Using consumer technology in the enterprise is not only costly, but also retrogressive especially in security, and this is why an enterprise browser is needed. 

For a better security posture and end-user experience, Island Technology Ltd. takes the bulls by the horns and integrates enterprise technology into the browser, according to Michael Fey (pictured), co-founder and chief executive officer of Island. 

“We took a consumer browser that looks and feels the same way for the last two decades and it is now our major operating system for business,” Fey said. “What if we upgraded the browser from consumer technology to enterprise technology? Then my mind raced about all the impact it could have beyond cybersecurity even, to end users, to the business, and it quickly became an idea I had to see to fruition.”

Fey spoke with theCUBE Research’s Dave Vellante and Shelly Kramer at the RSA Conference, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the importance of drifting away from consumer tech in companies through the help of an enterprise browser. (* Disclosure below.)

Island Technology’s CEO Michael Fey talks with theCUBE about the importance of an enterprise browser.

The enterprise browser analogy

Using consumer technology on endpoints is akin to putting a kitchen table in the boardroom because the amount of retrofitting needed for it to work is immense. This is why an enterprise browser is needed in the business world. This has accelerated Island’s valuation doubling to $3 billion, according to Fey. 

“Instead of trying to make that kitchen table work in the boardroom, we understand what this is,” he stated. “What if we build something for the enterprise … so that we could literally use the same rendering engines, use the same networking engines, but rethink it for the enterprise, that’s what opened it up.”

To make the lives of call center workers easier, Island eradicates all the backhaul they face using an enterprise browser. This plays an instrumental role in enhancing security and productivity because the company does not get caught up in how the network works and the way the encryption is done, according to Fey. 

“There could be a poor call center worker that does the same thing all day long and nothing is there to help them,” he stated. “We give 50 copy paste buffers, we integrate into their VoIP system. We auto populate those buffers … they get a browser that feels like the one they’ve always known and it works faster, it’s simpler and it starts to help them do their job. Meanwhile, the security team has infinite compliance and last mile control to raise that posture.”

To make the end user more productive and minimize costs, Island avails the enterprise browser as an extension, portal or the primary browser. This happens in a seamless way that security is not compromised since it’s more cost effective compared to the virtual desktop infrastructure approach,  Hey pointed out. 

“One customer is going to shut down hundreds of racks out of their data center,” he stated. “I have another customer that was given a budget cut, and the whole entire budget cut, which they were planning on possible layoffs to their security org, was delivered just by Island, just by reducing the amount of complexity in the organization. If you think about it in that VDI setup, we’re going to be a factor probably one to 20 in cost.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of the RSA Conference: 

(* Disclosure: Island Technology Ltd. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither Island  nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE