Kenyon emphasized the rapidly-evolving nature of the Enterprise Browser landscape. The space, gaining momentum and recognition from industry analysts, promises transformative solutions. Organizations eyeing this space are urged to stay abreast of its evolution, recognizing its potential in addressing evolving cybersecurity and end user productivity challenges.
