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

Equipment list

Here you can find the list of equipment used to create this tutorial.

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Tutorial GPO Defender – Configure the scheduled scan

On the domain controller, open the group policy management tool.

Windows - Group Policy management

Create a new group policy.

Windows 2012 - Group Policy Objects

Enter a name for the new group policy.

Windows - Add GPO

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.

Windows - Edit GPO

On the group policy editor screen, expand the Computer configuration folder and locate the following item.

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Access the folder named Scan.

GPO DEFENDER - SCAN

Enable the item named Specify the scan type to use for a scheduled scan.

Select the type of security scan.

GPO DEFENDER - SCHEDULED SCAN TYPE

Enable the item named Specify the day of the week to run a scheduled scan.

Select the desired day of the week.

GPO DEFENDER - SCHEDULED SCAN DAY

Enable the item named Specify the time of day to run a scheduled scan.

Enter the time to run the scheduled scan.

GPO DEFENDER - SCHEDULED SCAN TIME

Ensure that you enter the time in minutes after midnight.

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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.

Windows-2012-Applocker application

In our example, we are going to link the group policy named MY-GPO to the root of the domain.

GPO- tutorial linking

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.