Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) is a cybersecurity technology that shields organizations from web-based threats by executing web browsing activities on a remote server. This isolation is achieved through a process where web browsing activities, inclusive of essential security functions like filtering, sandboxing, and threat analysis, are executed on a remote server. While RBI solutions provide robust protection, evaluating operational impacts, including resource utilization, user experience, and implementation complexity, is crucial.
What is Remote Browser Isolation?
Remote Browser Isolation is a security technology that seeks to protect organizations from web-based threats. It operates on the principle of ‘isolation’ – ensuring that web browsing activities are executed not on the user’s local device but in a remote, controlled environment. This environment is typically a virtual machine or container in a secure cloud or data center.
When a user navigates to a website, RBI solutions render the website in this remote environment and then transmit the website’s visual representation back to the user’s device. This process ensures that any malicious content on the website does not reach the user’s device, thereby safeguarding it from potential threats.
Advantages of Remote Browser Isolation:
- Enhanced Security: By isolating browsing activity, RBI effectively keeps any malicious web content away from the user’s device.
- Comprehensive Protection: RBI can offer protection against a wide range of web-based threats, including zero-day exploits, since the malicious code does not interact directly with the user’s device.
- User Experience: Users can browse normally, as RBI maintains the look and feel of the actual website.
Drawbacks of Remote Browser Isolation
- Resource-Intensive: RBI can be resource-heavy, requiring significant infrastructure to host the remote environments.
- Latency Issues: The process of rendering websites remotely can lead to increased latency, affecting the browsing experience.
- Complex Implementation: Setting up and maintaining an RBI solution can be complex and may require substantial IT overhead.
Implementing Secure Browsing in Your Organization
While Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) offers a comprehensive solution for web-based threat mitigation, it’s essential to explore alternatives that balance security with operational efficiency. This is where a lightweight browser security platform like Keep Aware comes into play. Keep Aware is a human-centric browser security platform that integrates seamlessly into an employee’s existing browser. Below are some of its leading use cases:
- Zero-day Phishing and Social Engineering Protection: Keep Aware excels in preventing modern phishing attacks that are increasingly sophisticated and diverse. By understanding the context of a webpage, it offers real-time protection against zero-day phishing attempts and social engineering tactics.
- File Sharing and SaaS Risk Management: In the era of extensive use of SaaS platforms and cloud-based file-sharing services, traditional security tools often fall short at the browser level. Keep Aware enables enforcement of policies that prevent the unintentional sharing of sensitive corporate data through personal or unsecured web applications.
- Malicious and High-Risk Extension Management: Keep Aware provides continuous monitoring of browser extensions across different browsers, allowing security teams to instantly flag and block suspicious activities or extensions that may compromise sensitive data.
- Sensitive Data Leakage Prevention: Keep Aware ensures the protection of sensitive data across the web, allowing employees to leverage the benefits of digital tools while securing critical information like source code and intellectual property.
These use cases demonstrate Keep Aware’s ability to provide a robust defense against a variety of cyber threats while maintaining a low impact on system resources and user experience. For security teams, this means not only ensuring a high level of security but also enhancing operational efficiency and employee productivity.
Remote Browser Isolation is a powerful tool in the cybersecurity arsenal, providing a high level of security through isolation techniques. However, for organizations seeking a more streamlined, user-friendly solution, Keep Aware offers an excellent alternative. Its lightweight nature, combined with powerful protection capabilities, ensures a secure and efficient browsing experience, aligning with the needs of modern, dynamic work environments.