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Windows Defender ATP coming to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1

Windows Defender ATP will now enable deep security insights for older Windows versions. (Source: Microsoft)
Windows Defender ATP will now enable deep security insights for older Windows versions. (Source: Microsoft)
Microsoft has announced support for Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, a Windows 10 only feature, to Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1. This is to help organizations protect themselves during the transition to Windows 10 from the aforementioned OSs.

Microsoft's Partner Director for Security and Enterprise, Rob Lefferts, announced in a blog post that the company is adding support for Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to clients running Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1. Windows Defender ATP is an endpoint detection and response (EDR) system that was earlier made available to enterprises running the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Microsoft is now extending the same EDR capabilities of Windows Defender to older versions of Windows to help protect organizations on the cusp of completing their migration to Windows 10.

Windows Defender ATP gives admins an overview of all security incidents happening on the network so as to enable them to take preventive action before they spread across the network. The software benefits from cloud-powered intelligence to detect both known and hitherto unknown security breaches. Windows Defender ATP works best with the Windows Defender Antivirus client (System Center Endpoint Protection) and allows admins to trigger the necessary actions directly from the console itself, although, it can also integrate with third-party security suites. Windows Defender ATP will start rolling out to enterprises using a mix on Windows 10, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8.1 PCs this summer with a public preview starting this spring. Lefferts also notes that Microsoft is working to enable Windows Defender ATP play nice with macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android via its partners to enable organizations mitigate risks even if they deploy multi-platform devices.

Now is probably the best time for enterprises to test and deploy Windows 10 builds so that they get timely security updates and patches. The Redmond giant has also relaxed its servicing timelines to ensure that enterprise users get sufficient time to upgrade from Windows 7, whose extended support expires on January 14, 2020.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2018 02 > Windows Defender ATP coming to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 2018-02-13 (Update: 2018-02-13)