Enterprise browsers: the new standard for security?

"The web browser is a vital, but largely commoditised, part of IT infrastructure. But that could be about to change with the growth of enterprise browsers. For the last two decades or more, businesses seem to have been happy enough with the default browser bundled with their operating system, or with Google Chrome. Almost all browsers cost nothing to use. Netscape made its Navigator browser free (and open source) as far back as 1998."

"And Chrome, with by far the largest current market share of any browser, is a free download. Research by YouGov round that 58% of internet users in the United States use Chrome, with its nearest competitor, Apple's Safari, on 15%. Statcounter, a tool that allows website users to monitor visitor statistics, puts Chrome's UK market share a little lower, at 51.8% and Safari at 30.5%, across all device platforms."

"The majority of browsers in use today are, in any case, based on the open source Chromium technology. This includes Google's Chrome, but also Microsoft Edge, and Opera; Apple's Safari is the most widely-used exception. These stats include both consumer and business usage - but the use of consumer-grade browsers within the enterprise is common. Increasingly, however, software vendors have launched new browsers aimed specifically at enterprise users, with added capabilities such as enhanced data security and access controls."

Web browsers have become commoditised, and many businesses rely on default operating-system browsers or Google Chrome. Most browsers are free; Netscape made Navigator free and open source in 1998 after Microsoft bundled Internet Explorer. Chrome holds the largest market share: YouGov reports 58% of US users and Statcounter reports Chrome at 51.8% in the UK, with Safari trailing. Firefox and Edge have much smaller shares. Most modern browsers are based on Chromium, with Safari the main exception. Consumer-grade browsers are common in enterprises, but vendors are introducing enterprise browsers offering enhanced data security and access controls, with Gartner predicting growing deployment by 2028.

Read at IT Pro