Cybersecurity solutions provider Sophos has added Sophos Workspace Protection to its security portfolio to help organizations protect hybrid work environments and manage the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
The new offering is built around the Sophos Protected Browser, powered by Island. It is designed to help organizations secure applications, data, users, and guests across different work locations while providing a single system to manage workplace security.
“Security teams are increasingly impacted by complexity, especially as hybrid work, SaaS adoption, and AI tools continue to expand the workspace,” said Mike Jude, research director at IDC.
Traditional hybrid work security methods often rely on multiple secure access service edge (SASE) and security service edge (SSE) tools. These systems usually require added infrastructure, technical skills, and continuous management, which can increase costs and still leave security gaps.
“Many SASE and SSE solutions add complexity and operational overhead while still leaving gaps in visibility and control,” said Joe Levy, CEO of Sophos. “By combining Island’s enterprise browser technology with Sophos’ security capabilities and the Sophos Central platform, we are helping organizations govern AI use, protect critical data, and secure hybrid workforces with a solution that is easier to deploy and manage.”
Sophos Workspace Protection focuses on securing the workspace itself instead of routing internet traffic through central systems. The company said this approach lowers operating costs and reduces management tasks while keeping security protections with users, applications, and data wherever work is done.
The solution is anchored on the Sophos Protected Browser, which works with the Sophos Central platform. With about 85% of daily work now done through web browsers, the company said the browser was developed to address security risks where employees spend most of their time online. It gives organizations visibility and control over applications and data, helping them protect sensitive information, manage access, and apply security policies within the browser. The system is designed to support both office-based and remote workers without affecting productivity.
The company also said organizations face new challenges as generative AI becomes part of daily work. Studies show that more than half of employees worldwide already use AI tools in the workplace, often before companies set official policies. This increases the risk of unauthorized applications and data sharing, commonly known as Shadow IT and Shadow AI. Sophos Workspace Protection aims to help organizations monitor AI use, manage risks, and enforce policies across hybrid work environments.