How to integrate enterprise browsers into your tech stack

These integrations, connected with a secure enterprise browser forms part of a unified SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) solution, optimise security and IT operations.

You get all the benefits of an enterprise browser with extended value that comes from integrated solutions, and this is the real kicker - streamlined and secure access for users from any device or location.

Natively integrating an enterprise browser with a SASE platform extends SASE’s protective reach well beyond managed devices, leading to consistent visibility, control, and security for web applications regardless of the devices they’re running on.

Furthermore, with native SASE integration, you can deploy extremely granular security measures for browser-based work on any device.

Naturally this enhances security in the browser. But it also dramatically simplifies operations by monitoring all devices, branches, apps, and IT infrastructure from a single pane of glass.

Top 3 benefits of integrating your enterprise browser with SASE:

1. Increases IT and business agility by easily extending SASE protection to managed and unmanaged devices in minutes
2. Stops threats to components ranging from the app to the browser on the fly
3. Unifies visibility across managed and unmanaged devices for comprehensive oversight

Browser integrations with identity providers streamline user authentication and strengthen access control. These integrations are very important, as they provide a secure and efficient browsing experience across your entire digital environment.

Leading enterprise browsers integrate with products from popular identity providers, such as Azure Active Directory, Okta, and PingID. This allows enterprise browsers to provide conditional access controls and single sign-on (SSO) functionality.

Conditional access controls

By integrating with identity providers, you can bring conditional access controls to enterprise browsers. This then allows you to require all users, or just named users, to use the enterprise browser to access specific web applications and services.

It also means that access to specified SaaS and web apps from any other browser, including consumer-grade browsers like Chrome or Edge, is blocked.

In addition, conditional access controls can be deployed to enforce security policies based on user identity, device health, location, and resource sensitivity, with unauthorized users blocked from accessing sensitive resources.

Single sign-on (SSO)

SSO, enabled through integrations with identity providers, allows users to authenticate to websites and all their enterprise applications securely using just one set of credentials. This reduces password fatigue and frustration, while increasing users’ productivity.

And your IT and security teams benefit because SSO improves security posture by minimizing the number of parties receiving users’ credentials.

Endpoint Protection Solutions

Endpoint protection prevents users from downloading malicious files and blocks access to nefarious websites, helping you better manage and secure user interactions across all endpoints.

Third-party endpoint protection products enhance security and control with:

• Automated endpoint detection and response (EDR)
• Extended detection and response (XDR)
• Threat intelligence feeds and platforms
• Antivirus and anti-malware software
• Intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS)

Security Operations Solutions

Enterprise browsers integrated with SIEM and SOAR solutions can send alerts regarding security events to these platforms, providing real-time threat detection, automating threat response, and holistic monitoring and forensics. This also avoids the complexity of decrypting and inspecting SSL traffic in networks.

Asset Management Systems

By providing integrations with IT network and system management solutions, the browser can be leveraged to simplify tedious remote systems management functions such as distributing updates and patches, and tracking connected devices.

Integrations with systems like IT asset management (ITAM) platforms allow IT teams to manage endpoint inventory and usage data without requiring users to install ITAM agent software.

The enterprise browser can then be used to provide IT staff with the information and access they need, while reducing user resistance to having “intrusive” software installed on their BYO laptops and mobile devices.

Some enterprise browser solutions can even eliminate the need for any intrusive agent software by supplying device configuration information and posture metadata ( think of installed operating system, patch version, and security software) to an asset management platform.

With this approach, IT departments can maintain asset information for both managed and unmanaged devices from a single ITAM platform.

Clearly, we’re now seeing the dawn of a new era for the good old browser, reimagined to support the new performance and security demands of today’s highly distributed digital ecosystems.

But reaping the full benefits means having the right technology partner to ensure you choose the right solutions for you that are properly integrated with your existing tech stack.

Visit the Secure Enterprise Browser resource centre here or to discuss the right Secure Browser Solution email here to get in contact with one of Enablis’ security experts.