The sun has finally set on Internet Explorer. Microsoft officially retired the browser on June 15, 2022, to the elation and frustration of many. Microsoft first announced IE’s pending retirement back in May of 2021. Though IE represents a small fraction of internet users in the U.S., (about 0.85%), the pivot to other browsers may prove more complicated than expected. IE has had a tremendous influence on the internet we use today, and the impact of its legacy will be felt for years – for better or worse. As IE is abandoned, new security threats will arise, and users won’t receive support from Microsoft in such cases. Fortunately, Microsoft has made it a relatively straightforward process to transition to their updated browser: Microsoft Edge.
To better understand IE’s retirement, we must first take a brief journey to the recent past. Internet Explorer was Microsoft’s original web browser and has been included in the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems since 1995. Most companies who got an early start on the internet (think early 2000’s) created systems and software to work in conjunction with IE. In fact, by 2004, IE commanded 95% of the browser market.
IE also found a niche in certain fields. Healthcare, government, and manufacturing organizations were early adopters because older technologies in these fields were highly specialized, though they often didn’t receive frequent updates (think of an MRI machine built in 2005 that’s been grinding away for years on old software).
In other cases, businesses didn’t have a strong reason to move away from IE (although many superior browsers have emerged since 1995) or didn’t have the internal staff to deploy a successful migration. There has also been a proliferation of webpages and applications that use old IE standards, rather than adopting updated browser standards. Microsoft has referred to this process as an “easy button” that has resulted in sufficient “technical debt” for businesses across the country.
Internet Explorer has experienced a slow decline since the early aughts. The browser lost out to emerging competitors and IE failed to adhere to World Wide Web Consortium guidelines resulting in poor user experience. IE was increasingly incompatible with other browsers and had a number of high-profile security and UX issues over the years. The rise of mobile web browsing sealed the deal. Nowadays developers don’t optimize sites for IE, and old sites that are optimized for IE don’t work well on modern browsers. With the launch of Edge – a secure and dynamic Windows browser - Microsoft decided the best way to handle these problems was to end Internet Explorer for good.
If there was ever a time to migrate to a new browser – now would be it. Although users can access IE until 2029, Microsoft’s blog states, “If you encounter issues while accessing Microsoft 365 apps and services from IE11 after August 17, 2021, support will be unavailable. Additionally, you should expect no new features and that your daily usage experience could get progressively worse over time until the apps and services are disconnected.” This means that Microsoft won’t provide security patches in case of an attack (usually malware or phishing attacks). The lack of regular updates leaves your data vulnerable to more attacks in the future.
You’re also risking the productivity of your employees. The incompatibility between modern browsers and Internet Explorer means employees often must work in multiple systems if they’re still using legacy content on IE. Combine the tedious back-and-forth with slow loading speeds and outdated browser features, and you’ll notice a serious detriment to your workforce.
Your organization should begin the process of migrating to a new browser. This may mean dealing with legacy applications, incompatible webpages, and other IT updates - but the security risks greatly outweigh the comfort of a familiar web platform. There are several browsers to choose from, and each has unique features that can help your business thrive online, securely.
If your business uses Internet Explorer and is ready to migrate to a new browser, there are several steps you should take for a successful migration. Microsoft has an in-depth guide with clear steps to get your business running on Edge. Chrome, Safari, and Firefox have their own guides to migrating to their browsers. This could also be a suitable time to look for an IT consulting firm like iCorps to either assist your in-house IT team or to outsource the project entirely. Reach out for a free consultation today!