Palo Alto Networks' Prisma Access Browser

Palo Alto Networks' Prisma Access Browser

In today’s web-first world, the way we work has evolved significantly. The browser has become the central hub for productivity, with over 85% of the workday spent within it. However, browsers remain highly vulnerable. Over the past year, 95% of organisations have reported breaches originating from browser-based threats, and 345 new vulnerabilities have been identified.

The widespread adoption of SaaS, web, and GenAI applications—accessed primarily through browsers—continues to grow. Yet, organizations struggle with visibility and control over user actions within these applications. More than 60% of traffic remains encrypted, leaving security solutions blind to potential threats.

Another major challenge is the increasing use of BYOD and third-party devices. While employees and external partners leverage unmanaged devices for agility and efficiency, these devices also pose a significant security risk. In fact, approximately 85% of successful ransomware attacks originate from unmanaged endpoints.

These challenges created the need for Prisma Access Browser.

Prisma Access Browser addresses key security challenges for modern enterprises, including:

• Browser-Based Threats: Protects against web-based attacks, malware, and phishing attempts that target the browser.
• Visibility & Control: Provides deep visibility into user activity within SaaS and web applications, ensuring compliance and reducing risk.
• Encrypted Traffic Inspection: Analyses and secures more than 60% of traffic that remains encrypted, preventing blind spots in security.
• Unmanaged & BYOD Device Security: Secures access from personal and third-party devices, mitigating risks associated with remote work and external contractors.
• Data Protection & Compliance: Prevents data leakage and ensures adherence to regulatory requirements by enforcing security policies within the browser.
• Seamless Integration: Works with existing security frameworks to provide a unified, cloud-delivered security solution for web and SaaS applications.

For Any User - Employees, Contractors, 3rd parties

On Any Device - Managed and unmanaged

In Any Location - Home, Office, or even the Beach

Using Any Web Application - including applications that use SSL certificate pinning

What is Prisma Access Browser(PAB) ?

PAB is the only enterprise browser natively integrated with SASE, to provide organisations with unified visibility across all devices, managed and unmanaged, and has the ability to apply a single policy across all apps,SaaS and private, from a unified console.

It is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and we also have an extension, to allow faster onboarding.

Why is Prisma Access Browser Unique?

• It is a local browser, just like Chrome, Edge, Safari,Locally running on our employee's machines.
• Based on Chromium, it gives you the browser experience that you know and love.
• Working with any website and any extension.
• A huge advantage vs other security tools, and a key requirement key for the unmanaged device use case is that your users can install it without admin privileges.

What are the key use cases for PAB that are benefiting the customers ?

• Third Party & Contractors, BYOD, and use cases that were hard to achieve in the past with other tools.
• Prisma Access Browser leverages the Power of Precision AI. Every day we analyse 4.6 B events gathered from over 70,000 customers.
• With the power of Precision AI we detect 2.3 Million new and unique attacks, detect and prevent 237 thousands new and unique malicious files, and 347 thousand new and unique malicious URLs Every day.
• VDI reduction for better security as VDI doesn’t offer per app access and data control and no visibility.

All of this, from the BROWSER.

HOW does Prisma Access Browser work?

PAB policies are based on the Zero Trust concept. Every rule is based on a very granular User, user group, Device posture, web apps, and additional attributes, as you can see here.

The Browser ensures that downloaded files are only viewable from sanctioned devices and applications. For example, a file downloaded from Salesforce, with confidential information, will be automatically encrypted on the OS, and only when uploaded to a sanctioned corporate application in the browser, will be decrypted and viewable.So you are not concerned about files at rest anymore.

When it comes to last-mile data protections, PAB cover All Actions in ALL apps. From ensuring only authorised users login to corporate apps from the Browser, through copy/paste protection, to watermarks.

Prisma Access Browser broaden Zero Trust Access across:

• All users and device attributes.
• All web applications.
• All actions and last-Mile Data and Identity Controls to protect the sensitive data.
• Leveraging Palo Alto’s leading data classification engines, MFA and Just in Time.
• Across all controls.

Palo Alto Networks' Prisma Access Browser is a game-changer for secure, remote browsing, offering seamless protection against web-based threats while ensuring a smooth user experience. By delivering robust security without the need for additional endpoint agents, it simplifies IT management while enhancing network security.

At ICT Networks, we specialise in helping businesses implement cutting-edge security solutions like Prisma Access to safeguard their digital assets. If you're ready to enhance your cybersecurity posture, get in touch with our team today!

Contact us to learn how Prisma Access can strengthen your network security.

Article by Johns William, Presales Consultant specialising in Network Infrastructure Architecture and CyberSecurity Solutions at ICT Networks.