The use of browsers for an organization's operations over the internet has increased, and so has the use of different security solutions. Many business brands are aware they are targets of cyber attackers who want to steal sensitive data and sometimes their finances. Therefore, they employ different security solutions to prevent cybercriminals from accessing their data.
Some of the security solutions used are LayerX, browser isolation, and virtual desktop infrastructures. However, many arguments exist about which is better between browser isolation and virtual desktop infrastructure solutions. Brace up as we explain the two security solutions and their benefits for organizations.
What is Browser Isolation?
Before the advent of browser isolation, organizations and businesses used browsers whose content was directly connected to their device. However, browser isolation changes the way through which individuals and companies make use of the internet. With the help of browser isolation, it creates a kind of isolated environment that is quite different from general browsing methods. In other words, it creates a sandboxed environment that scans every content before allowing the browser user to access it.
The thing with browser isolation is that it adopts a zero-trust approach when handling web content. This means that this type of browser security procedure assumes that every web content has malicious content until it has been scanned and approved as safe. Another thing to note about browser isolation is that it wipes off a browsing environment at the end of each session. This prevents any malicious content and viruses from having any contact with the user's endpoints.
Benefits Of Browser Isolation
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Complete Removal of Malware
Assuming an organization is using an isolated browser for accessing the internet eliminates the need for the cost of fighting malware. This is because it operates in a sandboxed or isolated environment, making detecting malware easier. Moreover, wiping browsing sessions adds a more sophisticated layer of security.
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Protection Against Malicious Content
One of the major benefits of browser isolation is that it prevents users from having any contact with malicious content. This is because it isolates every content coming into the browser from the user's endpoint. Destroying the browsing environment prevents cache or cookies from getting stored on the user's computer.
Prevention against malicious content covers a wide range of things, including videos, images, audio, and text-based content. Besides this, browser isolation also plays a massive role in preventing malicious downloads, links, and emails.
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Data Loss Prevention
There's something about using browser isolation that benefits many businesses. It has data loss prevention capabilities, which prevent an organization's data from being lost. This is because the organization uses the browser in an isolated environment, preventing malicious content from corrupting data. Furthermore, the data loss prevention capabilities give an organization the administrative ability to restrict certain files and data from being accessed by employees.
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Active Monitoring
One of the benefits of the administrative abilities an organization gets from using isolated browser isolation is that it gives them the feature of active monitoring. This allows for quickly detecting unusual activity regarding a particular file or data.
What is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)?
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is closely compared to isolated browsers, and there are often arguments on which of the two is the better option. A VDI is the process of setting up a virtual desktop environment over the Internet.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is the process of distributing desktop images over the internet to the user's endpoint. In other words, this type of desktop can't be accessed physically; it can only be used over the internet in a secure environment. This gives the organization the total right to whatever happens within the desktop.
Benefits Of VDI
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Security
Organizations use VDI mainly to protect them from any security vulnerabilities coming from the user's endpoint. Since the organization has complete control of everything on the virtual desktop, it can easily detect and stop a cyber attack. Furthermore, some security vulnerabilities caused by employees and executives are reduced.
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Prevention of Malicious Downloads
One of the best things about VDI in an organization is that it is read-only. This means that the employee or the business executive has no input into the desktop; the admin has the sole control of what happens. Furthermore, the implication is that the end user doesn't have permission to make any downloads, upgrades, or configurations.
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Better Data Recovery
Another benefit of VDI is how fast and efficient it is to recover data, assuming a security breach. This is because any business using this security solution uses a centralized data storage system, making recovery faster. Since the end user's endpoint isn't involved in any storage interaction, it is much easier to recover data.
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Prevention of Malware
When using virtual desktop infrastructure in an organization, they are basically shutting off their employees from having any input. Their employees are only allowed to access what is pre-approved by the admin. The benefit of this is that the tendency and chance of malware corrupting data is reduced to almost zero.
Which is Better Between Isolated Browser and VDI?
Just like other web security solutions such as LayerX, isolated browsers, and VDI have many benefits, and they also have their downsides. For instance, VDI has a very sophisticated level of security, but the user experience with working with this type of security solution might be poor.
In the same way, the isolated browser can serve a very important purpose of preventing malicious content from corrupting data, but it doesn't have a good user experience, either. So, choosing between isolated browsers and VDI depends on the organization's needs and structure.
Wrapping Up
Isolated browsers and virtual desktop infrastructures are two web security solutions for organizations operating online. However, there are often debates about which is better for organizations. The isolated browser works in a secluded environment, separating every web content to detect malicious attacks at a fast rate.
On the other hand, virtual desktop infrastructure transfers data and desktop images over the network instead of physical access. Each has its own benefits and has the same function of securing an organization's data. Choosing between the two depends on what a business wants and its operational methods.
