Securing the Modern Workspace
AI-Powered Browser, Collaboration, Data Loss Prevention, and Email Security
Productivity increasingly relies on the interaction of users and sensitive data. At the same time, more sophisticated AI-enhanced threats target users directly through channels including email, web browsing activity, collaboration tools, and other SaaS applications. As a result, organizations need to move urgently to securing workspaces across their user and employee bases.
How Users Engage with Data
Organizations are increasingly concerned about data breaches and disclosures.
55%
of incidents are caused by user or employee negligence
$8.8M
average cost to remediate insider incidents annually
44%
of all breaches involve ransomware — protecting against drive-by downloads is critical
The Increase in AI-Based Threats
Threat actors leverage AI for phishing, impersonation, extortion, and evasion tactics. Tools like FraudGPT, BlackmailerV3, and ElevenLabs are automating malware generation, deepfake videos, phishing websites, and synthetic voices, fueling more scalable, believable, and effective campaigns.
Today, cybercriminals use generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs) and other AI tools, changing the caliber of the threats directed at users. These threats may be email-based, such as phishing and impersonation, or web-based threats, such as malicious URLs and drive-by-downloads.
Because user productivity increasingly requires employees and users to access sensitive information to do their jobs, securing users and data more effectively is vital.
Workplace security should emphasize areas of employee engagement that are commonly targeted by threat actors and focus on critical areas where egress of sensitive data could occur.
A Simple Strategy for Workspace Security
At Fortinet, we have developed a strategy for protecting users and data. Organizations can apply a simple approach to workspace security that goes from A to E.
A = AI-powered
Organizations should capitalize on security innovations that include AI because AI technologies are finally delivering real, measurable value when incorporated into the security infrastructure. Machine learning (ML) is used to more effectively detect and prevent emerging threats across a large volume of telemetry data.
B = Browser security
Throughout the day, employees are online performing research, accessing applications, or catching up on industry news. An effective solution can protect the browsers in use at your organization and SaaS applications against external web threats, data breaches, and employee-related risks.
C = Collaboration security
As the exchange of files and URLs moves to new channels, so does the potential for malicious content. Phishing links, sophisticated malware, and zero-day exploits are increasingly being delivered through cloud-based collaboration tools, posing significant risks to end-users and the organization.
D = Data loss prevention
Data loss prevention (DLP) keeps sensitive data from leaving the organization through deliberate exfiltration or accidental or careless disclosure. Next-gen DLP solutions provide immediate visibility across all points of egress and SaaS applications, both sanctioned and unsanctioned.
E = Email security
Most organizations already have an email security solution in place. Using integrated cloud email security (ICES) solutions can heighten efficacy against the most sophisticated threats. Hosted, API-based solutions can also provide additional protection for Microsoft Outlook and Google Mail.
Types of Browser-Based Threats
- Phishing
- Malware, including ransomware
- Threats using evasive tactics
- Cross-site scripting (XSS)
- Malicious browser plugins
- Broken authentication and session hijacking
- Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks
- SQL injection
- Drive-by downloads
- Man-in-the-middle/man-in-the-browser attacks
- DNS poisoning attacks