Organizations today must deliver secure access to applications for a rapidly expanding set of users—including employees, contractors, and partners—working across both managed and unmanaged devices. Traditional approaches built around VPNs, VDI, and device-centric controls struggle to keep up with this reality, often introducing complexity and friction while leaving gaps in security. To truly support modern work, organizations need a zero trust model that can consistently verify identity, device posture, and securely connect any user, on any device, to the private applications and sensitive data they need.
Closing the Gap Between Access and Action
Cisco Secure Access and the Island Enterprise Browser combine cloud-delivered Security Service Edge (SSE) with browser-native controls to deliver a more complete zero trust model—one that doesn’t stop at access, but extends all the way to user behavior.
Cisco Secure Access provides the foundation with zero trust network access, ensuring that only authenticated users on trusted devices can connect to the appropriate private applications. At the same time, it delivers cloud-based policy enforcement and visibility across application traffic.
The Island browser builds on that foundation by embedding security directly into the browser itself. Instead of relying solely on controls outside the user session, Island makes it possible to govern what users actually do with data—how they copy it, share it, download it, or interact with it inside applications.
Together, these capabilities create a continuous security model that spans from the moment a user logs in to the moment they interact with sensitive information.
Extending Zero Trust to Where Work Happens
Traditional zero trust architectures are built around a simple principle: verify identity and device posture before granting access. While that remains essential, it’s no longer sufficient on its own.
In today’s environment, risk doesn’t end when access is granted. It often begins there.
With Cisco Secure Access and Island, organizations can enforce policies not only at the point of access, but also throughout the user session. Sensitive data can be protected from being copied, pasted, printed, screen captured, or shared inappropriately—all directly within the browser. This level of control represents a meaningful evolution of zero trust, shifting it from a gatekeeping model to one that continuously protects data in use.
A Practical Approach to BYOD and Third-Party Access
One of the most persistent challenges for IT and security teams is enabling secure access for unmanaged devices. Contractors, partners, and remote workers often need access to critical applications, but traditional approaches—such as VPNs or virtual desktops—introduce friction, cost, and complexity.
This is where the combined Cisco and Island solution stands out. Users can simply install the Island browser, log in, and immediately gain secure access to the applications they need. Behind the scenes, device posture is evaluated in real time and shared with Cisco Secure Access, which determines whether access should be granted.
Because policies are enforced directly in the browser, organizations can apply enterprise-grade controls without requiring full device management or invasive agents. This makes it possible to extend secure access to nearly any user, on any device, without compromising security or introducing user friction.
Securing Data in the Age of AI
The rise of generative AI has introduced a new dimension to data security. Employees are increasingly interacting with AI tools directly in the browser, often without clear visibility or control from IT.
Cisco Secure Access and Island’s browser can provide visibility and governance to these interactions. AI applications can be discovered in real time, access can be restricted or redirected to approved tools, and sensitive data can be prevented from being exposed in prompts or outputs.
This allows organizations to embrace AI-driven productivity gains while maintaining confidence that their data remains protected.
Moving Beyond VDI and Legacy Access Models
For years, virtual desktop infrastructure has been the default approach for securing high-risk access scenarios. While effective in some cases, VDI is expensive to operate, complex to manage, and often delivers a suboptimal user experience.
The Cisco and Island integration offers a modern alternative. By combining zero trust access with browser-native controls, organizations can deliver direct, secure access to applications without the need for virtualization. Users benefit from faster, more intuitive workflows, while IT teams gain a simpler and more scalable architecture.
Simplifying Security Without Compromise
Perhaps the most important outcome of this integration is not just stronger security, but simpler security. Instead of layering multiple tools and requiring different processes for end users, organizations can simplify the experience across both the browser and network. They gain visibility into how data is accessed and used, reduce administrative overhead, and deploy protections more quickly across diverse user populations.
This approach reflects Cisco’s broader commitment to an open, integrated security ecosystem—one that allows organizations to combine best-of-breed capabilities without adding unnecessary complexity.
A New Standard for Secure Work
The combination of Cisco Secure Access and the Island Enterprise Browser represents a shift in how security is delivered. It moves beyond controlling access to controlling interactions. It replaces fragmented solutions with a more coordinated approach. And it aligns security with the reality that the browser is a key business tool for users.
For IT and security leaders, this creates a clear path forward: a way to support modern work, enable AI, and protect sensitive data—without sacrificing user experience or operational efficiency.
Visit us at Cisco Live
Stop by the Security Showcase: Future-proof Workplace zone – Safeguard GenAI Usage/Secure Access station to get more information on this integration.
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