CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Island vs SquareX

Island sells an enterprise browser that provides a managed environment for secure application access. SquareX sells a Browser Detection and Response (BDR) solution that organizations use to detect, mitigate and threat-hunt client-side attacks. CISO Tribune files both under Data loss prevention. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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Up to four companies side by side.

  • Island
  • SquareX
Island vs SquareX: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
IslandIsland sells an enterprise browser that provides a managed environment for secure application access.island.ioSquareXSquareX sells a Browser Detection and Response (BDR) solution that organizations use to detect, mitigate and threat-hunt client-side attacks.sqrx.com
What it sells
  • Enterprise Browser[2][4][5][6]A browser that provides a managed environment for secure application access.
  • Island Private Access[5]A ZTNA solution for web and desktop apps.
  • Island DEX[6]Collects analytics on application usage, performance, network and device health.
  • Browser Detection and Response (BDR)[2][7][9]Detects, mitigates and threat-hunts client-side web attacks against employees in real time.
  • SquareX Browser Extension (Enterprise Browser)Installs as an extension that turns any browser on any device into an enterprise-grade secure browser.
  • Browser DLP[2]Applies data loss prevention controls inside the browser to secure any browser on any device.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Founded
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Privately held[5][6][16]Owned by Zscaler since 2026[3][10]
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • September 24, 2026Island announced a $400 million Series F round led by Evolution Equity Partners, bringing its valuation to $6.4 billion.[14]
  • June 8, 2026Island and Pax8 introduced Island for SMBs on the Pax8 Marketplace, making it available to managed service provider partners and their SMB customers.[15]
  • February 6, 2026Zscaler announced its acquisition of SquareX, a Singapore-based browser detection and response technology startup.[10]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen November 10, 2026[16]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
Island addresses users who need to securely access their data and applications on any device, anywhere. Island is sold to organizations whose contractors need access to apps and resources from any device. Island is used by M&A teams for onboarding. Island sells to organizations that want employees to use approved AI tools while keeping PII, IP and financial records out of prompts and outputs.From its own pages, SquareX sells mainly to organizations that want to detect, mitigate and threat-hunt client-side attacks. SquareX describes access for contractors and BYOD users through a containerized browser session. SquareX describes developer environments built from containerized desktops tailored to each developer or team. SquareX access controls work across managed, unmanaged and BYOD devices.
Last verified
November 4, 2026November 2, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Island and SquareX are both filed under Data loss prevention.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Island's primary category is Enterprise browsers; SquareX's is Browser protection extensions.
  • Island is also filed under SASE and SSE and Zero trust network access.
  • Island lists Enterprise Browser, Island Private Access and Island DEX. SquareX lists Browser Detection and Response (BDR), SquareX Browser Extension (Enterprise Browser) and Browser DLP.
  • Island is privately held. SquareX is owned by Zscaler, since 2026.

What it sells: Island

What Enterprise Browser does[2][4][5][6]
The Enterprise Browser installs locally on any device and is managed centrally through the cloud-based Island Management Console. Island automatically assesses device posture to ensure devices meet policy requirements. The Enterprise Browser defends against web-based threats, including malware, phishing attacks and session hijacking.
What Island Private Access does[5]
Island Private Access is a ZTNA solution for both web and desktop apps. Island Private Access offers a second deployment option for the Island Enterprise Browser to support access to private web applications and semi-private SaaS applications.

Questions about Island and SquareX

What do Island and SquareX sell?
Island sells Enterprise Browser, Island Private Access and Island DEX. SquareX sells Browser Detection and Response (BDR), SquareX Browser Extension (Enterprise Browser) and Browser DLP.
Are Island and SquareX in the same category?
They share Data loss prevention. Island's primary category is Enterprise browsers and SquareX's is Browser protection extensions.
Who owns Island and SquareX?
Island is privately held. SquareX is owned by Zscaler, since 2026.
Who are Island and SquareX sold to?
Island addresses users who need to securely access their data and applications on any device, anywhere. From its own pages, SquareX sells mainly to organizations that want to detect, mitigate and threat-hunt client-side attacks.
What have Island and SquareX announced recently?
September 24, 2026: Island announced a $400 million Series F round led by Evolution Equity Partners, bringing its valuation to $6.4 billion. February 6, 2026: Zscaler announced its acquisition of SquareX, a Singapore-based browser detection and response technology startup.

About Island

Island sells an enterprise browser that provides a managed environment for secure application access. The Enterprise Browser from Island installs locally on any device and is managed centrally through the cloud-based Island Management Console. Island's Enterprise Browser is based on the Chromium rendering engine, the same as Chrome and Edge. Island bears responsibility for hosting and maintaining the cloud services used in delivering the subscription service. Island natively supports RDP, Remote Desktop Protocol, and can serve as a client for web-streaming virtualized applications.[4]

Island supports Windows, MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Linux, ChromeOS and IGEL OS. Island is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox and any Chromium-based browser. Island supports both a full Chromium-based browser and a browser extension, so users do not need to switch browsers to experience Island benefits.

Island automatically assesses device posture to ensure devices meet policy requirements. The Enterprise Browser defends against web-based threats, including built-in protection from malware, phishing attacks, session hijacking, man-in-the-browser and other browser exploits. Island creates context-based policies that allow data to move freely between enterprise apps while preventing data leakage. Island applies last-mile controls to print, downloads, screenshots and copy/paste, even outside the browser.

Island separates work and personal activity so that security policies apply only to work-related sites, while personal sites remain private. Island lets organizations see work activity in high fidelity, keeps personal browsing private, and shares analytics with a SIEM. Island's platform is designed for regulatory compliance with GDPR and HIPAA, offers audit logs, and does not sell or share customer data with third parties.

The Enterprise Browser provides organizations with secure access to any app or resource on any public or private network from inside the browser itself. Island Private Access is a ZTNA solution for both web and desktop apps. Island Private Access offers a second deployment option for the Island Enterprise Browser to support access to private web applications and semi-private SaaS applications. The Island Enterprise Browser integrates with existing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) technologies. Island offers integrated ZTNA to securely connect to internal networks without the need for VPN. Island offers a SASE product with Perfect Packet architecture.[2][7][8]

Island can prevent copy/paste from sensitive applications, block downloads to personal devices, disable screenshots, apply watermarks and redact sensitive data on-screen. Island integrates with identity providers and application access controls to ensure corporate applications are only accessible through the authenticated Island browser. Contractors install a browser on any device, authenticate, and get access to the apps and resources they need, and nothing else. IT teams can configure Island to make applications available to users based on their role, location, or other criteria. Island can play a role in divestiture transactions, essentially running the onboarding playbook in reverse. Island adds an approval step for sensitive application actions. Island audits and logs all browser activity within a critical app session, including high-fidelity screenshots and click tracking. Island can insert approval steps and MFA challenges into any web application workflow without requiring API access, vendor cooperation, or application modifications.[7][9][10][11]

Island says AI agents are no longer limited to developers and every employee now has access to them. Island sits where AI is used: browser, endpoint, network, every tool call. Island uses one control plane that captures the full chain, from prompt to tool call to file, with one policy for humans and agents. Island lets employees use approved AI tools while keeping PII, IP and financial records out of prompts and outputs. Island lets any agent navigate legacy, no-API internal apps under full DLP, redaction and audit via Browser-use MCP. Island blocks adversarial prompts targeting agents and the data they touch, including indirect injection from web and document content. Island provides content-level audit records tied to user, device, agent and policy, exportable for SOC 2, ISO 27001 and internal review.[12]

Island includes productivity tools such as an AI Assistant for writing, researching and summarizing, a smart clipboard, an ad and tracker blocker, and a geolocation anonymizer. Users auto-generate, save and retrieve passwords with one click in Island, and passwords are encrypted and stored using a zero-knowledge architecture. Island DEX collects analytics on application usage, performance, network and device health.[1][3][13]

Island on the record

Sources

Island full record

  1. [1]island.ioIsland · island.io · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]island.ioIsland · island.io · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]PressIsland · island.io · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]VDI Alternative | Island Control PlaneIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Zero Trust | Island Control PlaneIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Enterprise Browser | Data Protection and DLP | IslandIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]M&A Onboarding | Island Control PlaneIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Island Platform | The Frontier Control PlaneIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]BYOD Workforce | Island Control PlaneIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Third-Party Contractors | Island - The Enterprise BrowserIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Privileged Access Management | Island Control PlaneIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]AI Agent Governance, AI Protection, and AI Browser | IslandIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]SaaS and Web Apps | Island Control PlaneIsland · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Island Announces $400 Million Series F, Bringing Valuation to $6.4 BillionIsland · published September 24, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Island Brings the First Purpose-Built Workspace for SMBs to the Pax8 MarketplaceIsland · published June 8, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Island Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & FeaturesG2 · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier C

SquareX full record

  1. [1]Squarex discloses architectural limitations of browser devtools in debugging malicious extensions 302518583SquareX via PR Newswire · prnewswire.com · published July 31, 2025 · Tier A
  2. [2]sqrx.comSquareX · sqrx.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Zscaler acquires squarexZscaler · zscaler.com · published February 5, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Showcasing our Industry-First BDR Solution in Singapore | by SquareX | SquareX LabsSquareX Labs · published October 23, 2024 · Tier A
  5. [5]An Evening of Browser Security: SquareX’s RSAC Networking Dinner | by SquareX | SquareX LabsSquareX Labs · published May 7, 2025 · Tier A
  6. [6]SquareX | Browser Detection and Response (BDR) SolutionSquareX · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]SquareX: Pioneering Browser Detection and Response (BDR)SquareX · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]SquareX Receives the Technology Excellence Award by SBR in Cybersecurity, Internet and New Media Category | by SquareX | SquareX LabsSquareX Labs · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]6 Reasons Why Enterprises Are Shifting from VDI to SquareX | by Engineering @ SquareX | SquareX LabsSquareX Labs · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Zscaler extends zero-trust security to browsers with SquareX acquisition | CSO OnlineCSO Online · published February 6, 2026 · Tier B

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