Third wave of digitization: the browser is the lost link of corporate cybersecurity
By: Juan Andrés Oliva, co-founder of dME Network
I recently heard a manager say that his company was "armored" because it migrated its servers to the cloud and replaced all local software with SaaS applications. That conviction overlooks one detail: today 100% of the work - and human errors - go through the browser.
The firewall stopped guarding the border; the entrance gate is in the tab that each collaborator opens.
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The digital transformation has undergone three major waves. The first moved physical infrastructure to the cloud; the second brought desktop applications to the web. The third, which we are experiencing now, demands to govern the browser, because it controls the sites that are visited, what extensions are installed, and how much sensitive information leaves the company.
The risk is not hypothetical. 82% of the incidents reported in 2024 in Chile originated from phishing and unintentional downloads - simple opportunity failures, not highly sophisticated ones - but each operational stoppage cost an average of 19 work hours.
For directories, the impact is no longer solely reputational: the new Data Protection Law holds its members jointly liable, with fines escalating up to 20,000 UTM and even criminal penalties.
The good news is that protecting the browser brings more security. It allows to measure browsing times, block distractions, and send contextual alerts that lead to greater efficiency. Investing in browser hardening is no longer a defensive expense, it is a lever for productivity and regulatory compliance.
The directories that understand this third wave will have a double advantage: they will reduce the attack surface and free up capacity for innovation. Those who ignore it, sooner or later, will pay the cost of a poorly executed click. The time to decide is now, before the first major fine arrives or the next "urgent" email that paralyzes the operation.