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Local vs. Remote Isolation: Finding the Balance Between Security, Privacy, and Performance

With more than 90% of breaches still beginning in the browser, isolation remains one of the most reliable ways to stop malware, ransomware, and phishing threats at their source.

Two primary architectural approaches exist in the market today: Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) and Local Browser Isolation (LBI).

• Cloudflare Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) uses a cloud-based streaming model, where browsing activity is executed remotely and presented to users in a visual format.
• BUFFERZONE® Safe Workspace® applies a Local Browser Isolation (LBI) approach, containing risky web activity directly on the endpoint through its Protection By Containment™ technology and powered by NoCloud® AI technology.

Both methods aim to protect users, but the choice often comes down to how organizations weigh performance, privacy, cost, and usability.

Architectural Comparison: Remote Streaming vs. Local Execution

🌐 Cloudflare Remote Browser Isolation

Cloudflare RBI streams a safe rendering of web pages from the cloud to the user’s device.

• Benefit: Threats never directly execute on the endpoint.
• Considerations: Reliance on streaming can sometimes affect responsiveness, especially with dynamic, media-rich applications. Since browsing occurs off-device, persistent connectivity is required, and some traffic redirection or proxy configuration may be necessary.

💻 BUFFERZONE® Safe Workspace®

BUFFERZONE® executes the browser locally in a contained workspace on the endpoint. Every session is fully isolated, and any downloaded file is automatically disarmed through integrated SafeBridge® Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR).

• Benefit: Delivers native speed, offline access, and full web compatibility without redirecting traffic externally.
• Considerations: As a local solution, it leverages existing endpoint resources without requiring streaming infrastructure.

Beyond Isolation: Integrated Security Layers

Where RBI focuses primarily on safe rendering, BUFFERZONE® goes further by integrating endpoint-level protections beyond browsing.

• SafeBridge® CDR: Neutralizes threats hidden in files at the endpoint.
• NoCloud® AI Phishing Defense: Detects and blocks credential-theft attempts directly on-device, in real time.
• Safe Data: Identifies and secures sensitive data locally to prevent leakage or ransomware impact.
• Safe Externals: Isolates USB and removable media access in a contained environment.
• Email Security: Disarms suspicious attachments and links in Microsoft Outlook without cloud scanning.

This layered model ensures not only that browsing is isolated, but also that threats delivered by files, phishing, or removable media are neutralized.

Deployment and Scalability

• Cloudflare RBI: Delivered through the cloud, requiring internet connectivity, routing, and account-based management. This approach scales effectively in cloud-first environments but relies on stable bandwidth.
• BUFFERZONE® Safe Workspace®: Installed directly on Windows endpoints, without requiring new network infrastructure, proxies, or external servers. Well-suited for hybrid, remote, and even air-gapped environments.

Cost Considerations

• Cloudflare RBI: Costs may include price increase based on bandwidth usage, and scaling based on traffic volume.
• BUFFERZONE® Safe Workspace: Runs on existing endpoint hardware, minimizing infrastructure overhead and lowering total cost of ownership. Fixed and known costs.

Summary: Two Paths to Safer Browsing

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Approach

Both Local and Remote Isolation serve the same mission: keep threats out of the enterprise through browser isolation.

• Cloudflare RBI represents the cloud-first, streaming-based model.
• BUFFERZONE® Safe Workspace® brings isolation directly to the endpoint, integrating advanced file disarming, phishing prevention, and data protection without requiring infrastructure changes.

For organizations prioritizing native performance, privacy, and simplicity of deployment, BUFFERZONE® Safe Workspace® provides a direct, cost-efficient path to comprehensive endpoint protection.

Want to learn more? Contact us.