Would you like to learn how to use a group policy to enable the Windows Defender cloud-based protection on Windows? In this tutorial, we will show you how to create a group policy to enable the cloud-based protection built-in the Windows Defender application on the domain computers.
• Windows 2012 R2
• Windows 2016
• Windows 2019
• Windows 10
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Tutorial GPO – Windows Defender cloud-based protection
On the domain controller, open the group policy management tool.
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Create a new group policy.
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Enter a name for the new group policy.
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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.
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On the group policy editor screen, expand the Computer configuration folder and locate the following item.
Access the folder named Windows Defender Antivirus.
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Access the sub-folder named Real-time protection.
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Disable the item named: Turn off real-time protection.
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Enable the item named: Scan all downloaded files and attachments.
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Access the sub-folder named MAPS.
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Enable the item named: Join Microsoft MAPS.
Select the Advanced MAPS option.
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Enable the item named: Send file samples when further analysis is required
Select the Send safe samples option.
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Enable the item named Block at First Sight.
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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.
Enable the Windows Defender cloud-based protection
On the Group policy management screen, you need to right-click the Organizational Unit desired and select the option to link an existent GPO.
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In our example, we are going to link the group policy named MY-GPO to the root of the domain.
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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.
On a remote computer, Verify the Windows Defender configuration.
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In our example, the Windows Defender application was configured to use cloud-based protection.