Remote Browser Isolation: What is it & How Does it Work?

Remote browser isolation, also known as network isolation or simply browser isolation, is a technology used by many organizations these days. Remote browsing is a sophisticated cybersecurity approach that provides another layer of security to the system. Browser isolation isolates browsing operations from endpoint hardware, reducing the attack surface of the computer.

When a user visits a website or browses an app, it is loaded into a remote browser, which renders the web page for the user. The website functions normally, but the user only receives the pixels. Since no active content is accessed, any malicious code that may be lurking is held in check.

Remote Browser Isolation— How does it work?

Untrusted web operation is distanced from computers and business networks through cloud-hosting or remote browser isolation. It is accomplished by storing a user's online browsing history on a cloud server managed by a cloud provider.

Further, it sends the resulting web pages to the user's browser, allowing them to connect with the Internet normally without having to download the whole web page. Both user activities, like clicks and inputs in form, are sent to the cloud server and processed at the location.

A remote browser isolation server can deliver web content to the system in many ways. Some of them are as follows:

Enabling the user to view the browser in real-time

This method is also known as "pixel-pushing," in which the viewer sees a video or screenshot of their browsing operation. This approach adds lag to the user's surfing habits, which can lead to a bad user experience.

Inspecting each page, and rewriting it to delete malicious material before sending it to the local user browser

Websites are surfed in an isolated setting and rewritten using this form, known as DOM rewriting, to delete future threats. If the content has been determined to be protected, it is sent to the user's computer, where the website code loads and executes a second time. This method will not be suitable for all websites.

Send the final version of the web page to the user

After a web page has been completely loaded and all code has been run by the server, the user is given a vector graphics illustration of the end version of the webpage.

What are the Advantages of Remote Browser Isolation?

According to a survey conducted by Gartner, Inc., 82 % of respondents out of 127 industry leaders from Finance, HR, and Real Estate and Legal & Compliance plan to continue allowing remote working at times, even after employees return to work.

Clearly, organizations need a more secure remote workforce. Spending time on the internet is part of the routine for all employees in this technologically advanced world. Remote browser isolation is used to make that time more secure. It provides the following benefits:

Allows secure access to potentially harmful web content

It keeps people away from harmful mobile applications and delivers secure web content rendering without the need for an endpoint agent on any platform

Secures Sensitive Data

Users and executives are protected from targeted threats embedded in websites, web content, and insecure plug-ins.

Eliminates the risk of data exfiltration

It disables a webpage's ability to exfiltrate data or hack a user's computer, even though the device is old, insecure, or has dangerous plug-ins mounted.

Allows organizations to adopt more open internet policies

It allows organizations to reduce policy ambiguity, vulnerability, and implement more open internet policies.

Why Choose Remote Browser Isolation?

Remote Browsing is a novel solution to an age-old dilemma. It is important to provide workers with internet connectivity without fear of jeopardizing their safety or jeopardizing the network. Companies should use remote browsing services to ensure that disruptive viruses and malware do not reach the network through infected web pages.

By distinguishing a user's local network and resources from the individual web applications and browsing operation, remote browser isolation, also known as web isolation, allows for secure access to web content. Organizations will confidently deter attacks from advanced threats and secure confidential data as well as staff by providing a "browser sandbox" between the potentially dangerous web material and the user.

Threats Against Remote Browser Isolation

A user spends nearly 75% of the workday on a web browser – and attackers are waiting for such users. To activate malicious code, many cyberattacks depend on a browser-based hack. A web browser can be used to spread malware, ransomware, etc. A zero-day attack or assault can take place unexpectedly in some situations.

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript programming make up the majority of websites and mobile applications. JavaScript can be used to carry out a number of various attacks. The following are a few of the most popular:

Drive-by downloads: These attacks are where a malware payload is installed into the system simply by opening a website. Drive-by downloads take advantage of a browser flaw that hasn't been corrected.
Malvertising: In order to infect legal ad networks, malicious code is implanted. When the malicious ads are shown, the code is executed, and users are normally routed to malicious websites. Malvertising will threaten even reputable, heavily trafficked websites when malicious code is unwittingly distributed by genuine ad networks.
Click-Jacking: A website is built in such a way that a person is tricked into clicking on something they didn't want to. Click-jacking can be used to create fictitious ad sales, redirect users to a dangerous website, or even start a malware download.

Other typical in-browser attacks (which may or may not use JavaScript) are:

Redirect Attacks: occur when a user tries to load a valid URL but is instead routed to an attacker-controlled URL.
On-Path Browser Attacks: An attacker uses flaws of the browser to gain access to a user's browser, allowing them to change the web content shown to them or even impersonate them.
Cross-site Scripting: Malicious code is embedded into a website or mobile app by cross-site scripting. As a result, attackers may perform a variety of malicious operations, such as extracting session cookies or authentication tokens and then imitating authorized users.

Conclusion

You can now visit InstaSafe to integrate a zero-trust strategy into the network security stack. InstaSafe provides a remote browser isolation service that aims to give users the best experience possible. You will protect your users, programs, and workloads through different settings in a matter of days with our hyper-flexible, scale-as-you-go platform. Users can watch videos, save and upload files, and access the internet as usual while remaining fully malware-free.