Netskope unveils enhanced enterprise browser for BYOD security

Netskope has introduced enhancements to its Enterprise Browser solution, aimed at securing how unmanaged devices and temporary workers access corporate data and applications.

The Enterprise Browser is part of the Netskope One platform's Security Service Edge (SSE) capabilities. It is designed to address security risks associated with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies and temporary work requirements for contractors. This functionality aims to support organisations in maintaining data security as users access cloud and SaaS applications as well as web resources.

According to research, over two-thirds of organisations experience productivity improvements when they allow unmanaged device access, and eight out of ten companies currently support this approach. However, unmanaged devices pose security challenges due to their lack of integration into existing security infrastructures, making it difficult for security teams to control policies, security updates, or the applications available on these devices.

The new solution employs a proprietary Chromium-based browser that can be remotely installed on unmanaged devices by security teams. This browser allows organisations to impose security, data protection, and access policies similar to those enforced on managed devices. IT and security teams can further customise these policies to allow or restrict activities such as copying, pasting, downloading, or printing specific data.

John Martin, Chief Product Officer at Netskope, commented on the integration of enterprise browser capabilities within a unified data security solution. He stated, "Enterprise browser functionality should be delivered as part of a unified data security solution. At Netskope, our strategy has always been to enable modern data security using the broadest and deepest protection from a single, holistic platform. As we shared our continued expansion plans with security and networking leaders over the past year, it quickly became clear that enterprise browser capabilities are best when integrated at the architecture level, making use of full SSE data security and adaptive policy controls, not just as a product add-on."

The Enterprise Browser solution is integrated with enterprise identity providers for user authentication and can apply zero-trust principles for adaptive access. It leverages the Netskope One platform's NewEdge network, providing high-performance global access with compute services in over 75 regions and covering more than 220 countries and territories.

Use cases for the Enterprise Browser include scenarios where temporary contractors or partners use their own devices to access an organisation's systems. It is also suitable for situations where a company has acquired another business and needs to quickly expand security and data protection policies to a larger team, or for educational institutions where students access resources from personal devices.

The Enterprise Browser is now available and can be purchased flexibly or as part of a SSE subscription package, aligning with Netskope's broader strategy to modernise businesses by integrating security, network, and analytics services into a consolidated platform.

Netskope has been consistently acknowledged for its contributions in the field of data protection, having been ranked highly in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge for its execution and visionary capabilities.