Sophos Launches Workspace Protection to Secure Hybrid Teams and Govern AI Usage
Cybersecurity firm Sophos has announced the launch of Sophos Workspace Protection. This new solution is designed to provide organizations with an accessible, affordable alternative to heavy-duty SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) frameworks, focusing specifically on the security of hybrid work and the growing challenges of Shadow AI.
As modern workflows shift increasingly toward the cloud, research indicates that roughly 85% of the workday now takes place within a web browser. Sophos Workspace Protection addresses this shift via the Sophos Protected Browser, which is powered by Island. By embedding security controls directly into the browser, Sophos allows organizations to protect data and manage applications without the need to backhaul traffic through cumbersome centralized infrastructure.
Joe Levy, CEO of Sophos, highlighted the need for a more streamlined approach to modern security:
“Sophos has long protected remote and hybrid workers with industry-leading endpoint and network security, but today’s work environments demand stronger governance of apps and data. Many SASE and SSE solutions add complexity and operational overhead while still leaving gaps in visibility and control. 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.”
One of the primary drivers behind this launch is the rapid adoption of generative AI. With more than half of global employees reportedly using AI tools, often before formal corporate policies are established, organizations are facing increased risks from Shadow AI.
The Sophos Central platform provides administrators with organization-wide visibility, allowing them to assess risks and enforce safety policies regarding how data is shared with emerging technologies.
Mike Jude, Research Director at IDC, noted the pragmatic nature of this shift:
“Security teams are increasingly impacted by complexity, especially as hybrid work, SaaS adoption, and AI tools continue to expand the workspace. Sophos Workspace Protection reflects a pragmatic shift in the market delivering core SASE and SSE outcomes through an integrated, endpoint- and browser-centric approach that simplifies deployment, reduces operational overhead, and helps organizations govern application and AI use without adding another layer of infrastructure.”
Managed through a unified interface, Sophos Workspace Protection consists of four integrated components that can be deployed based on specific organizational needs. The Sophos Protected Browser serves as a Chromium-based enterprise gateway that controls local data handling and web filtering. This is complemented by Sophos ZTNA, which ensures only authorized users and compliant devices can access private applications. To bolster the perimeter, Sophos DNS Protection blocks malicious domains at the endpoint level, while the Email Monitoring System provides an add-on for Google and Microsoft services to detect phishing and malicious messaging.
By integrating these features, Sophos aims to maintain high security standards without compromising the user experience. Mike Fey, co-founder and CEO of Island, emphasized this balance:
“Hybrid work shouldn’t mean tradeoffs between security and productivity. Island protects data, secures application access, and helps organizations safely embrace AI, all through the browser people already use. Integrating with the Sophos Central platform lets customers do that with less complexity and more confidence.”
Sophos Workspace Protection is now available to help organizations secure distributed workforces, support contractor access, and strengthen defenses against the evolving landscape of browser-based threats.
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