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By Chinenye Anuforo
Sophos, a global cybersecurity firm, has expanded its security portfolio with the launch of Sophos Workspace Protection, a new solution designed to help organisations secure hybrid and remote work environments while gaining visibility and control over employee use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The company said the new offering provides an accessible alternative to complex and cost-intensive Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions, which many organisations struggle to deploy and manage effectively amid the growth of hybrid work and cloud-based applications.
According to Sophos, Workspace Protection is built around the Sophos Protected Browser, powered by enterprise browser technology from Island, and is managed through the Sophos Central platform. The solution aims to protect applications, data, users and third-party guests wherever work takes place, without requiring traffic to be routed through centralised infrastructure.
Speaking on the launch, Sophos noted that traditional approaches to securing hybrid work often increase operational overhead while still leaving gaps in visibility and control. Workspace Protection, by contrast, secures the workspace directly at the browser and endpoint level, reducing complexity and enabling security policies to follow users across corporate and remote environments.
“With 85 per cent of the modern workday now taking place in a web browser, security has to meet users where work actually happens,” the company said. By embedding security controls into a familiar browser experience, Sophos said organisations can protect sensitive data, manage application access and enforce policies without disrupting productivity.
Industry analysts say the solution reflects a broader shift in enterprise security strategy. Mike Jude, Research Director at IDC, described Workspace Protection as “a pragmatic shift in the market,” noting that it delivers key SASE and Secure Service Edge (SSE) outcomes through an integrated, browser-centric approach that simplifies deployment and reduces operational burden.
A major focus of the new offering is the governance of Shadow IT and Shadow AI—the use of unapproved applications and AI tools by employees. Sophos cited research showing that more than half of employees globally now use AI tools at work, often without formal policies, increasing the risk of data leakage and compliance breaches.
By providing organisation-wide visibility into application and AI usage, Sophos said Workspace Protection enables security teams to assess risk, enforce controls and support the safe adoption of technologies such as generative AI.
The Workspace Protection suite includes the Sophos Protected Browser, Sophos Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Sophos DNS Protection and an Email Monitoring System that integrates with Google and Microsoft email services. Together, these components are designed to strengthen defences against phishing, browser-based threats and other attacks targeting distributed workforces.
Joe Levy, Chief Executive Officer of Sophos, said modern work environments require stronger governance of applications and data. “Many SASE and SSE solutions add complexity while still leaving gaps. By combining Island’s enterprise browser technology with Sophos’ security capabilities, we are helping organisations govern AI use, protect critical data and secure hybrid workforces with a solution that is easier to deploy and manage,” he said.
Mike Fey, co-founder and CEO of Island, added that the integration allows organisations to protect data and application access “through the browser people already use,” without sacrificing productivity.
Sophos said customers and partners will gain access to Workspace Protection from February 2026, as organisations worldwide continue to adapt to hybrid work models and the rapid adoption of AI-driven tools.
