3 Reasons Why Web Isolation is Critical for Your Enterprise’s Information Security
When it comes to malware attacks, your browser is your weakest link.
A recent Gartner study noted that the browser is where “almost all successful attacks originate from the public internet,” serving a tough blow to many traditional anti-malware solutions. While some enterprises continue to struggle with current information security methodology, others have embraced web isolation, a new cybersecurity model that promotes placing an “air-gap” between users and the Internet.
Fireglass, a noted cybersecurity firm, was the first to popularize web isolation among the cybersecurity community with its Threat Isolation platform, and was then acquired by Symantec. With web isolation (known also as browser isolation), Fireglass users enjoy a visual Internet stream through their native browser while a secure remote environment intercepts and executes web requests.
Gartner estimates that over 50% of businesses will be utilizing web isolation by 2021 in a direct replacement of the standard anti-malware tools today. It is likely that it will become integral to successful cybersecurity defense tactics long before we reach that mark.
Crucial arguments in favor of web isolation include:
1. Supports your Information Security Team
Unlike anti-malware tools, web isolation doesn’t require your team to dedicate time and resources on false negative alerts. Because users can access uncategorized sites without risk, you can expect that less support tickets will be generated for site access or in responses to an attack.
2. Anti-Malware Prevents; Web Isolation Eliminates
Standard anti-malware methodology focuses on either preventing or correcting a malware attack, utilizing features like URL filtering and network access permissions to predict and target possible harmful interactions. Such techniques become less effective if software encounters a mis- or uncategorized website, leaving users vulnerable to new sites and poor user experience.
However, web isolation platforms eliminate the threat of malware by executing content away from all endpoints. They don’t worry about discerning “good” or “bad” sites from each other, because everything is housed in a secure remote environment. Fireglass and other web isolation platforms encourage users to “click with confidence” within their virtual environment without worrying about whether the site will harm them.
3. Browser Isolation is Unavoidable
Upon Symantec’s purchase of Fireglass, CEO Greg Clark pointed to web isolation’s popularity within financial institutions, government and telecommunication firms, and healthcare companies as proof of a growing trend. Each industry is undoubtedly dependant upon the cybersecurity industry for new innovations that address its specific information security needs.
Because browser isolation requires little onboarding resources and integrates with existing gateways, it is easier than ever before for big and small enterprises to adopt the technology. Browser isolation will only serve to become more popular as platforms explore outside of virtualization to develop cost-effective platforms that appeal to every size of business.
Web isolation is the latest arrival to the world of information security, but it is neither a fad nor a trend. As malware attackers continue to develop their approach, so too should the tools that protect enterprises.
Sources:
https://content.fire.glass/gartner-research-time-to-isolate
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-fireglass-m-a-symantec-idUSKBN19R1PQ
https://blog.fire.glass/when-you-cant-tell-good-from-bad/
http://y94.com/news/articles/2017/jul/06/symantec-to-buy-israeli-cybersecurity-firm-fireglass/
