[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know: Beginning with Version 2002 of Office 365 ProPlus, Microsoft will install a browser extension that makes Bing the default search engine for Google Chrome, providing the benefits of Microsoft Search in the browser to those end users. This browser extension is scheduled to be available in Monthly Channel (Targeted) in February 2020.
Note: This change only applies to devices in certain locations, based on the IP address of the device. At this time, countries include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
How does this affect me?
-New installations of Office 365 ProPlus will include this extension. When you update your existing installation of Office 365 ProPlus, the extension is included unless Bing is already the default search engine in your tenant. The extension sets Bing as the default search engine by default; users may turn it off via the extension toggle.
-As part of Microsoft 365, Microsoft Search is on by default for all Microsoft apps that support it. Microsoft Search provides contextual work-related information using data sources in Office 365, including SharePoint, Microsoft OneDrive for Business, and Exchange.
-With Bing as the default search vehicle for Google Chrome, those users will be able to access Microsoft Search directly from their browser address bar when they are signed in with their work or school account. This browser access to work-related search is known as Microsoft Search in Bing.
The first time your users open Google Chrome after the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing is installed, they will see a Welcome screen:
End users may disable the extension by clicking its icon to the right of the URL bar; Then toggling off Use Bing as your default search engine; and Restarting the browser.
Once this feature has rolled out, your end users can change their search engine preferences only via the toggle in the extension; they cannot modify the default search engine in browser preferences.
Although this feature is rolling out initially for Google Chrome, support for Firefox is planned.
What do I need to do to prepare for this change?
If you don’t want Bing to be the default search engine for Google Chrome, there are several ways to block the installation.
You must exclude the extension before you install or update to a version of Office 365 ProPlus that installs the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing. Implementing the exclusion after the extension has been installed will not remove the extension.
– For new installations of Office 365 ProPlus, the Office Deployment Tool may be the best method, as outlined in this support document
– For existing installations of Office 365 ProPlus, modifying the Group Policy may be best. Enable the policy setting Don’t install extension for Microsoft Search in Bing, which makes Bing the default the search engine.
– If you use Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (current branch), from the Features section, set Microsoft Search as default to the Off position.
– If you use Microsoft Intune to deploy Office 365 ProPlus, clear the check box Microsoft Search as default on the Configure App Suite pane.
If you have already made Bing the default search engine for your tenant, the extension will not be installed, and your end users will not be able to change the default search engine.
If you decide to deploy Microsoft Search in Bing in your organization, see our Microsoft Search in Bing Adoption Kit for resources to help communicate the benefits of this work-related search change to your users. Plan your content to make Microsoft Search more helpful in your organization.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
