Cybersecurity has a visibility problem. Despite the explosion of AI tools and SaaS platforms, one critical layer has remained underprotected: the browser itself. ChannelPro spoke to Daniel H. Gallancy, CEO of Atakama, at ChannelPro LIVE: Charlotte to discuss browser security and the opportunity it represents for IT Providers.
“It’s crazy. The fact that browser security is right now a category that has begun to really emerge almost seems fantastic,” he said.
The lack of browser security in today’s workplace is much worse now for two reasons. First, the rapid adoption of AI combined with the risk of sensitive data being accidentally exposed through its use. Second, the rise of omnichannel attacks that span email, SMS, and the browser. Together, these challenges are forcing organizations to rethink how security actually works.
Visibility Into AI Usage Is the New Priority
We’re rapidly reaching a point where AI usage isn’t optional in today’s business world. A study by Accenture found that organizations that adopt AI at scale enjoy 2.5x higher revenue growth and 2.4x greater productivity. But these tools represent an urgent blind spot that needs to be addressed.
“You want to be able to know what’s going on with those tools, how they’re being used, who’s using them, what data is going into those tools, and whether that data is sensitive or not. If Bobby in accounting is dropping in a whole bunch of sensitive accounting information into ChatGPT, you want to know that,” Gallancy said.
But knowing that data has been uploaded isn’t enough. Organizations need context for what is being uploaded and the ability to block it.
The Browser: Where 80% of Work (and Risk) Lives
The urgency becomes clearer when you consider where work actually happens. “That’s where 80% of the work, approximately, gets done in the browser,” Gallancy said.
Daniel H. Gallancy, pictured right
Yet historically, browser-level controls have been minimal. This represents a significant opportunity for IT Providers to address the security gap, according to browser security providers like Atakama.
Deployed as a browser extension that integrates with existing browsers like Chrome or Edge, Atakama makes the browser a policy-controlled environment.
With a few mouse clicks, an MSP can:
- Enforce security policies (allow, block, warn)
- Control uploads, downloads, and data sharing
- Manage browser settings and extensions
- Apply role-based access controls across users
This approach allows organizations to see which AI tools are being used, who is using them, and how they’re being accessed in real time. Administrators can also identify the nature of the data being entered into AI tools. Suddenly, it’s easy to distinguish between normal work and potentially harmful behavior.
“But it isn’t Big Brother. We give you exactly the amount of visibility you need to make decisions without going so far off the deep end that you’re tracking every mouse click. It’s about facilitating productivity, but doing it in a controlled manner,” Gallancy said.
Beyond Phishing: The Rise of Scams
The second major challenge is increasingly complex, omnichannel cyberattacks. The scams go beyond a single poorly-written email. They’re professionally produced and coordinated efforts to manipulate employees into giving up control or transferring funds. They often hit in a coordinated and methodical way, like via email, social media message, SMS text message, and phone call.
Gallancy shared a story to illustrate. His company was asked if it could add functionality that provides an alert anytime an employee visits a gift card website. At first glance, the request seemed odd.
“Oh, I understand why. Because they’re being actively targeted by scam attacks.”
Regardless of where the attack begins, it often ends in the same place: the browser. An unsuspecting employee opens Chrome or Edge and grants access or transfers funds to a threat actor.
MSPs need to partner with browser-focused security companies like Atakama to block malicious sites, offer DNS and web filtering, identify unusual browser behavior, and provide real-time control.
Turning Visibility Into Business Value
Browser security technology like Atakama can also help business leaders make better decisions. One major benefit is the ability to uncover waste.
“If a company has fifteen Salesforce licenses but two of those users almost never log on, do you really need those licenses?” Gallancy said.
MSPs that help optimize spend, right-size software investments, and demonstrate measurable ROI are strategic partners. That creates opportunities for deeper engagement and more predictable, recurring revenue.
Summing Things Up
Cybersecurity’s biggest blind spot may be the browser, where most work happens today. The risk of data leakage and financial loss is much greater with the rise of AI usage and omnichannel scam attacks. These trends are pushing MSPs to rethink security, with a bigger focus on visibility, context, and control over what users are doing in real time.
Browser security solutions like Atakama help close that gap by turning the browser into a managed environment. On top of that, the added visibility helps uncover inefficiencies, allowing MSPs to provide more strategic value to clients and drive additional recurring revenue.
Jonathan Browning is executive director of content and engagement for The ChannelPro Network. He has been a leader in the IT channel for close to a decade. He’s an avid fan and early adopter of technology and believes that the managed services industry is the most important driver of economic growth and human innovation.
Images: Adobe Stock (Kornkanok) and Jonathan Browning
