Replace VDI with Browser Isolation

The iboss Zero Trust SASE replaces VDI with Browser Isolation
to improve security and reduce costs

Download this Solution Brief Download PDF

CHALLENGES

Legacy VDI is typically used to protect sensitive resources in high-risk situations where data loss is more likely to occur. For example, with VDI, Call Center agents interacting with customer data can do so through a VDI pane-of-glass preventing data from touching agent devices. This is important for security and compliance regulations such as GDPR, which require data to remain within geographical regions. If Call Center agents are not located within GDPR regions, VDI can allow them to interact with the customer data while keeping the data compliant and remote. VDI is also used for contractor and third-party access to sensitive resources so that data from those applications do not leave the organization and land on untrusted devices.

However, VDI is expensive to deploy and manage and requires a lot of infrastructure and subscription costs. To make things worse, hosting the infrastructure necessary to run VDI is even more expensive in high-cost regions, such as India or Asia, where major Call Centers are operated. In addition, VDI does not provide security and visibility as users interact with resources, as connections within the VDI session do not run through a deep-content inspection proxy. This increases risk due to uncontrolled and unmonitored access.

PAIN POINT

VDI Infrastructure is Expensive – VDI requires expensive infrastructure and data center space to operate

iboss SOLUTION

Replace VDI with Browser Isolation – Browser Isolation eliminates the need for infrastructure and data center space reducing both CAPEX and OPEX substantially

KEY BENEFITS

Quickly replace VDI with Browser Isolation to greatly reduce infrastructure costs related to VDI

Consolidate point products such as VPN, Proxies, and VDI with ZTNA, SASE, and Browser Isolation for lower costs

Provide isolated VDI-like Browser Isolated sessions to Call Center agents instantly, in any region, to reduce risks and improve security

Provide contractor and third-party access to specific resources through Browser Isolation to prevent sensitive data from leaking to untrusted guest devices

Gain visibility from detailed logging for every interaction between users and sensitive private resources within the isolated browser session for better security

Eliminate the need for third parties to install VPN software to gain access to private resources by leveraging Browser Isolation instead

SOLUTION

The iboss Zero Trust Secure Access Service Edge is an advanced security solution that completely replaces the functionality delivered by legacy VDI with a global consolidated cloud security service that includes Browser Isolation. Browser Isolation is the modern replacement for VDI and requires no infrastructure deployments. Browser Isolation uses the end-user’s browser to form a VDI-like interface to authorized applications. And because the iboss Zero Trust SASE includes ZTNA, CASB, malware defense, compliance policies, and logging, all interactions inside the isolated browser session have security applied and log events generated for visibility.

Browser Isolation supports SSO with MFA so that users can be authenticated before gaining access to sensitive resources. Data from those resources never touches end-user devices ensuring data remains safe. The iboss Zero Trust SASE includes Browser Isolation that is available everywhere, instantly, which results in fast time-to-value as the need to purchase, deploy and manage infrastructure is eliminated. The costs associated with VDI infrastructure are also eliminated, substantially reducing costs.

KEY CAPABILITIES

  • Provide VDI-like access to any resource through Browser Isolation to prevent data loss
  • Connect Call Center agents to sensitive resources through a pane-of-glass to ensure data remains in-region compliant and reduce the risk of data loss
  • Connect contractors and third parties with SSO to private resources, with data separation, without the need to install VPN software
  • Consolidates VPN, Proxies, and VDI into a single solution that includes ZTNA, Secure Access Service Edge, and Browser Isolation
  • Includes CASB, malware defense, DLP, Exact Data Match, compliance policies, and logging for all interactions with sensitive private resources

PAIN POINTS

Pain Pointiboss Solution
VDI Infrastructure is Expensive – VDI requires expensive infrastructure and data center space to operateReplace VDI with Browser Isolation – Browser Isolation eliminates the need for infrastructure and data center space reducing both CAPEX and OPEX substantially
Call Center agents interact with high-risk customer data – Call Center agents need to support customers by accessing sensitive data, but the risk of data loss, breach, or compliance violations is highBrowser Isolation Provides Isolated Access – Browser Isolation completely separates the data and application from Call Center agents through a pane of glass preventing data from leaking to unauthorized locations.
Contractors Need to Install VPN for Access – Contractors need to install VPNs to gain needed access to sensitive resources, but the risk is high for data lossBrowser Isolation Provides Agentless SSO Access – Browser Isolation can authenticate and provide access for contractors with no software installs while ensuring data remains within the organization by protecting it with a pane-of-glass
VDI Provides little Access Security + Visibility -When users access resources through a VDI session, no security is applied to those interactions, and no log events are generated due to a lack of proxy capabilityBrowser Isolation + SASE - The iboss Zero Trust SASE runs all Browser Isolated sessions through the Secure Access Service Edge, which applies security and generates log events for all interactions within the isolated session.

USE CASES/BUSINESS VALUE

Use Case/ChallengesSolution DescriptionBenefits
Need to provide sensitive customer data access to Call Center agentsThe iboss Zero Trust SASE provides Browser Isolation which separates customer data from Call Center agents to reduce the risk of data loss.Quickly grant Call Center agents access to apps and data they need to support customers without increasing the risk of breach or data loss.
Need to eliminate VDI infrastructure to reduce costsThe iboss Zero Trust SASE includes Browser Isolation which does not require any infrastructure and is delivered directly from the cloud as a service.Substantially lower costs from VDI infrastructure and the data center space required to operate it.
Need to eliminate or reduce the data center footprint.Because the iboss Zero Trust SASE Browser Isolation runs within the iboss service, it requires no data center space. Infrastructure related to VDI can be eliminated by reducing or eliminating the data center footprint.Substantially lower operating and infrastructure costs as well as reduced management overhead.
Need to gain logging visibility and apply security to all interactions within a VDI sessionThe iboss Zero Trust SASE Browser Isolation capability runs through the iboss Secure Access Service Edge and automatically benefits from CASB, malware defense, compliance controls, CASB, and logging.Reduce security risk and increase compliance with increased security and visibility.
Need to allow contractors and third parties access to sensitive resources without the need for a VPNThe iboss Zero Trust SASE provides third-party access through Browser Isolation which supports SSO via Azure, Okta, Ping, or any SAML capable Identity Provider. Isolated sessions are VDI-like, prevent data from touching third-party devices, and only provide access to authorized resources. Browser Isolation eliminates the need for third parties to install VPN software as access is granted through a browser.Reduce or eliminate the cost of expensive infrastructure related to VDI and replace it with instant Browser Isolation delivered by the iboss Zero Trust SASE. Prevent data from leaking to untrusted devices. Connect contractors without VPN software installs.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

VDI has been the solution used to connect users to high-risk applications when the risk of data leakage is high because it can provide access through a pane-of-glass that separates the application and data from the user. Although it is a powerful mechanism to reduce risk, it requires substantial investment in infrastructure and data center space. VDI also does not natively support deep-content security or logging because it is a point product that lacks a proxy.

The iboss Zero Trust SASE can solve the issues related to VDI by delivering the same capability through Browser Isolation. Browser Isolation separates users from sensitive resources with a pane-of-glass, just like VDI, except it uses the end user’s browser to provide isolated access. This prevents the application and data from touching high-risk users and devices to reduce the risk of breaches and data loss.

In addition, VDI does not provide visibility or security while users interact with sensitive resources. Because iboss Browser Isolation is part of the iboss Zero Trust SASE, all connections automatically have protection applied, including CASB, malware defense, DLP, Exact Data Match, compliance policies, HTTPS decrypt and logging at scale and delivered in the cloud.

iboss’ Zero Trust Secure Access Service Edge

A Single Unified Edge – Eliminating VPNs, VDIs, & Legacy On-Prem Proxies

iboss Zero Trust Secure Access Service Edge SASE Overview Slide

The iboss Zero Trust SASE consolidates VPNs, Proxies, and VDI into a single solution to reduce complexity and increase security while reducing costs. ZTNA capabilities within the iboss Zero Trust SASE support SSO authentication, including MFA, and will perform SAML SSO before access to a resource is allowed. This allows SSO to be extended to legacy applications and services that do not support it by allowing iboss to perform SSO before access is granted. In addition, CASB, malware defense, compliance policies, DLP, and logging are applied to every connection to increase security, compliance, and visibility.

A Complete Platform: ZTNA + Secure Access Service Edge

Providing both Connectivity and Advanced SaaS Security Services

The iboss Zero Trust SASE provides extensive network and security capabilities that completely replace VPN, Proxies, and VDI with ZTNA, Secure Access Service Edge, and Browser Isolation. This increases security, improves the end-user experience, consolidates technology, and substantially reduces costs.

iboss SASE Benefits & Use Cases

Replaces legacy VPN, proxy appliances and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) with a single service

Enhances security with inspection of all content including files, data, and cloud application traffic

Connects users to applications in the office automatically

Eliminates proxy and security appliance bloat and renewal costs

Eliminates costly proxy appliance mgmt. overhead

Reduces complexity, cost & operational overhead related to managing network security infrastructure

Connects call center agents, contractors and guests through a pane of glass to prevent data loss

Increased effectiveness of network & security staff

Allows centralized security policies to protect all transactions and sensitive cloud data

Download this Solution Brief Download PDF