AC 10. 2022

Date: December 16, 2021 

Memorandum to Federal Records Management Contacts: Use of ERA in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue support for the Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) browser on June 15, 2022. Because ERA works on Internet Explorer, we recommend that your organization implement “IE Mode” in Microsoft Edge so that ERA users can continue to access the ERA system. NARA successfully adopted and tested these agency-wide group policy settings using Microsoft’s methods to allow our internal users to access ERA with Edge instead of IE. 

While the method for how your organization’s IT Services manages browser group policy settings may vary, Microsoft’s steps for implementing “IE Mode” and updating enterprise site settings should be helpful in making the proper configuration changes. Once the settings are in place, the Microsoft Edge browser will automatically invoke “IE Mode” when users navigate to the ERA System. These steps will ensure that users can access and use the system successfully. 

Detailed steps to implement IE Mode and the Enterprise Site List can be found here:
https://www.archives.gov/files/era/records-mgmt/era-ie-mode.pdf.

For more information on “IE Mode,” please visit What is Internet Explorer mode? For more information on Microsoft’s Enterprise Site Configuration Strategy, please visit Enterprise site configuration strategy. 

Users may also access ERA via the Firefox browser. 

If you have questions related to implementing “IE Mode” settings for Microsoft Edge in your agency, please contact the ERA Service Desk at ERAHelp@nara.gov or 1-877-372-9594. 

LAURENCE BREWER   
Chief Records Officer 
for the U.S. Government