True Threat Prevention Demands Browser Security & File Sanitization

Enterprise browsers and isolation tools have changed how organizations think about web security. By controlling and monitoring sessions, they promise safe browsing for employees working from anywhere, on any device. Yet, while secure enterprise browser solutions do provide safe web sessions, there are some threats that can move beyond the browser, demanding an expanded layer of protection.

The truth is, many traditional browser solutions stop at the edge of the session. This means, once a file enters the equation, and is downloaded, shared, or saved, the protection ends. That just so happens to be where some of the most dangerous threats live—at the file level.

Weaponized documents and spreadsheets remain one of the top entry points for ransomware. A single attachment, disguised as “business as usual,” can carry malicious code that bypasses even the most modern defenses, as well as legacy tools like AV and sandboxing.

So, while browser security is essential, it’s only half the story. Without addressing what happens to the files themselves, organizations are left with a critical gap that attackers are all too ready to exploit.

The File Gap in Browser Security

Attackers know they don’t need to worry about the browser if they can weaponize the files employees already expect, such as an invoice, a presentation, or a spreadsheet coming from a third-party, a website, or even a trusted partner via email attachment.

These hidden exploits, the kind that make headlines for a breach they’ve caused, often trigger the moment someone opens the file they’ve been placed within, even if everything looked clean when it crossed the session boundary. 

The problem is the false sense of security. After all, it’s not always the browsing session that puts the business at risk… it’s what comes after.

Users believe they’re protected because they’re using a secure browser solution. And while that may be true for a myriad of threats, what happens when a file is introduced (and/or opened) outside of a secure web session? The reality is that file-borne, zero-day malware can still find its way inside, lying in wait for a single click.

Why File-Borne Threats Are So Dangerous

Files remain the attacker’s favorite weapon and for good reason. Year after year, they top the charts as the number one delivery channel for malware, fueling ransomware campaigns that can cripple entire organizations. An email attachment or a shared document doesn’t raise alarms like a suspicious link. It blends in, waiting for someone to click.

Their ability to slip past traditional defenses makes file-borne threats especially dangerous. 

• Antivirus tools look for known signatures. 
• EDR watches for suspicious behavior. 
• Sandboxes try to detonate unknown code in a controlled environment. 
• DSPM monitors for trouble, but can only alert after the threat has been introduced. 

Yet, hidden malicious payloads carefully crafted to exploit zero-day vulnerabilities bypass them all. By the time the file is opened, the damage is already underway.

How CDR Complements Browser Security

Secure Enterprise Browser solutions protect the session. But the file? That’s where Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) steps in.

Instead of trusting that a file is safe or forcing users to wait while it’s analyzed, CDR discovers, cleans, and rebuilds it in real time. 

• Files are intercepted in real-time as they approach endpoints and boundaries. 
• Sophisticated CDR technology deconstructs the file to its core elements. 
• All unknown and/or malicious elements are stripped away.
• Using a clean template, the file is reconstructed with all safe elements intact.
  • This includes macros and executables necessary for business productivity.
• The file, which looks and functions exactly like the original and minus the hidden threats, is delivered in milliseconds. 

With advanced CDR solutions, files aren’t delivered as glorified PDFs. There’s no quarantine. No manual approval. No “try again later.” For employees, the process is invisible. For attackers, the opportunity vanishes.

Stronger Together: Menlo + Votiro

Menlo Security enables safe browsing sessions. Votiro cleans the files that flow through it.

On their own, each solution is strong. Together, they create coverage for the modern enterprise. Menlo ensures users connect safely, shielding them from risky sites and uncontrolled access. Votiro picks up where isolation stops, ensuring every file that lands in the organization is sanitized, compliant, and fully functional.

Instead of stacking yet another endpoint product onto an already crowded security stack that offers alerts instead of peace of mind, enterprises using Menlo Security (with Votiro’s integrated CDR) get end-to-end protection without the sprawl. Plus, users get analytics with every sanitized file, enabling security teams to learn more about the attacks targeting them—both malware- and privacy-related.

Complete Protection Requires Defense-in-Depth

The business case for closing the file gap is clear. It’s not just about blocking attacks. It’s about proving resilience in the age of zero-days and sophisticated, GenAI-enabled threats.

While competitors try to plug gaps by flattening or blocking files or simply offer one solution without the other, browser security plus file sanitization delivers a comprehensive approach. 

True protection means securing the session and the files that move through it. See how Votiro + Menlo deliver complete coverage by booking a demo today.