Prevent users from locally modifying Microsoft Defender Antivirus policy settings
Implementation Effort: Low
This setting is configured via Group Policy and does not require ongoing maintenance once deployed.
User Impact: Low
End users are not notified or required to take any action; changes are enforced silently through policy.
Overview
This configuration ensures that users cannot override Microsoft Defender Antivirus settings on their local devices. By default, when antivirus settings are deployed using Group Policy, local changes are blocked. However, administrators can explicitly configure override permissions for specific settings if needed (e.g., for security researchers). To enforce strict control, administrators should ensure all override policies are set to Disabled. This prevents users from using the Windows Security app, local Group Policy, or PowerShell to modify antivirus behavior.
This setting supports the Zero Trust principle of "Use least privilege access" by ensuring that only authorized administrators can change security configurations, reducing the risk of misconfiguration or intentional tampering by end users. If not implemented, users could weaken endpoint protection by disabling real-time scanning or cloud-delivered protection, increasing the risk of malware infections.