Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge was reintroduced in 2015 as the successor to Internet Explorer and later rebuilt on the open-source Chromium project, with the Chromium-based version becoming generally available in January 2020. The current Edge for Business experience positions the browser as a work-focused variant that automatically separates work and personal browsing contexts while retaining a shared underlying codebase.

Market Position

Edge has grown into a major desktop browser, typically holding a high single- to low double-digit percentage of global desktop market share, driven largely by its role as the default browser on Windows and its integration with Microsoft 365 services. For enterprises already standardized on Windows, Microsoft 365, or Entra ID, Edge for Business is positioned as the default choice, and Microsoft explicitly markets it as a "secure enterprise AI browser."

Technical Foundation

Edge's Chromium foundation means it shares the Blink rendering engine, multi-process sandboxing, and extension model common to other Chromium-based browsers, with Microsoft layering its own security features, policies, and AI integrations on top. Microsoft documents sandbox controls such as NetworkServiceSandboxEnabled, indicating that key browser services run in restricted processes by default. The browser also incorporates Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, automatic HTTPS upgrades, and continuous threat intelligence feeds from Microsoft's broader security ecosystem.

Enterprise Adoption

For enterprise IT, Edge for Business is framed as a managed work browser tied to Microsoft Entra ID, Intune, and Defender, with a dedicated Edge management service exposed through the Microsoft 365 admin center. Microsoft provides a full enterprise documentation set covering deployment, policy configuration, security, and privacy, with hundreds of configurable policies available via Group Policy, MDM, and cloud-based Edge management.

Microsoft Edge management service and the Microsoft 365 admin center serve as the primary cloud control plane for Edge for Business deployments. Through this environment, administrators can create configuration policies, set priorities between policies, approve or deny extension requests, and apply organizational branding to work profiles.

Deployment Options

Update Channels

• Stable: Default channel with regular feature and security updates, aligned with the Chromium release train
• Extended or phased release options: Organizations can use documented update policies to defer and stage updates, controlling rollout waves and maintenance windows

Extension Management

Extension governance is a central theme in Edge's enterprise guidance. Edge supports:

• Allowlists: Policies that restrict extension installation to a defined set of approved extensions
• Blocklists: Policies that block specific extensions by ID, including those identified as unwanted or risky
• Force-install: Policies that deploy and lock required extensions directly into user profiles

The Edge management service adds an extension request workflow where users can request extensions and administrators can centrally review and approve or deny them.

Edge's role as Microsoft's recommended work browser means it is likely to be widely installed across Windows fleets and integrated into critical workflows. This broad reach, combined with Chromium's large installed base, makes Edge a relevant target for web-based threats and data-exfiltration attempts.

Security Architecture

Edge adopts the Chromium multi-process model with sandboxed renderers and configurable sandboxing for services such as the network service. Key protections include:

• Microsoft Defender SmartScreen: Reputation-based blocking for phishing sites, malware, and potentially unwanted applications
• Automatic HTTPS upgrades: Promotion of eligible HTTP connections to HTTPS
• Extension monitoring and removal: Detection and automatic removal of certain malicious sideloaded extensions
• Integration with Microsoft Purview and Insider Risk: Browser signals and controls that feed into DLP and risk analytics

Privacy & Telemetry Considerations

Vendor Dependency

Edge is designed to work seamlessly with Microsoft Entra ID, Intune, Defender, Purview, and Microsoft 365 applications, which can simplify governance for organizations already committed to this ecosystem. At the same time, this coupling can create dependency: browser policies, DLP enforcement, and many advanced protections assume Microsoft identity and security tooling.