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Microsoft Defender ATP Is “Generally Available” for Macs
As of June 28, Microsoft has expanded its flagship endpoint security platform, Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), to now support Mac operating systems. Using Microsoft Intune and Jamf, customers can manage Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac on compatible macOS including Mojave, High Sierra, and Sierra.
To leverage Microsoft Defender ATP, one of the following Microsoft Volume Licensing offers is required:
- Windows 10 Enterprise E5
- Windows 10 Education E5
- Microsoft 365 E5 (M365 E5), which includes Windows 10 Enterprise E5
At the present time, the “Full Microsoft defender ATP integration is not available quite yet,” Microsoft wrote in the “Known issues” section of its documentation online; however, there’s evidence that the tech giant is actively testing and modifying the product in response to its call for user feedback. I would expect the full integration to be out within the next few months.
Note: Different licenses support different Defender ATP features. For more information on the list of features corresponding to the associated licenses, please click here.
Source: Microsoft.com, Accessed August 21, 2019.
Our Take
While Microsoft may appear slow to the game for cross–operating system integration, its unified endpoint security solution is advantageous for organizations working in heterogeneous environments. The consolidated product centralizes endpoint security in Microsoft Defender Security Center for both operating systems, resulting in a more seamless experience for analysts managing and monitoring endpoints. Overall, Microsoft’s move to include Mac is a strategic decision that aligns with its consumers’ interests and needs. While Microsoft Defender ATP is popular among organizations that are Windows shops, it will be interesting to see how Microsoft changes the endpoint security market share through this expansion.