Microsoft's actions of late have seemed a little dramatic, even for a company of their stature: first, they pushed the latest version of Windows 8 hard, sticking to the deadline for phasing out the use of Vista and XP despite the fact that many important systems make use of these OS.
Now, it has released a monthly package of updates for Internet Explorer, but has not made these updates available to users who haven't kept up with the 8.1 version of Windows. Even though Windows 8.1 has only been around for two months, companies considering the use of a browser emulator for their own systems need to think about how up-to-date they are and whether they are able to use it without fear of breaches.
Computer World reported on this tough love strategy, which has left those out of the loop behind when it comes to nearly 60 Explorer vulnerabilities in one package. The company is also reportedly championing Explorer 11, the version that accompanies Windows 8.1. Although this may all tie together in Microsoft's eyes, it shows that there are still some concerns about Explorer.
An Information Week "Dark Reading" piece on the updates quoted Windows' Group Manager, Dustin Childs, on the errors that might require more updates.
"While there are a number of things being addressed this time around, it's important to note that, to our knowledge, none of these now-addressed CVEs have caused any customer impact to date," he said, according to the source.
With a browser based terminal emulator, your business could realize increased freedom and access, but you should follow the right protocols to assure peak functionality.