How Island Uses Island: Real Use Cases of Our Own Enterprise Browser Technology

At Island, we practice what we preach. 

The Enterprise Browser isn't just a product we sell — it’s also a core tool we use internally to manage our security, enhance productivity, and simplify workflows across various departments.

Here are some of the most impactful ways Island uses Island in our daily operations, resulting in a safer and more efficient workplace for the entire organization.

Streamlining security and compliance

Maintaining strong security protocols and managing device posture is critical in any organization — and we’re no different. Island enforces device policies from a single dashboard, like requiring specific operating system updates straight through the browser, reducing time-consuming manual IT oversight.

Using the Enterprise Browser’s built-in device posture assessments, Island also continuously monitors the integrity of devices accessing corporate systems. If a device lacks endpoint protection tools or is somehow compromised, the system triggers automatic security protocols — such as blocking access to sensitive applications or data — while notifying IT teams in real time.

SOC 2 compliance

One of our primary internal use cases for the Enterprise Browser is ensuring compliance with System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2), an internationally recognized standard that lays out best practices and controls for proper cybersecurity hygiene. Island, for example, helps us meet SOC 2 requirements around protecting data and systems from unauthorized access with capabilities that allow us to limit network access to authorized personnel, whether by department or individual designation. 

The browser also monitors and logs user activity, automatically blocking access if security policies are violated. In addition, it helps us monitor the health and security status of all connected devices to ensure our endpoints meet SOC 2 standards around preventative control. For instance, before granting access to network resources or data via multi-factor authentication (MFA), it checks to see if the OS and apps need updating, if antivirus signatures are current, or if disk encryption settings are properly configured. If anything is amiss, it takes action. 

Built-in password management

Remembering dozens or even hundreds of passwords is often impossible for employees, leading to password fatigue and causing them to choose overly simple and crackable codes.

That’s one of the reasons why the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in its most recent guidelines, suggests using password managers to create, store, and organize passwords securely. Fortunately, the Island Enterprise Browser includes an advanced, built-in password manager that automatically injects identity credentials for seamless, secure employee access to applications and websites that don’t use single sign-on. Because the browser and those policy and enforcement controls are pushed to every Island employee device, 100% of our workforce can securely auto-generate, save, and retrieve passwords with one simple click. IT teams, meantime, can see, manage, and enforce employee password policies from a central location. 

Role-based access

We’ve also customized browser policies by department with role-based access controls (RBAC). For example, our R&D and support teams have different extensions installed automatically, including tools like our customer relationship manager (CRM) and internal AI knowledge base extension, which enhances collaboration and productivity. 

Real-time security insights

At Island, we rely on the Enterprise Browser to gain crucial security insights that help protect our organization from malware, phishing, and other cyberattacks. By continuously monitoring user activity, web interactions, and device health, the browser provides real-time detection of suspicious behavior and potential risks — flagging compromised credentials or malicious sites before they can cause harm. The browser also captures detailed data on user actions and access patterns, which we feed into our broader security tools, enhancing threat detection and response capabilities. 

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Enhancing user productivity through automation

What truly sets Island apart from other enterprise browsers is how it fully balances security and end-user experience. From their first day on the job, Island employees benefit from the efficiencies of our Enterprise Browser. What does onboarding look like? Each employee buys their own laptop and installs Island. That's it — and they're up and running. No more provisioning and shipping laptops to employees. No need for IT staff to walk employees through time-consuming setup processes. No training required at all. Island has hundreds of remote employees, and every single one has been remotely onboarded without IT intervention. 

Task automation

Our team also uses Island to automate many internal processes, saving our team valuable time. For example, when logging into applications like our CRM or own management console, Island employees no longer need to go through multiple authentication steps. Once a user authenticates with MFA, Island keeps track of the valid session and automates additional application authentications, allowing uninterrupted and instance application access. 

We also use Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate repetitive tasks and enhance  efficiency. For example, any ticket mentioned or created under the "postmortem" page on our collaboration platform is automatically labeled as a "postmortem" ticket. This triggers a set of automation to ensure that each ticket meets its service level agreement. Another RPA automatically closes extra browser tabs that open from messaging and project management apps, eliminating clutter and making it easier for users to stay focused. Automating these processes saves our teams time, which they can redirect toward more critical tasks. 

Built-in, secure generative AI

Island’s AI Assistant is also available to all employees. This tool, powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Services, is trained on all things Island, so all employees — from engineers searching for highly technical solutions to marketers creating the latest content — can ask questions and get actionable responses.

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Avoiding data leakage

Data loss prevention (DLP)  is a top priority at Island. 

Using our Enterprise Browser, we enforce strict controls to prevent unauthorized and unintentional data sharing. For example, Island blocks management console downloads to endpoints so private customer or internal data isn’t exposed. The data can only go to secure storage. 

Through its integration with SaaS (Software as a Service) API Protections, the Enterprise Browser also helps us continuously monitor our cloud storage and ensure no sensitive files are mistakenly shared with unauthorized vendors or the public. In addition, the browser automatically blocks inappropriate file sharing, further preventing potential data leaks, and ensuring that private information stays private. 

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We also bring this awareness directly to every employee’s homepage, which allows employees to manage public file sharing more effectively. This feature scans publicly shared files and enables users to turn off public sharing, ensuring that sensitive documents don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Peering into the shadows

A recently added Enterprise Browser capability also targets a sometimes overlooked aspect of cybersecurity: all of the technology, software, and systems operating outside the IT department’s visibility or control. It’s a significant problem that can greatly expand an organization’s attack surface, increasing the risk of data breaches, compliance violations, and vulnerabilities from untested or improperly managed tools. In fact, a 2024 IBM study found that one in three breaches result from shadow data. Unfortunately, the problem is getting worse, with Gartner predicting that, by 2027, 75% of employees will acquire, modify, or create technology outside IT’s visibility – up from 41% in 2022. 

Island is now using its Enterprise Browser for shadow IT detection. It recognizes SaaS logins that are not managed by IT and gives us massive visibility into unauthorized network activity. We cannot only block access but can also track and create records to better understand and address the shadow IT landscape. The browser also includes an approval workflow where uncategorized or low-reputation websites are blocked. Employees can appeal that automated decision by submitting an internal IT Slack channel approval request. 

Taste-testing new features first

Before releasing new Enterprise Browser features to customers, Island uses and tests them to identify potential issues and optimize functionality in real-world conditions. 

Recently, we internally rolled out Island Anonymizer, a feature designed to mask user identities during specific workflows to enhance security. Using it ourselves helped us fine-tune Anonymizer’s performance, ensuring it would be ready for general release.

Accessing demo environments from anywhere

Island uses Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), a way of remotely accessing and controlling other computers over networks, and Island Private Access (IPA), an Enterprise Browser feature that simplifies secure connectivity to internal and cloud-based applications, to establish secure, browser-based demo environments that can be accessed from anywhere. By integrating RDP directly into the Island Enterprise Browser, our teams can set up fully functional demo systems that showcase product features or simulate client environments — without needing external RDP clients or VPNs. 

With IPA’s zero-trust network access capabilities, these remote connections are tightly secured, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected while providing seamless, high-performance access. Island can efficiently share demo environments with team members or clients globally, empowering secure, on-demand demonstrations that highlight our technology’s capabilities in real time.

Aiding collaboration and data scanning

The Enterprise Browser also plays a key role in keeping Island’s document workflows secure. Every uploaded or downloaded document is automatically scanned for compromises, ensuring that files moving between team members or being sent outside the organization are safe to access. 

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Teams across the organization, including sales engineers and developers, use Island to simplify collaboration by managing access controls and data privacy settings. This is just another way Island prevents potential security incidents while facilitating efficient collaboration.

Leading by example

The Island team relies on the Island Enterprise Browser daily to optimize security, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity. It powers everything from secure onboarding to task automation, helping our teams work more securely and efficiently. 

If you’re ready to modernize your IT infrastructure with a browser designed for the enterprise, we’d love to show you how Island can transform your organization. Get in touch to see how our Enterprise Browser can simplify your architecture and empower your workforce.