10 Microsoft Edge Group Policy Best Practices

Microsoft Edge is the default web browser for Windows 10, and it is quickly becoming the browser of choice for many users. As such, it is important to understand the best practices for managing Microsoft Edge with Group Policy.

Group Policy is a powerful tool for managing Windows 10, and it can be used to configure settings for Microsoft Edge. In this article, we will discuss 10 best practices for managing Microsoft Edge with Group Policy. We will cover topics such as configuring default settings, managing extensions, and more.

1. Use the Enterprise Mode Site List

The Enterprise Mode Site List allows you to specify which websites should open in Microsoft Edge and which should open in Internet Explorer. This is important because some websites may not be compatible with the latest version of Microsoft Edge, so having a way to force them to open in Internet Explorer ensures that they will work properly. Additionally, this feature can help improve performance by ensuring that only sites that are optimized for Microsoft Edge are opened in it.

2. Create a list of sites that should open in Internet Explorer

When users open a website in Microsoft Edge, the browser will attempt to use its own rendering engine. However, some websites may not be compatible with this engine and could cause errors or display incorrectly. To prevent these issues, you can create a list of sites that should always open in Internet Explorer instead. This ensures that those sites are rendered correctly and prevents any potential compatibility issues.

3. Set Microsoft Edge as the default browser for your organization

By setting Microsoft Edge as the default browser, you can ensure that users are using a secure and reliable web browser. Additionally, this will help to reduce support costs associated with troubleshooting issues related to other browsers.

To set Microsoft Edge as the default browser for your organization, you’ll need to use Group Policy Objects (GPOs). GPOs allow administrators to configure settings on computers in their domain. To do this, open the Group Policy Management Console, create a new policy, and then select the “Set Default Browser” option under the User Configuration section. From there, you can specify which browser should be used by default.

4. Disable password manager and autofill

The password manager and autofill features in Microsoft Edge can be convenient, but they also pose a security risk. If an attacker were to gain access to the user’s computer, they could easily view all of their saved passwords and other sensitive information stored in the browser. By disabling these features, you can help protect your users from potential data breaches.

Additionally, it is important to ensure that users are using strong passwords for their accounts. You can use group policy settings to enforce password complexity requirements and prevent users from reusing old passwords. This will help keep your organization secure and reduce the chances of a successful attack.

5. Enable or disable pop-up blocker

Pop-ups can be a nuisance, and they can also be used to spread malicious software. By enabling the pop-up blocker in Microsoft Edge, you can help protect your users from these threats.

To enable or disable the pop-up blocker, open the Group Policy Editor and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge. From there, double-click on the “Allow Pop-Ups” setting and select either Enabled or Disabled. Once you’ve made your selection, click OK to save your changes.

6. Configure favorites settings

Favorites are a great way to quickly access websites that you visit often. By configuring favorites settings, you can ensure that users have quick and easy access to the sites they need without having to manually add them each time. This also helps keep your network secure by preventing users from accessing potentially malicious or inappropriate websites.

To configure favorites settings, open the Group Policy Editor and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge. From here, you can enable or disable various features related to favorites, such as allowing users to import and export favorites, adding new favorites, and more.

7. Block access to about:flags page

The about:flags page is a hidden page in Microsoft Edge that allows users to enable experimental features. These features are not yet ready for general use and can cause instability or security issues if enabled.

By blocking access to the about:flags page, you can ensure that your users don’t accidentally enable any of these experimental features. To do this, simply set the “Prevent access to the about:flags page” policy setting to Enabled. This will prevent users from accessing the about:flags page, ensuring that they won’t be able to enable any potentially dangerous features.

8. Prevent users from changing privacy settings

When users are allowed to change their privacy settings, they can inadvertently expose the organization to security risks. For example, if a user changes their privacy settings to allow third-party cookies, this could open up the network to malicious actors who may be able to access sensitive data.

To prevent this from happening, organizations should use group policies to lock down Microsoft Edge’s privacy settings and ensure that only authorized personnel have the ability to make changes. This will help protect the organization from potential security threats while still allowing users to customize their browsing experience.

9. Turn off search suggestions

Search suggestions are a feature that allows Edge to suggest websites and search terms as you type in the address bar. While this can be helpful, it also means that your browsing history is being sent to Microsoft’s servers for analysis.

To turn off search suggestions, open the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Edge. Then double-click on “Allow Search Suggestions” and select “Disabled”. This will prevent Edge from sending any of your browsing data to Microsoft’s servers.

10. Prevent users from saving passwords

When users save passwords in their browser, it can be a security risk. If someone were to gain access to the user’s computer, they could easily log into any of the websites that the user has saved passwords for. This is why it’s important to prevent users from saving passwords in Microsoft Edge.

To do this, you’ll need to enable the “Prevent saving passwords” policy setting in the Local Group Policy Editor. Once enabled, users will no longer be able to save passwords in Microsoft Edge.