Windows 7/8.1 Defender ATP Gains Support for Windows 10 Migrations

Microsoft plans to support both Windows 7 and Windows 8 on Windows Defender ATP, adding Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) and supporting customers' active endpoints during Windows 10 migrations.

The implementation of EDR will allow organizations to gain insight into their Windows 7 and 8.1 endpoints and provide information on any security issues that might surface on those Windows 7 and 8 devices while an IT department continues their company's Windows 10 migrations. These insights will be available in the Windows Defender Security Center, a cloud portal for monitoring ATP.

Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is built right into Windows 10 and security has been a built in component of the operating system since it was first released back in 2015.  Of course, it's built to work with Windows Defender, the security software included in all versions of Windows 10, but this implementation will support working with antivirus software from other companies. However, if a company wants to make the move to System Center Endpoint Protection and get Windows Defender ATP on its systems, it will enjoy a much richer detection and trigger experience for the alerts in Windows Defender Security Center.

Today’s news from Microsoft fits right alongside recent actions they have taken to extend the support of each feature update for Windows 10 to a full 24 month period – an additional six months – and in full support of companies as they work on their Windows 10 migrations.

When I spoke with Ami Casto from Adaptiva about the process for a business upgrade of Windows 7 to Windows 10, one of the key details was just how busy these organizations will be as they learn, plan, and execute Windows 10 migrations. Anything that helps streamline the management of a mixed environment of operating systems during that transition is going to be a tremendous help with that workload.