TMA-INTUNE-DEFENDER-2.46

Ensure 'Signature Update Interval' is set to '4' or fewer, but not '0'

HighLevel 1Automatedintune-defender

Description

This policy setting configures an interval at which to check for security intelligence updates. Security intelligence updates are the continuously updated packages that Microsoft Defender Antivirus uses to recognize, classify, and block the latest malware, spyware, unwanted software, and potentially harmful behaviors. The recommended state for this setting is: 4 or fewer, but not 0. Note: The time value is represented as the number of hours between update checks. Valid values range from 1 (every hour) to 24 (once per day). Audit: reads the registry value(s) behind this Defender policy (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender) and prints compliant only when each satisfies the benchmark value. Policy delivered by Intune only appears here once it has been applied to the device.

How it is checked

Audit method: Windows registry

registry

$bad = @(); $v = (Get-ItemProperty -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\SignatureUpdates' -Name 'SignatureUpdateInterval' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).'SignatureUpdateInterval'; if (-not ($null -ne $v -and @(4,3,2,1) -contains [int64]$v)) { $bad += 'SignatureUpdateInterval=' + $v }; if ($bad.Count -eq 0) { 'compliant' } else { 'non-compliant: ' + ($bad -join ', ') }

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

To establish the recommended configuration via configuration profiles, set the following Settings Catalog path to 4 or fewer, but not 0: Defender\Signature Update Interval To establish the recommended configuration via Endpoint Security Blade: 1. Navigate to Endpoint Security 2. Click Antivirus 3. Click Create Profile 4. Select Windows for the Platform and Microsoft Defender Antivirus for Profile 5. Name the profile 6. Configure Signature Update Interval to 4 or fewer, but not 0

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: intune-defenderintuneregistry
Reference: CIS Microsoft Intune for Microsoft Defender Antivirus Benchmark v1.0.0 - 2.46 Ensure 'Signature Update Interval' is set to '4' or fewer, but not '0'

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target intune-defender