Multi-tenant endpoint security policies distribution is now in Public Preview
We’re excited to announce a key milestone in Defender’s multi-tenant management journey—Microsoft Defender for Endpoint security policies can now be distributed across multiple tenants from the Defender multi-tenant portal. This capability empowers security teams to manage policies at scale, ensuring consistency and saving valuable time. What is content distribution? Content distribution is a powerful Defender feature that enables scalable management of content across tenants. With this capability, you can create content distribution profiles in the multi-tenant portal that allow you to seamlessly replicate existing content—such as custom detection rules and now, endpoint security policies—from a source tenant to designated target tenants. Once distributed, the content runs on the target tenant, enabling centralized control with localized execution. How it works Security policies are now a selectable content type when creating a distribution profile. Simply choose existing policies from your home tenant and add them to the distribution profile. You can also decide which Microsoft Entra group(s) will be applied as scope. Policy targeting will be based on the Entra device groups that exist in every tenant, and you select the relevant groups for each tenant. Upon completion, policies are automatically distributed to the selected tenants and are applied on the targeted machines. Distributed policies also appear in a hierarchical view, with the original policy serving as the parent. You can find the policies that were distributed from the tenant under the original policy. This appears on the endpoint security policies page within multi-tenant management. The last distribution status for the original policy reflects the overall status of its distributed copies, and the tenants and tenant groups sections indicate the recipients of the policy. At any time, you can update the policies, tenants, scope or any other settings, and sync to apply these changes. This new capability enables consistency (maintaining uniform security posture across tenants), efficiency (eliminating manual duplication and reducing operational overhead), and scalability (easily expanding coverage as the tenant landscape grows). FAQ What pre-requisites are required? Access to more than one tenant with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, with delegated access via Azure B2B or GDAP (CSP Partners only), using the multi-tenant management capability. A subscription to Microsoft 365 E5 or Office E5. What permissions are needed to distribute MDE security policies? To access endpoint security policies, users require the security administrator role in each relevant tenant. To distribute content using multi-tenant management content distribution, the Security settings (manage) or Security Data Basic (read) permission is required. Both roles are assigned to the Security Administrator and Security Reader Microsoft Entra built-in roles by default. Can I update or expand distribution profiles later? Yes. You can add more content, include additional tenants, or modify scopes as needed. Learn more For more information, see Content distribution in multitenant management. To get started, navigate to the Content distribution page. To learn more about Microsoft Defender's endpoint protection, check out our website and video. To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.SAP Applications and Microsoft Defender for Linux
The typical audience for this blog is SAP Basis administrators and consultants. Enterprise Security is a specialist role and the activities described in this blog should be planned in conjunction with the Security Administrators. The objective of this blog is to provide a basic understanding of MDE on Linux and how to operate, check and troubleshoot problems on SAP VMs running MDE. This blog is focusing on two subcomponents: Next-generation protection (AntiVirus) and Endpoint detection and response (EDR). Next-generation protection is an AntiVirus (AV) product similar to AV solutions for Windows environments. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) detects and can block suspicious activity and system calls.MDM Security Baseline vs Intune Profile
Hi all, I am testing currently the 2 profiles in the Security Baselines in default configuration. As they are now checked against the endpoint there is one Error in the Per-settings status: Type of system scan to perform Problem is now - I cannot see anything configured in the MDM Security Baseline for May 2019 the setting itself in the Intune profile is configured. Any idea? Best regards Miguel
Security Copilot Clinic: AI‑Driven Agentic Defense for Healthcare
Healthcare security teams are operating under unprecedented pressure. Ransomware continues to target clinical environments, identity‑based attacks are increasing in sophistication, and the risk of PHI exposure remains a constant concern — all while SOC teams face chronic staffing shortages. Microsoft Security Copilot is now available for organizations using Microsoft 365 E5, bringing generative AI assistance directly into the security tools healthcare teams already rely on. This clinic series is designed to show how Security Copilot changes day‑one operations — turning noisy alerts into clear, actionable investigations and faster containment. Why attend this clinic For healthcare CISOs, SOC leaders, and security architects, Security Copilot represents more than an AI assistant — it’s a shift in how investigations are conducted across endpoint, identity, email, data, and cloud workloads. In this session, you’ll see how Security Copilot helps healthcare security teams: Move faster with confidence by summarizing complex evidence across security signals Reduce investigation fatigue by standardizing analyst workflows Communicate risk clearly by translating technical findings into leadership‑ready insights Protect patient data without adding new tools or headcount All examples and demonstrations are grounded in real healthcare security scenarios. What we’ll explore See the full incident picture in one place Microsoft‑built Security Copilot agents embedded across Defender, Entra, Intune, and Purview automatically correlate signals from endpoint, identity, email, data, and cloud applications into a single investigation view — eliminating manual pivoting between tools. Move from alert to action faster Embedded agents analyze related signals in real time and surface prioritized investigation paths along with recommended containment actions directly in the analyst workflow. Standardize investigations and reduce noise Agent‑driven prompts and investigation structure help standardize analyst response, reduce alert fatigue, and create repeatable workflows that scale in lean SOC environments. Protect PHI and communicate risk with confidence Security Copilot uses embedded data and threat intelligence to produce leadership‑ready summaries that clearly articulate potential PHI exposure, attack progression, and business impact. Session format and audience Format 60‑minute live session End‑to‑end demo Interactive Q&A Who should attend CISOs and Security Leaders SOC Managers and Analysts Security and Cloud Architects Clinical IT and Infrastructure Leaders Upcoming sessions Date Time (ET) Registration March 13, 2026 12:00 – 1:00 PM Session #1 March 20, 2026 12:00 – 1:00 PM Session #2 March 27, 2026 12:00 – 1:00 PM Session #3 Secure healthcare — together Security Copilot enables healthcare organizations to respond faster, investigate smarter, and communicate risk more effectively — all within the Microsoft security ecosystem teams already trust. If you’re evaluating how AI‑driven, agentic defense can support your healthcare SOC, this clinic will give you practical insight you can apply immediately.
MDE for Non‑Persistent VDI — Implementation Guide & Best Practices.
1. Overview: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) for Non‑Persistent VDI Non‑persistent VDI instances are reset or reprovisioned frequently. To ensure immediate protection and clean device inventory, MDE provides a dedicated onboarding path that calculates a persistent device ID and onboard early in the boot process. Key considerations: Use the VDI onboarding package and choose the single‑entry method (recommended) to avoid duplicate devices when hosts are recreated with the same name. Place the onboarding script in the golden image but ensure it executes only on child VMs (first boot) after the final hostname is assigned and the last reboot completes. Never fully onboard or boot the golden/template/replica image into production; if it happens, offboard and clean registry artifacts before resealing. Consider enabling the portal feature “Hide potential duplicate device records” to reduce inventory noise during transition periods. 2. Stage the scripts in the Golden Image (do NOT onboard the image) Goal: Ensure early, reliable onboarding of pooled VDI instances without tattooing the master image. Download the Windows onboarding package (Deployment method: VDI onboarding scripts for non‑persistent endpoints). Extract and copy the files to: C\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\Scripts\Startup Configure Local/Domain GPO to run the PowerShell script at startup (SYSTEM, highest privileges). For single‑entry, add Onboard-NonPersistentMachine.ps1 on the PowerShell Scripts tab. Ensure the script runs only after final hostname and the last reboot in your provisioning flow to prevent duplicate objects. Example (Domain GPO scheduled task at startup as SYSTEM): Program/Script: C\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe Arguments: -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File \srvshare\onboard\Onboard-NonPersistentMachine.ps1 3. Never Onboard the Golden/Template/Replica VM If the golden image was accidentally onboarded (Sense service started), you must offboard and clean before resealing: sc query sense del "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\Cyber\*.*" /f /s /q reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Advanced Threat Protection" /v senseGuid /f Run the official offboarding script for your tenant before cleanup, when available. 4. (Optional) Tag Devices Automatically from the Image Tags simplify scoping of device groups and policies. Add a DeviceTagging registry value during image build: reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Advanced Threat Protection\DeviceTagging" /v Group /t REG_SZ /d "VDI-NonPersistent" /f Tag appears after device info refresh; a reboot accelerates reporting. 5. Performance & AV Configuration for VDI (Important) 5.1 Shared Security Intelligence & Cache Maintenance Purpose: Reduce CPU and disk spikes at sign‑in by offloading unpackaging of definitions to a shared source and by pre‑running cache maintenance on the master image. Step‑by‑step GPO configuration: Create a secure UNC share for definition packages (e.g., \srvshare\WDAV-Update) and grant read to VDI computer accounts. GPO → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Microsoft Defender Antivirus → Security Intelligence Updates → Enable “Define security intelligence location for VDI clients” and set \srvshare\WDAV-Update. In the same node, set update cadence (daily time) and enable randomization to avoid I/O storms. PowerShell examples: Set-MpPreference -SignatureUpdateInterval 4 Set-MpPreference -SignatureFallbackOrder "InternalDefinitionUpdateServer|MicrosoftUpdateServer" Run Windows Defender Cache Maintenance on the golden image before sealing: schtasks /Run /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Cache Maintenance" 5.2 FSLogix Exclusions Why exclusions matter: FSLogix mounts user profiles as VHD/VHDX files. Scanning these at attach/detach causes logon delays, black screens, and app launch slowness. Paths and extensions to exclude: %TEMP%\*.VHD %TEMP%\*.VHDX %Windir%\TEMP\*.VHD %Windir%\TEMP\*.VHDX \\<storage>\<share>\*.VHD \\<storage>\<share>\*.VHDX \\<storage>\<share>\*.VHD.lock \\<storage>\<share>\*.VHD.meta \\<storage>\<share>\*.VHD.metadata \\<storage>\<share>\*.VHDX.lock \\<storage>\<share>\*.VHDX.meta \\<storage>\<share>\*.VHDX.metadata GPO: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Microsoft Defender Antivirus → Exclusions (File/Folder and Extension). PowerShell examples: Add-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension VHD,VHDX Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\ProgramData\FSLogix","\\storage\fslogix-share\*.VHD*" 5.3 General Scan Posture Real‑time & cloud‑delivered protection (GPO): Enable Real‑time protection, Cloud‑delivered protection, Join MAPS, and “Block at first sight.” Scheduled scans (GPO): Daily Quick Scan (e.g., 02:00) with randomization window. Weekly Full Scan (e.g., Sunday 03:00). Consider “Start the scheduled scan only when computer is on but not in use” to reduce user impact. CPU throttling settings: Set-MpPreference -ScanAvgCPULoadFactor 30 # 5..100 (0 = no throttling) Additional scheduling/throttling options (Intune/Policy CSP as applicable): ScanOnlyIfIdleEnabled = True DisableCpuThrottleOnIdleScans = True ThrottleForScheduledScanOnly = True EnableLowCPUPriority = True Validation commands: Get-MpPreference | fl ScanAvgCPULoadFactor,ScanScheduleQuickScanTime,SignatureUpdateInterval Get-MpComputerStatus | fl AMServiceEnabled,AntivirusSignatureVersion,RealTimeProtectionEnabled 6. Validate Onboarding After first boot of a pooled VM, verify device appears in Defender portal (Assets → Devices). For single‑entry method, reboot/redeploy a few instances with the same hostname and confirm one device object is reused. Optionally enable “Hide potential duplicate device records” (Settings → Endpoints → Advanced features). This is like only filtering the view of Devices list does actual remove the records from the MDE portal. Run a detection test if needed (per Microsoft guidance) to verify sensor connectivity. 7. Quick Checklist — Build Step Download VDI onboarding package from Defender portal. Copy scripts to Startup folder in golden image; configure GPO/Task to run PS1 at boot as SYSTEM. Do NOT onboard/boot the golden image into production; if it happens, offboard + clean senseGuid & Cyber cache. (Optional) Set DeviceTagging registry value for scoping (e.g., VDI-NonPersistent). Configure Shared Security Intelligence path; schedule updates; run Cache Maintenance on master image. Apply FSLogix AV exclusions (paths + extensions). Set scan posture (RTP + cloud, schedules, CPU throttling). Validate onboarding behavior and inventory cleanliness. 8. Summary & Best Practices Checklist for golden image: Script staged, not executed on master; executes only on child VMs at final boot stage. Shared Security Intelligence path configured; cache maintenance pre-run. FSLogix exclusions present prior to first user logon. RTP and cloud protection enabled; scans scheduled with randomization; CPU load factor tuned. Common pitfalls & fixes: Golden image onboarded → Offboard + clean registry/cache; reseal. Script runs before final hostname → Duplicate device records. Delay script until last reboot/final rename. No exclusions for FSLogix → Long logons/black screens. Add VHD/VHDX exclusions and share paths. Simultaneous scans across hosts → Enable randomization; schedule during off‑hours. References Onboard non‑persistent VDI devices: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/configure-endpoints-vdi Onboard Windows devices in Azure Virtual Desktop: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/onboard-windows-multi-session-device Configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus on RDS/VDI: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/deployment-vdi-microsoft-defender-antivirus FSLogix prerequisites (AV exclusions): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fslogix/overview-prerequisites Configure AV exclusions (file/extension/folder): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/configure-extension-file-exclusions-microsoft-defender-antivirus Create and manage device tags: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/machine-tags Advanced features (hide duplicate records): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/advanced-features Schedule antivirus scans using Group Policy: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/schedule-antivirus-scans-group-policy Troubleshoot MDAV scan issues (CPU throttling, idle scans): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/troubleshoot-mdav-scan-issuesEnd of Windows 10 Support: What Defender Customers Need to Know
As of today, October 14, 2025, Microsoft is officially ending support for Windows 10. This means that Windows 10 devices will no longer receive security or feature updates, nor technical support from Microsoft. While these devices will continue to operate, the lack of regular security updates increases vulnerability to cyber threats, including malware and viruses. Applications running on Windows 10 may also lose support as the platform stops receiving updates. Will Defender continue to protect Windows 10 devices? Defender supports a range of legacy systems, including Windows 10. (See here for a full list of supported operating systems.) Microsoft Defender will continue to provide detection and protection capabilities to the extent possible on Windows 10 and other legacy systems. Keep in mind that security solutions on legacy systems are inherently less secure and may not be able to receive all new features, so please review the next section for important actions you can take. For Windows 10 customers without Defender, Microsoft will continue to provide security intelligence updates for the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus protection through October 2028. Of course, Defender Antivirus alone isn't a comprehensive risk mitigation posture without Microsoft Defender detection and response deployed across your digital estate. What should customers do to protect their Windows 10 devices? Upgrade to Windows 11: Moving to Windows 11 is strongly recommended for PCs eligible to upgrade. Windows 11 delivers the latest security features, improved performance, and ongoing support at no additional cost. This is the best way to ensure your endpoints remain protected and compliant. Devices running Windows 10 will be more vulnerable, even with ongoing security intelligence updates (SIUs). Extended security update (ESU) program: If upgrading isn’t immediately possible, Microsoft offers an ESU program for Windows 10. The ESU program provides critical and important security updates but does not include new Windows features or technical support. Enterprise customers can purchase ESU for up to three years or receive it at no additional cost with a Windows 365 subscription. Cloud and virtual environments: Windows 10 devices accessing Windows 11 Cloud PCs via Windows 365 or Virtual Machines are entitled to ESU at no extra cost, with automatic updates. Consumer customers have options to enroll for one year of ESU, including free enrollment methods in certain regions. For further guidance, check out the posts below or connect with your Microsoft account team. End of support for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 | Microsoft Windows How to prepare for Windows 10 end of support by moving to Windows 11 today | Windows Experience Blog Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 | Microsoft Learn To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.
Defender Antivirus (AV) Passive Mode
Hi, While researching how to set Defender AV to passive mode I stumbled upon two registry keys: ForceDefenderPassiveMode https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/microsoft-defender-antivirus-compatibility?view=o365-worldwide#microsoft-defender-antivirus-and-non-microsoft-antivirusantimalware-solutions https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/microsoft-defender-antivirus-on-windows-server?view=o365-worldwide#set-microsoft-defender-antivirus-to-passive-mode-using-a-registry-key ForcePassiveMode https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/switch-to-microsoft-defender-onboard?view=o365-worldwide#set-microsoft-defender-antivirus-on-windows-server-to-passive-mode-manually https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/defender-endpoint/switch-to-microsoft-defender-setup?view=o365-worldwide#set-microsoft-defender-antivirus-to-passive-mode-on-windows-server Does either of you know which one is the correct one? Thanks, Andre
