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10 Ways Mozilla's Firefox Fails CIOs

By Don Reisinger on 2011-07-26


Mozilla’s Firefox Internet browser has been an absolute success in the consumer market. People all around the globe have downloaded the free application and are using it on a host of computers, including Macs and PCs. Even in the enterprise, the browser has caught on among some CIOs who have thought it might be a fine replacement for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. However, in recent weeks, due mainly to Mozilla’s new rapid-release cycle for Firefox, there has been some discontent in the enterprise. And now, many of the problems that CIOs are seeing with the software are starting to come to a head as more and more companies realize that perhaps a switch to Firefox might not be the best idea, after all. Of course, there are some CIOs who don’t necessarily take issue with Mozilla and its handling of Firefox. But they’re becoming few and far between as the problems surrounding the browser continue to grow.

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Fast Update Cycles
When Mozilla announced that it would start a rapid-release program with its Firefox browser that would see the software get updated every six weeks or so, CIOs cringed. Managing that level of continuous upgrade is a problem for enterprise-scale deployments.

Support Concerns
With the launch of Firefox 5, Mozilla announced that it would no longer support Firefox 4. When the next version of the browser launches, Mozilla will likely follow the same pattern with Firefox 5. That’s an issue for the enterprise. Support means everything to CIOs, and for now, it seems Mozilla is falling short.

So-So Compatibility
The vast majority of enterprise solutions support Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Firefox, on the other hand, while strongly supported in the consumer space, lacks the level of compatibility for Web-based business apps. Until Firefox matches IE on this front, it will fall short for CIOs.

Internet Explorer 9
When CIOs pick the default browser for employees’ machines, they factor in several features, including compatibility, security, speed, and more. And although Internet Explorer hasn’t always been the best solution, the latest version -- IE 9 -- offers advantages over Firefox.

The Add-On Problem
Mozilla’s Firefox browser is perhaps best known for its extensions. People can use add-ons from developers to extend the use of their software. The security and usability of add-ons for the enterprise can be called into question. And in some cases, they can be a productivity drain. Extensions are nice, but they’re not ideal for corporate users.

Security Concerns
Overall, Firefox has always been a secure browser. The only issue is, with the new update cycle, Mozilla has said that it will no longer support past versions of the browser. So, if security vulnerabilities crop up, Mozilla won’t cover them. That’s a major problem for CIOs.

It’s Still Consumer-Focused
By and large, the Firefox community is made up of consumers. Mozilla focuses on pleasing its core audience, rather than appealing to corporate customers. That approach certainly hasn’t hurt Firefox’s growth. But it could prove to be devastating to the browser’s enterprise adoption over the coming years.

Concerns About the Future
By the time all the computers in a large enterprise are running a new version of the browser, Mozilla will release another new version. The future is decidedly in doubt when it comes to Firefox.

Mozilla’s Cavalier Attitude
Even though corporate customers are taking issue with the browser, Mozilla continues to trudge on with its plans. And along the way, CIOs are becoming discouraged by what they find. In the cold war between CIOs and Mozilla, neither side is willing to budge.

It Comes Down to Trust
CIOs like to work with companies that they know they can trust. From a feature and security perspective, Mozilla hasn’t done anything to break that trust. But its handling of Firefox updates has caused CIOs to take pause.

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