That said, Higgins recommends IT managers don't ignore the browser market, particularly when users can install the software under the radar.

"Another example is IM - you can disable MSN messenger but staff can download Google Talk and install it," he said. "So you need to understand and believe there is a business case for Firefox and do the numbers. I doubt office workers are likely to install it on their home PC."

If IT managers are not careful, Higgins says, organizations can undermine their own policies.

"At a corporate desktop level there is the risk of an unknown proportion of mixed browsers," he said. "Organizations that I come across are running a mix but do the IT staff know they are running it? Even if you decide not to have it you can't ignore it."

Higgins also expressed doubts over the attractiveness of Firefox's XML User Interface Language (XUL) as an application development environment.