In short: The Island Enterprise Browser is a Chromium-based browser with security and IT controls built in. It controls copy, paste, download, print and screenshots per app, separates work from personal browsing, gives zero trust access to private apps and governs AI use. The Island Extension brings most of these controls to existing browsers.
What the Island Enterprise Browser is
Island is a full web browser built on Chromium, so sites render as they do in Chrome and users find it familiar. The difference is that the security and management controls live inside the browser and are set centrally from the Island console, rather than being bolted on by proxies, agents or virtual desktops.
The main capability areas are:
- Last-mile data controls: context-based policies that let data move between approved company apps but stop it leaving, covering copy and paste (with a smart clipboard), downloads, uploads, printing and screenshots
- Safe browsing: built-in protection against phishing, malware, session hijacking and man-in-the-browser attacks
- Private app access: zero trust access to internal web apps without a separate VPN client, checked against identity, device, network and location
- Work and personal separation: policy applies to work sites, personal browsing stays private, and an on-screen indicator shows which mode the user is in
- Audit and visibility: browser activity logs and analytics that can be shared with your SIEM, plus capture of user, device and action detail when people use admin consoles and other privileged systems
- Built-in tools: a password manager with zero-knowledge encryption, an AI assistant for writing and summarising, an ad and tracker blocker, a geolocation anonymiser, and digital employee experience (DEX) analytics on app, network and device performance
It sits in the enterprise browser approach described in our browser security guide.
Island Browser vs Island Extension
Island can be delivered in two ways, and many organisations use both.
| Island Enterprise Browser | Island Extension | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A dedicated Chromium-based browser | An extension for browsers users already have |
| Browsers and platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS and IGEL OS; iOS, iPadOS and Android | Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox and other Chromium-based browsers |
| Controls | The full set, including controls that reach outside the browser | Most of the browser's capabilities, except where extension restrictions prevent parity |
| Best for | Unmanaged devices, contractors, privileged access, VDI reduction | Managed devices where users should keep their usual browser |
Island also offers Island Desktop for macOS and Windows and an Enterprise Network option, which extend the same policy model beyond the browser. We confirm which components suit your scenario during scoping.
Contractors, BYOD and VPN or VDI replacement
Island is most often chosen to solve access problems that are expensive with traditional tools:
- Third-party contractors and offshore teams get access to named apps only, with copy-out, downloads and printing blocked, and no company laptop to ship and recover
- BYOD workforces can use personal devices with work data contained in the browser and personal activity left alone
- Mergers and acquisitions can give a new team access to selected systems on day one
- Virtual desktop reduction: where VDI exists only to stop data leaving web apps, a governed browser can often do the same job more simply
- Legacy VPN for web apps: internal web apps can be published through Island's private access instead of a network-level tunnel; see ZTNA for the wider approach
Conditional access in your identity provider can require Island before a sensitive app opens. See identity security for how that fits with Microsoft Entra ID.
Governing AI in the browser
Island positions its Enterprise AI capabilities as a control layer for staff and agent use of AI. Based on Island's published material, that includes:
- Discovery of AI tools in use, including shadow AI, with risk-scored inventories
- Policy over browser-based AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot and Perplexity, and over coding agents
- Detection and redaction of personal data in prompts, files and tool calls, and inline blocking of prompt injection
- Auditing of prompts, responses and tool calls
- For AI agents, discovery of MCP servers and extensions on endpoints and an Island MCP Gateway that applies identity, policy and audit to MCP calls
For the wider picture, including Microsoft Purview and dedicated tools such as Check Point Workforce AI Security, read our guide to securing staff use of generative AI.
Licensing
Island is sold as a subscription, generally priced per user. Island does not publish a public price list or a licence matrix, and which capabilities are included (for example private access, the AI controls or DEX analytics) depends on the components and options you choose, so we confirm exactly what is covered when we quote.
Because the Enterprise Browser and the Island Extension can be mixed, you can give the full browser only to the groups that need it, such as contractors, and the extension to everyone else. Licensing detail is on Software Licensing UK, including the Enterprise Browser and Island Extension. For pricing, ask us for a quote.
How we help
We start by defining which users and apps need which controls, because Island is most effective with clear per-app policies. We connect it to your identity provider, pilot with a single group such as contractors or finance, tune policies with real usage data and then roll out. We also check overlap with your existing data protection, secure web gateway and VPN tools so you can retire what Island replaces.
To discuss Island for your organisation, contact us.
How Forever Systems helps with cloud security
We are an independent UK IT and cyber security provider. We supply and support a wide range of security platforms, so we recommend what fits your organisation rather than one vendor's answer to everything.
- Assess first: we review what you already own, especially your Microsoft 365 licences, before suggesting anything new
- Vendor-aware advice across secure access, email, identity, data protection, endpoint, MDR, cloud infrastructure, browser, AI and backup, including Cisco Secure, Check Point Harmony and Sophos
- Deployment and migration from a UK team, from tenant hardening to replacing a VPN or an endpoint product
- Ongoing support: policy tuning, alert handling, renewals and regular reviews
- People and certification too: security awareness training and Cyber Essentials
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations.
Want an independent view of your cloud security?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
What is the Island Enterprise Browser?
It is a Chromium-based web browser for work with security, data protection and access controls built in and managed from a central console. It lets organisations control what users can do with company data in web apps and gives access to private apps without a VPN.
Do users have to switch browser to use Island?
Not necessarily. The Island Extension adds most of Island's capabilities to Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox and other Chromium browsers. The full Enterprise Browser gives the deepest control and is typically used for unmanaged devices, contractors and privileged access.
Does Island work on personal devices?
Yes. Island runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS and IGEL OS, and on iOS, iPadOS and Android. Work and personal browsing are separated, so company policy applies only to work activity.
Can Island replace our VPN?
For web-based internal apps, often yes, using Island's zero trust private access. Apps that need full network access or thick clients may still need a ZTNA or VPN product, so we review your app list before recommending it.
How is Island licensed?
Island is sold as a subscription, generally priced per user, and what is included depends on the components and options you choose. Island does not publish a price list, so ask us for a quote based on your users and the capabilities you need.