Enterprise browsers assure control, webinar hears

Using enterprise browsers allows hotels to enjoy better security, speedy deployment and greater control, the latest HOSPA webinar, hosted by CEO Jane Pendlebury, heard.

James Savory, Island, told attendees: “You wouldn’t choose to use your kitchen table in the boardroom. But the browser is the most popular consumer-based applications, so we use some gymnastics to make it work.

“Users end up in a vicious cycle of suboptimal performance. But what if we made the browser part of the solution? You don’t have to train your users how to use a browser and deployment is easy -  because it is easy to deploy a browser.”

One route to greater security, Savory said, was to put your secure web gateway into the browser. This he said, allowed business to “explain why you have blocked access to websites, or allow users the chance to explain why they want access, ultimately giving them quicker access. It’s simple, because you are in the same space that they are using, not operating outside the browser.

“We are seeing that bringing everything down into one place drastically reduces the complexity and allows you to use a corporate language, not a security language. You get contextual awareness.

“There is a security and cost benefit, but what we hear the most is the ability to deliver their own brands, giving people a sense of ownership, which is perfect when people are using their own devices or are on temporary contracts.

“Because it’s a browser, the deployment is minutes. There is change management, which can be weeks, but because it’s in the user space it can be very fast.”

Paul Murgatroyd, engineer, Island, added: “Because we give you full control over the presentation of the browser, we can give you full control over the browser. You can make websites read-only to prevent data leakage across different platforms. If the end user does need access then we can work to make that happen.

“Ultimately, everything we do in the browser flows back to the management console, where you have full visibility across your estate. Are your devices encrypted ? Do you see potential phishing incidents? We can also give you full visibility across the extensions deployed across the browsers.

“Equally, we know that shadow applications are an issue and we can give you visibility. You can also see which applications are being used and how are people logging into them.”

In a sector where technology breaches are a common occurrence, having eyes across your operation can only be welcome.