The Windows Threat Protection feature is subdivided into two sections:
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus: This is an inbuilt AV program that scans, detects, and removes malware in data center, office, or hybrid environments.
- Microsoft Defender for Identity: This provides Azure virtual desktop hosts protection against identity-based threats including Pass-The-Ticket (PTT), Pass-The-Hash (PTH) attacks, etc.
The following table shows the Microsoft Defender versus several third-party antimalware solutions.
| Feature | Microsoft Defender Antivirus | Third Party Antivirus |
|---|---|---|
| Market acceptance | High | Medium to High |
| Compatibility with Azure and Microsoft products | Made for Microsoft, thus 100% | Depends on the vendor |
| Performance overhead | Low | Medium to High |
Windows Defender Application Control
Another feature of Windows Threat Protection is Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC), which aids in managing which applications and files should be granted access on your network. WDAC policies help keep your organization secure by only permitting applications that administrators have explicitly allowed in the policy.
The most important advantage of using WDAC is that it operates at the kernel level, providing a higher security level than user-mode protection mechanisms.
Creating a WDAC policy involves numerous steps which involves auditing mode, converting the policy to binary form, and deploying the policy. Below is an example of how you can create a WDAC policy:
New-CIPolicy -Level PcaCertificate -Fallback Hash -FilePath C:\WDAC\MyPolicy.xml -UserPEs
This command generates a WDAC policy that developers the apps that were signed with Microsoft-issued PCA 2010 and PCA 2011 certificates. The -Fallback Hash parameter adds a file rule for files that aren’t signed.
Integration of WDAC with Azure Virtual Desktop Session Hosts
Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts are virtual machines that provide a desktop and app virtualization service. Integrating WDAC with AZV sessions allows for protective measures to prevent malicious or potentially unwanted applications from executing.
To plan and implement this integration:
- Policy Creation: Define WDAC policies that meet the specific needs of your organization. For Azure Virtual desktops, the policies need to be strict yet flexible enough to allow desktop operations.
- Policy Deployment: Deploy the created policies to all Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts. The deployment can be done using Group Policy, Intune, or PowerShell.
- Review and Update: Regularly reviewing and updating the WDAC policies ensures that they are continually compatible with the organization’s needs and the updates in Azure Virtual Desktop.
With Windows Threat Protection, including Windows Defense Application Control, your Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts will be much more secure. The detailed planning and implementation process depends upon one’s organizational policies, infrastructural requirements, and the flexibility provided by Azure services. Thus, every system may have unique configuration settings.
Remember, securing your Azure Virtual Desktop host sessions with WDAC is not only key to maintain system integrity, but a mandatory requirement set by Microsoft for the AZ-140 certification examination.
Practice Test
True/False: Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) restricts the software that users can run on their devices.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: WDAC is a feature in Azure used to control what software is allowed to run on the user’s device and which is not. It restricts software that can potentially harm the device.
What is the primary function of Windows Defender Application Control in Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts?
- a) Monitor internet access
- b) Restrict software execution
- c) Enhance system performance
- d) Manage user authentication
Answer: b) Restrict software execution
Explanation: Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) is designed to restrict software execution to increase security, it doesn’t manage user authentication, monitor the internet, or enhance system performance.
True/False: It is mandatory to have Windows Threat Protection on each Azure Virtual Desktop.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Although it is highly recommended for security purposes, it’s not mandatory to have Windows Threat Protection on each Azure Virtual Desktop. It depends on user needs and security standards.
Which of the following tools can be used to configure WDAC?
- a) Azure Portal
- b) Group Policy
- c) Microsoft Intune
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: The WDAC policy can be configured through several different management tools such as Group Policy, Microsoft Intune, or manually through the Azure portal.
True/False: Windows Threat Protection features can only be implemented when setting up new Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Windows Threat Protection features can not only be implemented when setting up new session hosts but can also be integrated into existing Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts.
True/False: Azure virtual desktop comes with built-in Windows Defender Application Control.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Although Azure Virtual Desktop comes with built-in security measures, Windows Defender Application Control must be set up and configured according to specific user needs.
What is Azure Threat Protection primarily used for in Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts?
- a) Enhancing performance
- b) Deploying applications
- c) Enhancing security
- d) All of the above
Answer: c) Enhancing security
Explanation: Azure Threat Protection is primarily aimed at enhancing security by providing various features such as threat intelligence, network protection, and control over what software can run on systems.
True/False: WDAC in Azure Virtual Desktop allows any software to run by default.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: WDAC is designed to restrict software that users can run on their devices. By default, it allows only trusted software to run, ensuring system security.
What are the two modes in which a WDAC policy can be implemented?
- a) Enforced mode
- b) Audit mode
- c) Mixed mode
- d) a & b
Answer: d) a & b
Explanation: A WDAC policy can be implemented either in Enforced mode where the policy will block software, or in Audit mode where the policy will only monitor and report the operation.
True/False: Microsoft Intune can be used to deploy WDAC policies to Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service that can be used to deploy WDAC policies to Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts, allowing centralized control over policy enforcement.
Interview Questions
1. How can you plan and implement Windows Threat Protection features on Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts?
You can plan and implement Windows Threat Protection features by utilizing Windows Defender Antivirus, which is built into Windows Virtual Desktop.
2. What is Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) and how does it enhance security on session hosts?
Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) is a security feature that helps prevent unauthorized applications and scripts from running on session hosts, thereby enhancing the security posture of the environment.
3. What are the steps to configure Windows Defender Application Control on Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts?
You can configure WDAC on session hosts by creating policies that specify what software is allowed to run and then applying those policies to the hosts.
4. How does Windows Defender Antivirus protect Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts from malware and other threats?
Windows Defender Antivirus continuously monitors the session hosts for malware, viruses, and other malicious software, providing real-time protection against various threats.
5. In what ways does Windows Defender Application Control help in mitigating the risks associated with unauthorized software execution on session hosts?
Windows Defender Application Control helps mitigate risks by allowing only trusted applications to run on session hosts, preventing unapproved software from being executed.
6. Why is it important to regularly update and maintain Windows Defender Antivirus on Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts?
Regularly updating and maintaining Windows Defender Antivirus ensures that the session hosts are protected against the latest security threats and vulnerabilities.
7. What role does Windows Defender SmartScreen play in protecting Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts?
Windows Defender SmartScreen helps protect session hosts by identifying and blocking potentially malicious websites, downloads, and applications.
8. How can administrators monitor the security status of Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts using Windows Defender Security Center?
Administrators can monitor the security status of session hosts by using the Windows Defender Security Center to view alerts, scan results, and other security-related information.
9. What steps should be taken to ensure that Windows Defender Antivirus is properly configured and optimized for performance on Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts?
To ensure proper configuration and performance optimization, administrators should configure scheduled scans, exclusions, and ensure that real-time protection is enabled and up-to-date.
10. How does Windows Defender Application Guard help enhance security on Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts?
Windows Defender Application Guard helps isolate potentially malicious websites and applications on session hosts, providing an additional layer of protection against security threats.
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