Direction for Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser Version Utilization

Note to readers

The Direction for Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser Version Utilization ITPIN is no longer in effect. It was migrated to Appendix H: Standard on At-Risk Information Technology as of May 04, 2022.

Information Technology Policy Implementation Notice (ITPIN)

ITPIN No: 2015-02

Date:

The purpose of this ITPIN is to provide direction to departments and agencies with regard to the appropriate version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser to be used.

This ITPIN is effective immediately and applies to all Government of Canada departments and agencies within the meaning of Schedules I, I.1 and II of the Financial Administration Act. Departments and agencies are expected to be in compliance with the requirements set forth in this ITPIN by .

Background

Microsoft announced on that as of , only the most current version of the Microsoft IE browser available for a supported operating system will receive technical support and security updates, as identified in the following table:

Windows Desktop OS IE Version
Windows Vista IE9
Windows 7 SP1 IE11
Windows 8.1 Update IE11
Windows Server OS IE Version
Windows Server 2008 SP2 IE9
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 IE11
Windows Server 2012 IE10
Windows Server 2012 R2 IE11

Operating unsupported software on GC networks exposes the GC to increased cyber security risks and increases the GC application interoperability costs.

Microsoft will not provide a Custom Support Agreement (CSA) for extended IE support (e.g. browsers IE9 and IE10 on Windows 7 operating system), therefore departments must upgrade their IE browsers to supported versions.

Direction

Departments and agencies are to migrate to supported IE versions, and retire unsupported IE versions, by .

Departmental Chief Information Officers or equivalents are directed to put in place active measures to ensure compliance with this direction; i.e. put in place tools and processes to validate and ensure that only supported IE versions are permitted to use GC networks.

References

Additional information may be found in the following resources: Microsoft Support

Please address any inquiries you may have by email to the CIOB IT Division.

Wade Daley
Chief Technology Officer of the Government of Canada
Chief Information Officer Branch
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

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