Would you like to learn how to use a group policy to configure the Windows Defender scheduled scan? In this tutorial, we will show you how to create a group policy to configure the options of a Scheduled scan on Windows.
• Windows 2012 R2
• Windows 2016
• Windows 2019
• Windows 2022
• Windows 10
• Windows 11
Learn how to set up and manage scheduled scans for multiple computers in your organization with Windows GPO. Achieve optimal network security with our step-by-step instructions, best practices, and troubleshooting tips
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Tutorial GPO Defender - Configure the scheduled scan
On the domain controller, open the group policy management tool.
Create a new group policy.
Enter a name for the new group policy.
In our example, the new GPO was named: MY-GPO.
On the Group Policy Management screen, expand the folder named Group Policy Objects.
Right-click your new Group Policy Object and select the Edit option.
On the group policy editor screen, expand the Computer configuration folder and locate the following item.
Access the folder named Scan.
Enable the item named Specify the scan type to use for a scheduled scan.
Select the type of security scan.
Enable the item named Specify the day of the week to run a scheduled scan.
Select the desired day of the week.
Enable the item named Specify the time of day to run a scheduled scan.
Enter the time to run the scheduled scan.
Ensure that you enter the time in minutes after midnight.
To save the group policy configuration, you need to close the Group Policy editor.
Congratulations! You have finished the GPO creation.
Tutorial GPO Defender - Configure the scheduled scan
On the Group policy management screen, you need to right-click the Organizational Unit desired and select the option to link an existent GPO.
In our example, we are going to link the group policy named MY-GPO to the root of the domain.
After applying the GPO you need to wait for 10 or 20 minutes.
During this time the GPO will be replicated to other domain controllers.
In our example, we configured a Windows Defender scheduled security scan using a GPO.
