Antivirus & Threat Protection
Understanding the Concept
Endpoint security antivirus policies in Intune manage Microsoft Defender Antivirus settings. Policies control real-time protection, cloud-delivered protection, scan schedules, exclusions, and tamper protection.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint integration adds advanced threat protection: endpoint detection and response (EDR), attack surface reduction (ASR) rules, network protection, and web content filtering. Defender for Endpoint threat levels feed into compliance policies.
Antivirus exclusions should be carefully managed. Exclusions reduce security coverage and should only be added for known-good applications that cause false positives. Exclusion policies can be targeted to specific device groups.
Key Points
- Antivirus policies: real-time protection, cloud protection, scan schedules
- Tamper protection prevents unauthorized changes to Defender settings
- Defender for Endpoint: EDR, ASR rules, network protection
- Threat level integration with compliance policies
- Antivirus exclusions should be minimal and well-documented
- Attack Surface Reduction rules block common attack techniques
Why This Matters in Real Organizations
Endpoint antivirus is the first line of defense against malware. Proper configuration through Intune ensures consistent protection across all endpoints, with cloud-delivered protection providing real-time threat intelligence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Interview Tips
- Explain your endpoint antivirus management strategy
- Discuss ASR rules and their impact on security posture
- Describe Defender for Endpoint integration with Intune
Exam Tips (MD-102)
- Know antivirus policy settings and their effects
- Understand ASR rules and their configuration
- Know how Defender for Endpoint threat levels work with compliance
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