Configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus for session hosts

To configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus for session hosts in an Azure Virtual Desktop environment, you can follow the steps outlined below. This guide will help you ensure the security of your session hosts and protect against malware threats.

1. Provision session hosts

Before configuring Microsoft Defender Antivirus, you need to provision your session hosts in Azure Virtual Desktop. Ensure that your session hosts are up and running properly.

2. Connect to session hosts

Connect to your session hosts using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or any other preferred method.

3. Validate Microsoft Defender Antivirus installation

Check if Microsoft Defender Antivirus is already installed on your session hosts. Open the Start menu and search for “Windows Security.” If the Windows Security app is displayed, it means Microsoft Defender Antivirus is installed. Move on to the next step if it is not installed.

4. Install Microsoft Defender Antivirus

If Microsoft Defender Antivirus is not installed, install it using the following steps:

1. Open a web browser and navigate to the Microsoft Defender Antivirus webpage.
2. Download the Microsoft Defender Antivirus installer package for server operating systems.
3. Run the installer package and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

5. Configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus exclusions

Configure exclusions to prevent Microsoft Defender Antivirus from scanning certain files, folders, or processes. This is important to avoid performance issues and conflicts with critical components of your session hosts. To configure exclusions, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security on the session host.
2. Go to Virus & threat protection settings.
3. Under Exclusions, click on “Add or remove exclusions.”
4. Add exclusions for files, folders, file types, processes, or file extensions that you want Microsoft Defender Antivirus to ignore. You can add exclusions individually or in bulk using the “Add an exclusion” option.

6. Enable and configure real-time protection

Real-time protection continuously monitors your session hosts for malware threats. To enable and configure real-time protection, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security on the session host.
2. Go to Virus & threat protection settings.
3. Under Real-time protection, toggle the switch to turn it on.
4. Configure any additional settings such as cloud-delivered protection, automatic sample submission, or tamper protection based on your organization’s requirements.

7. Schedule periodic scans

Periodic scans help ensure comprehensive malware detection and removal. To set up scheduled scans, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Security on the session host.
2. Go to Virus & threat protection settings.
3. Under Quick scan or Full scan, click on “Manage settings.”
4. Configure the scan type (quick or full), time, and frequency of scans.

8. Monitor and respond to threats

Regularly monitor the Microsoft Defender Security Center or your preferred centralized security management console for any detected threats or alerts. Respond to any identified threats according to your organization’s incident response procedures.

Following these steps will help you configure Microsoft Defender Antivirus for session hosts in your Azure Virtual Desktop environment. This ensures that your session hosts are protected against malware threats, offering a secure and reliable virtual desktop experience for your users.