Jamf Acquires Keep Aware to Bolster Browser Security and AI Governance
Jamf has acquired Keep Aware to extend endpoint security controls into web browsers, addressing shadow AI usage and corporate data leakage risks.
Jamf, a prominent vendor in Apple device management and security, has announced its acquisition of Keep Aware, a startup focused on browser security. This strategic move aims to close a critical gap in enterprise security by extending visibility and control into web browser activities, particularly concerning the burgeoning use of artificial intelligence tools.
According to Jamf's Chief Technology Officer Akash Kamath, the integration of Keep Aware's technology into the Jamf platform will provide customers with a unified solution for endpoint, mobile, and browser security. The primary driver for this acquisition is the increasing prevalence of "shadow AI" – the use of AI tools by employees without explicit IT approval or oversight. Jamf aims to provide enterprises with the necessary visibility and control to manage these risks effectively.
Keep Aware, founded in 2022, specializes in lightweight browser extensions designed to monitor and govern AI usage. Unlike solutions that require organizations to adopt entirely new enterprise browsers, Keep Aware's extension can be integrated into existing browser standards, minimizing disruption for users. This approach was a key factor in Jamf's decision, as many customers are hesitant to change their established browser configurations.
The acquired technology offers mature data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities, specifically designed to prevent corporate data from being inadvertently shared with personal AI accounts, such as employee-used ChatGPT instances. Kamath highlighted that detecting such data leakage at the endpoint level is challenging, but Keep Aware's browser extension is built to intercept and block these actions, thereby mitigating a common source of corporate data exfiltration.
Beyond data leakage prevention, the acquisition is also geared towards enabling robust AI governance. As regulations like the EU AI Act come into effect, enterprises face increasing pressure to demonstrate auditable compliance with AI usage policies. Jamf intends to leverage Keep Aware's capabilities to provide clear audit trails, allowing organizations to easily verify that their AI security controls are functioning as intended and that AI tools are being used responsibly.
The integration of Keep Aware's technology is slated for completion by the end of 2026. Jamf plans to combine the startup's browser extension with its existing mobile device management (MDM) and endpoint telemetry solutions. This synergy will enable Jamf to deploy browser-level policies via MDM, offering comprehensive visibility and control over AI tool usage across endpoints, networks, and browsers.
While the immediate focus is on AI governance, Jamf sees potential for Keep Aware's browser extension technology to support other non-AI use cases in the future. This could include automating tasks within the Jamf admin console or enhancing security for other browser-based activities. Jamf aims to deliver an "Apple-best" experience, though some functionalities may be constrained by Safari's extension framework compared to Chromium-based browsers.
The success of the acquisition will be measured by customer adoption of the integrated platform bundles, with Jamf anticipating an acceleration in sales of solutions like "Jamf for Mac." By addressing the critical need for AI governance and browser security, Jamf positions itself to help organizations navigate the complexities of AI adoption responsibly.