The Future of Enterprise Browsers and Extensions:

As organizations transition towards a more remote and hybrid workforce, the tools and technologies that support and secure their operations must evolve. One such emerging technology is the enterprise browser and its extensions, which Gartner predicts will significantly transform how security and productivity tools are delivered to enterprises over the next decade. This blog delves into Gartner’s insights on the future of enterprise browsers, the driving forces behind their adoption, and the strategic implications for security product leaders.

Dig more into Gartner’s findings here

1. Introduction: The Rise of Enterprise Browsers

Enterprise browsers and extensions represent a new frontier in cybersecurity and workforce management. Unlike traditional browsers, enterprise browsers are designed with built-in security features, centralized policy management, and integration capabilities that extend far beyond simple web browsing. As the technology matures, it is expected to play a critical role in enterprise environments, particularly in the context of web security, workforce productivity, and unmanaged device access.

2. Key Findings: Adoption and Market Leaders

Gartner projects that enterprise browser management will see widespread adoption by 2030, with major players like Google and Microsoft leading the market. This growth is driven by several factors:

• Web Security: As enterprises increasingly rely on cloud-based applications, the need for robust web security measures becomes paramount.

• Workforce Productivity: Enterprise browsers can enhance productivity by integrating tools directly into the browser environment, allowing seamless access to necessary applications and data.

• Unmanaged Device Access: With more employees working remotely, managing and securing access from unmanaged devices becomes crucial.

Gartner also notes that enterprise browsers and extensions provide opportunities for integration with third-party endpoint and network security solutions, creating new avenues for delivering enhanced security and productivity services.

3. Strategic Planning Assumptions

Gartner outlines several key strategic planning assumptions for enterprise browsers:

• By 2025: Enterprise browsers or extensions will feature in 25% of web security competitive situations, a significant increase from the current less than 5%.

• By 2026: 25% of enterprises will be using managed browsers or extensions, up from less than 10% today.

• By 2027: Enterprise browsers will become central to most enterprise superapp strategies, driven by productivity capabilities.

• By 2030: Enterprise browsers will be the core platform for delivering productivity and security software on both managed and unmanaged devices, providing a seamless hybrid work experience.

4. Analysis: The Evolution of Enterprise Browsers

Enterprise browsers are still in their early stages of adoption but are poised for rapid growth as they evolve to meet the needs of modern enterprises. Gartner describes the enterprise browser as a stand-alone web access application with integrated security features, centralized management, and tools for productivity and collaboration. Additionally, browser extensions act as managed agents, offering additional security or productivity services.

Enterprise Browser Features:

• Prevention and Detection: Enhanced security features to prevent and detect threats.

• Centralized Management: Streamlined management of security policies and user activities.

• Visibility and Response: Improved visibility into user behavior and faster incident response.

• Productivity and Collaboration: Tools that enhance user productivity and collaboration.

Gartner expects enterprise browsers to reach late majority adoption by 2030, with increasing integration of security and productivity tools. This evolution presents an opportunity for security product leaders to extend their offerings and enhance the overall security posture of enterprises.

5. Phase 0: Emergence of Enterprise Browsers

The shift towards remote work and the adoption of cloud-based applications have set the stage for the emergence of enterprise browsers. Traditional browsers, while capable, have been slow to incorporate enterprise-specific features and security enhancements. However, enterprise browsers are now stepping in to fill this gap, providing secure remote access and centralized management functions.

Technology Characteristics:

• Chromium Project: Many enterprise browsers are built on the open-source Chromium project, ensuring compatibility across multiple operating systems and a familiar user experience.

• Enterprise Editions: Major browsers offer enterprise editions, but these are often limited in scope, focusing on version control and configuration management rather than comprehensive security.

Market Characteristics:

• Budget Justifications: Organizations are unlikely to invest in enterprise browsers unless they can offset costs elsewhere, such as by displacing existing security controls.

• Early Adoption: Small and midsize enterprises are expected to be early adopters, while larger organizations may adopt later or skip the technology altogether.

6. Phase 1: Browsers for Security and Management

As enterprise browsers evolve, they will enable a wide range of security and management use cases, gradually replacing traditional solutions in some areas.

Technology Characteristics:

• Extensible Platform: Enterprise browsers offer an extensible platform for web application access, providing enhanced visibility, threat detection, and browser extension management.

• Secure Personal Devices: Organizations can enable secure access to enterprise applications from personal devices, reducing the need for corporate laptops.

Market Characteristics:

• Security Spend Shift: As enterprise browsers mature, some security spending may shift towards these solutions, particularly in organizations looking to modernize their infrastructure with limited staff and expertise.

Product and Service Characteristics:

• Initial Use Cases: Many organizations may start with single-use cases, such as secure access for contractors, before expanding to broader deployments.

7. Phase 2: Beyond the Browser

In Phase 2, enterprise browsers will begin to consolidate within the broader enterprise ecosystem, becoming a central component of security management and productivity platforms.

Technology Characteristics:

• Centralized Control: The integration of multiple security components under the browser umbrella will enhance control and visibility, providing real-time monitoring and centralized policy management.

• Broader Integration: Enterprise browsers will integrate more tightly with existing security tools, delivering advanced capabilities like sandboxing and exposure management.

Market Characteristics:

• Superapp Integration: As browsers become part of broader superapp platforms like Microsoft Teams or Google Workspace, they will offer a seamless experience, integrating communication, file repositories, and web browsing.

Product and Service Characteristics:

• Increased Opportunities: The enterprise browser will become a platform for delivering a wide range of security and productivity tools, with opportunities for third-party integrations and service enhancements.

8. Phase 3: Browser as a Platform

By 2030, enterprise browsers will have evolved into platforms for distributing software, collecting intelligence, and securely enabling remote work. They will be the primary control point for enterprise access, integrating productivity and security tools within a unified browser environment.

Technology Characteristics:

• Enterprise Software Stores: Browsers will feature software stores, allowing users to install job-specific applications on demand, delivered through advanced web technologies like WebAssembly.

• Layered Security: Enterprise browsers will extend endpoint, network, and web security, offering a comprehensive view of user traffic and interactions.

Market Characteristics:

• Market Consolidation: As enterprise browsers reach majority adoption, market consolidation is expected, with core security and productivity capabilities becoming integrated into the browser platform.

Product and Service Characteristics:

• Platform Differentiation: Vendors will need to differentiate through custom enhancements, productivity tools, and centralized management capabilities as the browser platform becomes the norm.

9. Strategic Recommendations for Security Product Leaders

Given the anticipated growth and evolution of enterprise browsers, Gartner offers several strategic recommendations for security product leaders:

• Capture Market Share: Invest in delivering core security capabilities through browser and extension offerings, capitalizing on emerging opportunities.

• Integration Points: Identify integration points with enterprise browsers and extensions to create new delivery vehicles for existing products.

• Technical Partnerships: Seek partnerships with enterprise browser vendors to develop innovative, differentiated offerings and hedge long-term strategies.

10. Conclusion: Preparing for the Future

The evolution of enterprise browsers presents both opportunities and challenges for security product leaders. As these technologies become more integrated into the enterprise ecosystem, they will play a critical role in enhancing security, productivity, and remote work capabilities. Organizations must stay ahead of this trend, strategically investing in the development and integration of enterprise browser technologies to ensure long-term success and competitiveness.

The rise of enterprise browsers marks a significant shift in how security and productivity tools are delivered in the modern enterprise. By understanding and embracing this trend, organizations can position themselves to take full advantage of the benefits these technologies offer, driving innovation and enhancing their overall security posture in the years to come.