Evaluation Lab: Expanded OS support & Atomic Red Team simulations

Dear Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Support Team,

I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to seek clarification and guidance following a recent update concerning the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint’s Evaluation Lab. As per the latest communication and updates on the portal, it was indicated that the Evaluation Lab would be deprecated on January 18, 2024. Unfortunately, I have noticed that the Evaluation Lab feature is already unavailable in my portal, which has led to some confusion and hindered my testing plans.

Given the critical role that the Evaluation Lab has played in allowing users to test and evaluate features within a safe and controlled environment, its unavailability poses a significant challenge to my current workflow and evaluation processes. I was relying on this functionality for upcoming assessments and to familiarize myself with the latest security capabilities of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

Could you please provide me with the following information:

1. Confirmation of the Evaluation Lab’s deprecation date and the reason for its current unavailability in my portal.
2. Detailed information on the next available options or alternatives that Microsoft is offering to replace the Evaluation Lab functionality. It would be particularly helpful to understand any new tools or platforms that enable similar testing capabilities.
3. Guidance on how to access and utilize these alternatives, including any necessary steps to enable them on my portal.
4. Any additional resources, documentation, or support channels that you recommend to facilitate a smooth transition to these new testing environments?

Understanding the importance of continuous testing and evaluation in maintaining a robust security posture, I am keen to explore the alternatives provided by Microsoft to ensure seamless security assessments and feature evaluations moving forward.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your detailed response. Please let me know if you require any further information from my side to assist with this inquiry.

Thank you for your support and cooperation.