Stronger Security, Better Performance: Why Edge Is Now Our Recommended Browser

If your business uses Microsoft 365 and your devices are managed through Microsoft Intune, we now strongly recommend using Microsoft Edge as your default web browser instead of Google Chrome.

Here’s why we’ve made this change — and how it benefits your business in terms of security, performance, and integration.

🔐 1. Stronger Security with Microsoft Edge + Intune

When Edge is paired with Microsoft’s security baselines through Intune, it becomes a highly secure browser for business use. Here’s what that means:

• SmartScreen Protection: Helps block malicious websites and downloads.
• Tracking Prevention: Reduces how much advertisers and third parties can track your online behaviour.
• Extension Control: Allows us to manage which browser add-ons are approved — reducing the risk of malware.
• Application Guard (for advanced setups): Isolates untrusted websites in a secure container, protecting your system even if a website is compromised.

By contrast, Google Chrome relies more heavily on syncing with personal Google accounts, and its primary business model involves advertising — meaning more of your usage data may be collected and used for ad targeting.

🧠 2. Lower Memory and CPU Usage

Microsoft Edge is built on the same technology as Chrome (Chromium), but it’s optimized to use less RAM and CPU power, which makes a noticeable difference for business users who:

• Have multiple tabs open
• Run Office apps (like Outlook, Excel, and Teams) all day
• Use lower-spec devices or laptops

In our testing, Edge often performs better on older or mid-range hardware compared to Chrome, especially when running under multiple-user environments or remote desktop sessions.

🔄 3. Seamless Integration with Microsoft 365

Because Edge is designed by Microsoft, it offers native integration with the tools you’re already using:

• Single sign-on with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) for secure access to apps and data
• Quick access to Microsoft 365 apps and dashboards directly from the new tab page
• Built-in support for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams

This improves productivity and helps enforce consistent sign-in and security policies across devices — all managed centrally through Intune.

🛠️ 4. Better Manageability for IT and Lower Risk for Business

As your IT provider, we’ve implemented Microsoft’s Edge Security Baseline via Intune. This allows us to:

• Ensure browsers are always up to date with security patches
• Enforce anti-phishing and content filtering
• Prevent personal data leakage by blocking syncing to personal accounts
• Limit risky browser behavior and reduce attack surfaces

With Chrome, similar controls are possible — but they require additional tools, are harder to manage, and still expose data to Google’s ad ecosystem.

✅ Conclusion: A Smarter Choice for Microsoft 365 Environments

If your business runs Microsoft 365, using Edge is the smartest and safest browser choice. It gives you:

• Stronger built-in protection
• Better performance on your devices
• Tight integration with your existing tools
• Centralized management for IT

We’ve already started rolling out these improvements behind the scenes. If you’re still using Chrome, we recommend switching to Edge to take full advantage of your Microsoft 365 environment — and enjoy a faster, safer, and more efficient work experience.