Today, February 12, Microsoft announced the Windows Defender ATP (Advanced Threat Protection) support for Windows 7 and 8.1. It is their intention to provide security solutions as supremely possible till January 2020, the time when they stop all support for Windows 7 to encourage and convert users to Windows 10.
The Defender ATP for Windows is a ‘unified endpoint security platform’ dedicated to stopping breaches. This was also the first time for Microsoft that they built protection and system in response to threats right into the OS and powered by their cloud.
Users majorly reported that the security standard of Windows 10 had been inspiring for their move to Windows 10. The release targets the users who are currently in transition and still have at least Windows 7 devices in possession.
Windows 7 and 8.1 will as well get an EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solution for security experts to get more details on threats on their endpoints. Rob Lefferts, Partner Director, Windows & Devices Group, Security & Enterprise, list benefits the experts will receive from correlated alerts for known and unknown adversaries, additional threat intelligence, and a detailed machine timeline for further investigations and manual response options.
Microsoft reminds users that the new security solution will work simultaneously with third-party antivirus software, although Microsoft Windows Defender Antivirus will provide further compatibility. It will be available for users by this summer.
There will be public preview access to down-level EDR solutions by the coming spring, and this will be not just for the customers. Security teams, too, will be able to ‘detect suspicious behavior’ on Windows 7 and 8.1 devices.
Microsoft is additionally bringing cross-platform security support for various OS: Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. The other partners joining the company in this effort are Ziften, Lookout, and Bitdefender. The new addition to this list starting today is SentinelOne which uses static and behavioral AI engines providing not just similar security solutions but as well for encrypted traffic inspection with the help of a single autonomous agent.
We’re not stopping here, we’ll continue to deliver new capabilities to break down the economy of the attacks
evidently evincing Microsoft’s commitment towards providing security to the users. Stay tuned with us to receive the next update on Windows Defender solutions for when it happens!
