Why cloud-based browser management is the missing piece of your business' IT strategy

• In recent years, the role of IT has grown increasingly complex.
• With the rise of remote and hybrid work, IT managers must keep track of more people, devices, and tech issues than ever before. 
• A cloud-based browser management platform can help IT prioritize security, enhance worker productivity, and enforce enterprise-wide policies.

In today's evolving business landscape, a successful enterprise must have two key qualities: an effective workforce and a secure infrastructure. IT leaders hold the keys to helping their organization achieve these goals by navigating myriad tools and services. But it's not always easy: IT managers must juggle a number of variables on any given day, while consistently staying organized. One wrong move could alter the security and performance of their entire business. 

The role of IT has grown increasingly complex with the rise of hybrid and remote work, a cultural shift that a majority of organizations have now adopted. This new way of working has helped organizations achieve higher productivity rates and cut real estate costs, but it also introduced some new challenges for IT professionals: With remote employees using different operating systems and networks, managing tech across the enterprise has become more important — and more difficult — than ever. 

Cloud-based browser management, like Google's Chrome Browser Cloud Management, can help effectively manage these variables and offer insights into your organization's browsers across the enterprise and down to the user level.

Why IT should manage their browser

Secure, stable browsers are more important than ever. A workforce that once funneled workflows through on-premise systems now relies increasingly on browser-supported cloud applications — both to do their jobs and to collaborate with a growing number of distributed team members.

But every year, businesses lose an average of over $4 million with each data breach and over $9 million in the US — the highest of any country. And that's not including immeasurable losses to reputation and productivity. 

Extension malware has been on the rise for years and continues to tick upward. Malicious browser extensions can cause significant harm to a business by performing actions such as installing keyloggers, monitoring browsing activity, accessing files, and attempting to breach networks. By hindering productivity and compromising sensitive information, one bad extension can have a huge impact on an organization.

Despite the risks, extensions have become integral to the browser landscape for their ability to unlock more productivity and better workflows, offer options for customization, and integrate browsers with other services. Some extensions are even built to bolster security.

Carefully regulating extensions, apps, and URLs helps support your organization's defenses. And access to accurate insights across the browser landscape can equip IT and security operations leaders to make quick, data-informed decisions if and when a threat does arise.

For your employees, meanwhile, few roadblocks are as frustrating as technology that doesn't work as expected. Chrome Browser Cloud Management helps avoid such problems by setting bookmarks, pre-installing extensions, and applying default homepages to provide access to helpful resources.

How enterprise browser management works

Chrome Browser Cloud Management helps support crucial web-based business processes in different user environments by shoring up security, supporting worker productivity, and enforcing unified policies.

IT administrators can blocklist or allow specific URLs, applications, extensions, and more — both across the board and down to the machine level. They can also easily see versions, device types, and applied policies, then take action where needed. This ensures a more uniform security approach and workstations that are updated with the latest security measures. It also allows users to continue accessing extensions that can be helpful for their workflows — like custom searches or integration with other platforms.

The solution works in browsers across most operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux through a simple enrollment process. And users don't need to sign in — or even have a Google account — to receive policies.

Administrators can also restrict already-installed extensions from functioning on specific sites and create managed bookmarks that are automatically applied across all employees' browsers. And real-time security insights and reporting options allow for administrators to receive alerts for password breaches or unsafe website visits. Additional reports on various security statuses, including a Version report and an Apps & Extensions report, are readily available for viewing.

Chrome Browser Cloud Management is one easy-to-use tool that can help your business, while empowering IT leaders with technology to help them do their jobs effectively. Business and tech leaders can then focus on more strategic growth initiatives — like opening new branches, hiring more workers, and signing new contracts.

Getting Started with Chrome Browser Cloud Management 

With a unified view across devices and operating systems, Chrome Browser Cloud Management can help IT administrators reduce time spent on browser management.

The results: Increased productivity, higher cost savings, better morale, and more time to focus on actually growing and scaling your business.

IT leaders who already have a license with G-Suite, Chrome Browser Enterprise Support, Chrome Enterprise, or Cloud Identity, can access these features now. Those who are new to Chrome Browser Cloud Management can start the short and no-charge enrollment process here. 

See how Chrome Browser Cloud Management can help you manage your enterprise's IT operations. 

This post was created by Insider Studios with Google Chrome.