Managing the Microsoft Edge Sidebar with Securly Filter

Overview

Securly’s extension-based filtering does not filter Microsoft Edge’s sidebar by default. This is because the sidebar is technically outside the main browser tab content that the extension monitors. However, administrators have options to disable or restrict the sidebar via Group Policy or Intune, preventing students from accessing unfiltered content.

Best Practices

1. Disable or Lock Down the Sidebar

   • Windows Group Policy (GPO)
     • Use the following policies to disable the sidebar or restrict its functionality:
       • EdgeOpenInsideBarEnabled = false
       • HubsSidebarEnabled = false
       • EdgeSidebarCustomizeEnabled = false
       • EdgeSidebarAppUrlHostBlockList = "*" (or specify allowed hosts)
     • For details, see Microsoft’s official docs:
       Microsoft Edge Policies
   • Microsoft Intune
     • In a similar manner, configure these same policies via Intune (under Device Configuration > Administrative Templates for Edge).
     • Ensure the relevant Edge policy settings are pushed to all student devices.

2. Use Securly Agent for Enhanced Coverage (If Available)

   • Securly Classroom (or other agent-based solutions) may eventually include or already have an option to monitor the Edge sidebar at the OS level.
   • Check if your environment supports a Securly agent that can capture sidebar activity outside the extension’s scope.

Why Is the Sidebar Unfiltered?

• Browser Extensions generally have limited visibility outside of standard tab content. The Edge sidebar is treated as separate from the main browsing session, meaning the Securly Filter extension cannot filter or capture traffic loaded within it.

FAQ

1. Will Securly add native sidebar filtering for Edge?

   • Future development (e.g., with a device agent) may expand coverage. You can follow our Release Notes or Jira references for updates.

2. Does this affect other browsers?

   • This sidebar issue is specific to Microsoft Edge. Chrome, Safari, and Firefox do not have a similar “sidebar” feature that bypasses extensions.

3. What if I only have mobile devices?

   • On mobile, Edge’s sidebar is typically not present or works differently. Ensure your device-level policies still block unapproved apps or features.

References

• EdgeOpenInsideBarEnabled Policy
• HubsSidebarEnabled Policy
• EdgeSidebarCustomizeEnabled Policy
• EdgeSidebarAppUrlHostBlockList Policy

Tip: For a fully locked-down environment, it’s best to disable or restrict the sidebar at a policy level (GPO or Intune) so students cannot access content outside Securly’s monitored scope. If you need more help, contact support@securly.com.