As more applications move to the cloud, without question, the browser is becoming more important. As an IT admin, you have to manage and ensure working in the cloud is seamless for your users. 

Here at Google, the Chrome Browser enterprise team has been working hard to open up new and easier management options to help you do just that. For example, we’re expanding existing Group Policy templates within Active Directory, enabling support for applying policies to Mac, and even providing a central console to help you  manage Chrome Browser from the cloud. 

When it comes to management, it’s important to take a close look at options to see what works best for you, your team and your endpoints. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the many management options available in Chrome Browser today.  

1. Chrome Browser Cloud Management
Earlier this year, we announced the availability of Chrome Browser Cloud Management, which makes it possible to centrally enroll and manage browsers, as well as gain visibility into your browser deployments, right from within the Google Admin console. You can unify the management of Chrome Browser across Windows, Mac and Linux environments, and get a single view into extension, policies, versions and more. Check out our website to learn how to get started or watch this demo video:

2. Microsoft Endpoint Manager
Another option to consider is to manage Chrome Browser through Microsoft Intune (now part of Microsoft Endpoint Manager) on your Windows 10 devices, where you can use the same useful Chrome Browser ADMX templates. You can define and apply rules for hundreds of policies right from within the Microsoft management console. One benefit to this option is that if you are using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager to manage Chrome’s installation and/or updates, it can be easier to handle from the same view. This is especially helpful if you are starting to use Microsoft Intune to manage your mobile devices and mobile apps.

You can also manage the popular Legacy Browser Supportcapability right from the Intune console, pre-defining sites to open in alternate browser outside of Chrome. This capability is used to help seamlessly redirect your users to legacy browsers when older web apps are unable to run in a modern browser. 

3. VMware Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management
If your organization uses Workspace ONE as a primary management tool, you can also manage your Chrome Browser instances within the Unified Endpoint Management console for both desktop and Androiddevices. Just apply Chrome’s ADMX templates and push policies out to your Windows machines. Since Chrome Browser is optimized for virtual environments, you can determine and apply settings across your physical and virtual desktops using Chrome’s policy templates.  

With Workspace ONE, you can use a single tool to manage Chrome Browser in your Windows environments, as well as provide basic management on your users mobile devices, without impacting a user’s personal Chrome app installation, if they have one. And for Workspace ONE customers with Chrome OS in their environments, they can also centrally manage their Chrome devices from one panel.

Manage Chrome your Way
Chrome continues to invest in making it possible for you and your team to use existing technology to manage browsers. In the near future, we plan to expand the capabilities available in Chrome Browser Cloud Management and to provide even more options. 

If your enterprise is exploring different management options for endpoints, consider the browser as part of that conversation. With so many options available, managing your user’s Chrome Browser has never been so flexible. Learn more on our website.