Microsoft Edge for Business soon becomes the default version of Edge for some business users

Mary Jo Foley is the Editor in Chief at Directions on Microsoft. Before joining Directions, Mary Jo has worked as... more

As of the week of August 17, Microsoft will be making a new Edge browser mode the default version of Edge for some of its business customers. Those who sign into Edge using Azure Active Directory (now known as Microsoft Entra ID) will be moved automatically to this new mode, known as Microsoft Edge for Business. Edge for Business will provide a separation of syncing and browser history between Edge personal and Edge work sites — something which could bring privacy and possibly security benefits to organizations that rely on the Edge browser.

The Edge for Business mode, which has been available in preview for the past couple of months, will be part of Edge Stable Version 116 browser release, which is scheduled to begin rolling out the week of August 17. Additionally, the new Edge for Business mode will be coming to macOS and Linux; I asked Microsoft when this would happen but have not heard back. Officials also said the Edge for Business mode will be available on mobile devices at some point in the future.

Update (August 14): A spokesperson said Edge for Business also would come to Mac and Linux as of Edge Stable Version 116, the week of August 17. It also will be available on mobile the week of the 17th, but the updated icon, automatic switching, and management via the Edge management service in the Microsoft 365 admin center will be available for mobile “in the future,” the spokesperson clarified.

Customers will know they’ve been automatically transitioned to the Edge for Business mode because the updated Edge icon will include a briefcase in the lower left corner. (Individuals will be able to change the briefcase to their work profile picture in Edge settings, if they’d prefer to do so.) Edge for Business also will support company branding and customization.

Customers should not experience any disruption from the addition of Edge for Business, Microsoft officials claim. Edge for Business is not a new browser; it’s just a mode in Edge. It will maintain the policies, settings and configurations previously set by an organization, Microsoft said.

How the new Edge for Business mode will work

When using Edge for Business, organizations will have the option to set separate work and personal Edge profiles between which customers will be switched depending on the type of URL they are accessing. For this to work, customers need to have at least one Azure Active Directory/Entra profile and one Microsoft Account (MSA) profile, whether existing or new. Switching from the personal browser window to the work browser window will be on by default, with users having the option to turn the feature off. Switching from the work browser window to the personal browser window will be off by default with users having the option to turn it on. “In a future release,” the switch from work to personal will be on by default, officials said.

Currently, Microsoft has enabled Edge for Business to recognize whether some sites are “personal” or “work.” For example, a log into Microsoft 365 apps and services would trigger the work profile, while an Amazon or Target log-in would trigger the personal mode. Right now, there is no group policy for organizations who want to customize the work and personal URL lists. Customers can go to Edge settings and choose preferred browser for sites to be turned off or to select a preferred profile (work or personal) for an applicable site, however.

According to Microsoft, IT will maintain control over the security and compliance of both regular Edge and Edge for Business and will be able to control which features are available to users. Edge for Business will support both managed and unmanaged bring-your-own-PC devices.

Microsoft officials maintain that Edge for Business will benefit customers in terms of privacy and security. The new mode ensures a separation of syncing and browser history between work and personal sites by maintaining separate caches ans storage locations for the two types of sites users access. In terms of security, Microsoft’s argument for Edge for Business is it could help companies from having to support multiple browsers, which increases the surface area for cyberattacks. Allowing users to switch between different profiles within a single browser lessens the risk, Microsoft officials said.