Table of Contents
- How Does Microsoft Intune Transform HTTP Connections to HTTPS Without Breaking Websites?
- Why Enable Automatic HTTPS Through Intune?
- Security Benefits That Matter
- Simple Implementation Steps
- Creating Your Policy Profile
- Basic Configuration Details
- Settings Configuration Process
- Assignment and Deployment
- Monitoring Implementation Success
- Advanced Management Options
- Removing Groups from Policy
- Complete Policy Deletion
- Technical Considerations
- Real-World Impact
How Does Microsoft Intune Transform HTTP Connections to HTTPS Without Breaking Websites?
Microsoft Edge Automatic HTTPS feature acts like a safety guard for your internet browsing. This policy helps switch websites from unsafe connections to safe ones. Think of it like upgrading from an old lock to a modern security system on your digital door.
Why Enable Automatic HTTPS Through Intune?
Most websites today support HTTPS, which encrypts your data while browsing. However, many sites still allow HTTP connections initially before switching to HTTPS. This creates a dangerous window where hackers can steal or change your information. Automatic HTTPS closes this security gap instantly.
The policy provides three critical protection levels:
- Smart Mode: Only upgrades websites known to support HTTPS safely
- All Sites Mode: Forces every website to use HTTPS (may cause errors)
- Disabled Mode: No automatic switching occurs
Security Benefits That Matter
Enabling this policy through Intune delivers powerful security advantages:
- Protects sensitive data like passwords and credit card information
- Blocks hackers from reading your internet traffic
- Prevents data tampering during transmission
- Reduces IT workload through automatic operation
- Ensures company-wide compliance with security standards
- Builds user trust with secure website indicators
Before implementation, your employees might visit websites using unencrypted HTTP connections. These connections expose sensitive company data to potential theft, especially on public networks. After enabling Automatic HTTPS, the browser automatically attempts secure connections first, dramatically improving data protection.
Simple Implementation Steps
Creating Your Policy Profile
Setting up this security feature requires minimal technical knowledge. Navigate to the Intune admin center and follow these straightforward steps:
- Select Devices > Configuration > Policies > Create > New policy
- Choose Windows 10 and later as your platform
- Select Settings catalog as your profile type
Basic Configuration Details
Name your policy “Configure Automatic HTTPS” for easy identification later. Adding a clear description helps other administrators understand the policy’s purpose. These details become crucial when managing multiple security policies across your organization.
Settings Configuration Process
Click the “+ Add Settings” link to access the settings picker. Navigate to the Microsoft Edge category and select “Configure Automatic HTTPS” settings. The system presents two primary options: Enable or Disable. By default, Automatic HTTPS remains disabled until you actively configure it.
Assignment and Deployment
The assignment step determines which employee groups receive this security enhancement. Use the “+ Add groups” option to select specific departments or all company devices. Proper group selection ensures the policy reaches intended users without affecting others.
Monitoring Implementation Success
After deployment, monitor the policy status through Devices > Configuration. Look for “Succeeded” status indicators to confirm proper implementation. Use the Company Portal’s manual sync feature to accelerate policy delivery to employee devices.
Advanced Management Options
Removing Groups from Policy
Organizations sometimes need to exclude specific departments from automatic HTTPS enforcement. Access the policy’s Assignment section and use the Edit option. Click Remove for unwanted groups, then save your changes to update the policy scope.
Complete Policy Deletion
When policies become obsolete, complete removal prevents confusion and resource waste. Locate your policy in the configuration section, click the three-dot menu, and select Delete. This action permanently removes the policy and its settings from your Intune environment.
Important Warning: Deleted configuration profiles cannot be recovered. Always verify policy details before confirming deletion to avoid accidentally removing critical security settings.
Technical Considerations
Microsoft Edge maintains an updated list of HTTPS-capable websites through component updates. If your organization disables these updates, the automatic HTTPS feature won’t function properly. Ensure component updates remain enabled for optimal security performance.
Some websites may not support HTTPS connections, potentially causing connection errors for users. However, the browser automatically caches problematic sites and skips HTTPS attempts on subsequent visits, minimizing disruption while maintaining security where possible.
Real-World Impact
Organizations implementing Automatic HTTPS through Intune report significant security improvements without major user disruption. The feature operates transparently, requiring no user training or behavior changes. Employees continue browsing normally while benefiting from enhanced protection against man-in-the-middle attacks and data interception.
This policy represents a proactive security approach that protects company data before problems occur. Rather than responding to security incidents after they happen, Automatic HTTPS prevents many attacks from succeeding in the first place.