Cato Browser Extension brings enterprise-grade security to personal endpoints

Cloud networking company Cato Networks Ltd. today announced the launch of the Cato Browser Extension, a lightweight onramp to the Cato SASE Cloud Platform, its integrated secure access service edge offering that converges networking and security into a unified global cloud service.

The browser extension expands Cato’s Universal Zero Trust Network Access to unmanaged devices, including personal, contractor and “bring your own device” endpoints, without the operational overhead, deployment complexity or user disruption that can come with legacy virtual private networks or enterprise browsers.

The expansion of hybrid work, BYOD and contractor reliance has introduced a wave of unmanaged devices into enterprise environments, creating what Cato Networks argues are endpoints that frequently lack security controls and create exposure to data loss and regulatory risk.

Thrown into the mix is that legacy zero-trust network access approaches often require separate tools for different device types. Before now, extending access to unmanaged devices has usually meant installing new software, such as specialized browsers, with the result being the disruption of the user experience and additional strain on information technology operations.

The Cato Browser Extension addresses these challenges by making zero trust for unmanaged devices easy to deploy and simple to maintain. The extension provides secure access in minutes without requiring client installations or new software while also enforcing the same ZTNA policies already applied across the enterprise, meaning that IT teams don’t need to create or manage new rules.

The extension also differs from enterprise browsers that force users to adopt a new interface, instead working natively with standard browsers under one consistent, enterprise-wide ZTNA model.

“Unmanaged and BYOD devices aren’t going away,” said Ofir Agasi, chief product officer at Cato Networks. “They remain the weakest links in enterprise security. Without the safeguards of managed devices, they expose organizations to additional risk. The Cato Browser Extension provides customers with the best of both worlds: simple access for users and complete policy control for IT without adding another tool to manage.”

The extension gives an additional option to Cato ZTNA: Managed devices connect via the Cato Client, unmanaged devices through the extension and sites, and branches are protected with a Cato Socket.

Every connection is protected by Cato SSE 360, including firewall-as-a-service, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker, next-generation firewall, data loss prevention and advanced threat prevention to ensure continuous inspection, unified logging and centralized policy enforcement.

Cato notes that with all onramps unified under one policy model, enterprises gain clear strategic advantages, including a consistent security posture, operational simplicity and audit readiness.

The extension is now generally available and included in the user-based licensing for Cato ZTNA.

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