Microsoft Opens Defender ATP for Mac to Public Preview

Microsoft is opening Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) for Mac devices to public preview following a two-month limited preview period, the company said this week.

The Mac version of Microsoft's endpoint security platform, along with its new Threat & Vulnerability Management tool for Mac, was announced in March. There were two parts to Defender ATP on Mac: a new user interface on Mac clients called Defender ATP, built to resemble the Windows 10 interface, and reporting for Mac devices on the Defender ATP portal.

Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac can be installed on devices running macOS Mojave, High Sierra, or Sierra that admins want to protect. In its limited preview, it provided anti-malware protection and let users configure their defense by running scans (full, quick, custom path); reviewing detected threats; and quarantine, remove, or allow threats on the machine.

Users could also configure advanced settings: disable or enable real-time and cloud protection; add exclusions for files and paths; manage threat notifications; and manually check for updates. Microsoft also included its AutoUpdate service so Defender ATP for Mac was kept current. Admins can review alerts as they do on Windows machines, but Mac detections are included.

During the limited preview period, Microsoft worked with early users to collect feedback and make changes. Now, Defender ATP users who have enabled preview features can access Defender ATP for Mac via the onboarding section in the Microsoft Defender Security Center.

Read more details here.