Why 25% of Enterprises Are Moving to Managed Browsers by the Late 2020s

Gartner forecasts that by 2028, 25% of organizations will deploy secure enterprise browser (SEB) technologies to fill security gaps in remote access and endpoint security—driven by browser-centric threats and the inadequacy of traditional controls. Enterprise browser adoption is accelerating as web and SaaS applications become the primary access point for corporate data, yet legacy tools fail to stop credential theft, phishing, and script-based attacks. This guide explores why 25% of enterprises are moving to managed browsers by the late 2020s—the trends, challenges, and what security teams need to know.

Quick Verdict: The Shift to Managed Browsers Is Underway

• Gartner 25% by 2028: Secure enterprise browsers will be deployed by a quarter of organizations to enhance remote access and endpoint security—filling gaps traditional controls cannot address.
• Browser-centric threat landscape: Web and SaaS are the primary attack surface; consumer browsers lack policy enforcement, identity integration, and data-in-use controls.
• Hybrid work and BYOD: Unmanaged devices and remote work expand the unsecured endpoint footprint—managed browsers secure sessions even when full device control isn't possible.
• Adoption barriers persist: User resistance, integration complexity, and operational overhead slow deployment despite clear security benefits.
• Enterprise browser vs extension: Purpose-built SEBs offer deeper control than extensions—but create operational overhead and user retraining hurdles.

1. Gartner's Secure Enterprise Browser Prediction: 25% by 2028

Gartner's press release explicitly forecasts that by 2028, 25% of organizations will use secure enterprise browsers to enhance remote access and endpoint security. The driver: browser-centric threats—phishing, credential theft, data exfiltration, and script-based attacks—and the inadequacy of traditional perimeter and endpoint controls. Consumer browsers were never designed for enterprise policy, identity, or DLP; managed browsers fill that gap. RedmondMag notes that Gartner research predicts enterprise browsers (or extensions) will be involved in 25% of web security decision scenarios by 2025—highlighting the rapid shift toward browser-centric security controls.

2. The Browser-Centric Threat Landscape Driving Adoption

Palo Alto Networks defines secure enterprise browsers as central security controls that enforce policies and isolate risky activity—while noting that traditional consumer browsers lack these capabilities entirely. Kahana's enterprise browser trends detail how enterprise browsers are becoming central to modern security architectures—addressing phishing, SaaS risk, Zero Trust enforcement, and hybrid work threats. The problem: web and SaaS applications are now the primary access point for corporate data; credential theft, phishing, and script-based attacks bypass network firewalls and endpoint agents. Browser-centric threats demand controls at the point of consumption—where managed browsers enforce policy, integrate identity, and govern data movement.

3. Identity, Policy, and Zero Trust: Why Managed Browsers Matter

Island illustrates how enterprise browsers address browser security deficits in consumer browsers by embedding policy, identity, and enterprise controls—while identifying integration complexity and performance concerns as adoption challenges. Kahana's adoption challenges examine how enterprises move to managed browsers to address rising attack surfaces and compliance gaps—but face user resistance, legacy system integration, and complex policy management. Managed browsers enable granular Zero Trust enforcement at the browser: every request can be validated against identity, device posture, and risk—balancing controls with user experience remains difficult, but the security payoff is substantial.

4. Unmanaged Devices and Hybrid Work: The BYOD Imperative

RedmondMag emphasizes that unmanaged devices and hybrid work are accelerating the shift to enterprise browsers—but complicating deployment strategies. The rise of BYOD, contractors, and remote workers expands the unsecured endpoint footprint; full device management (MDM) is often infeasible or unwanted. Venn notes that unmanaged browser activity significantly increases risk when securing SaaS work and compliance in a hybrid environment. Managed browsers secure sessions at the browser level—regardless of device ownership. The browser becomes the security perimeter when the endpoint cannot be trusted.

5. Enterprise Browser vs Secure Extensions: The Control Trade-Off

The Hacker News compares enterprise browsers with secure browser extensions—highlighting the adoption challenge where deeper browser control (SEBs) offers stronger security but creates operational overhead and user retraining hurdles. Extensions can inject policy into consumer browsers, but they run in a sandbox with limited access; they can be disabled, bypassed, or outmaneuvered. Purpose-built secure enterprise browsers provide native policy engines, identity integration, and DLP—at the cost of deploying and maintaining a new browser and changing user workflows. For high-sensitivity environments, the deeper control justifies the trade-off.

6. Market Growth and Enterprise Browser Adoption Trends

Dataintelo's market research shows the global enterprise browser market expanding rapidly—driven by increasing cybersecurity demands, cloud application use, and the need for integrated identity and DLP. Market fragmentation and investment complexity remain challenges. The growth signals that enterprises are voting with budgets: managed browser adoption is not a niche trend but a mainstream shift. As SaaS sprawl continues and browser-based attacks rise, the 25% figure may prove conservative for security-conscious organizations.

7. Core Adoption Challenges: Integration, UX, and Resistance

Across the research, several adoption barriers emerge:

• User experience and resistance: Users resist changing familiar browsers and workflows—requiring phased deployments, change management, and clear communication (Kahana).
• Integration and operational overhead: Deploying managed browsers within existing stacks (IAM, DLP, CASB, SIEM) presents complexity and resource challenges—slowing adoption despite clear security benefits (Kahana).
• Balancing controls with productivity: Advanced controls can introduce friction—policy management and performance tuning are essential to avoid user workarounds (Kahana).
• Extension vs native control debate: Organizations must decide whether extensions suffice or whether a purpose-built enterprise browser is required for their risk profile (The Hacker News).

8. Enterprise Context: Kahana Oasis and the Managed Browser Shift

Kahana Oasis is an enterprise browser built for the shift to managed browsing—delivering policy enforcement, identity integration, DLP, and audit logging at the browser. Oasis secures SaaS access whether users are on managed laptops or unmanaged BYOD devices; the browser becomes the security perimeter. Learn more about Oasis Enterprise Browser. For related reading, see Enterprise Browser Adoption: Overcoming Hidden Barriers, Enterprise Browsers: Security and Trends in 2025, Designing Browser-Level Zero Trust for SaaS, and How to Protect SaaS Data Without Device Control.

Final Thoughts

Gartner's prediction that 25% of enterprises will deploy secure enterprise browsers by 2028 reflects a fundamental shift: the browser is now the primary interface for work, and traditional security controls are inadequate. Browser-centric threats, hybrid work, and unmanaged devices drive adoption—while user resistance, integration complexity, and operational overhead slow it. For security and IT leaders, the question is not whether to adopt a managed browser, but when and how. Enterprises that invest early in browser-level policy, identity, and DLP will be better positioned to protect SaaS and corporate data as the late 2020s unfold.