Windows Defender ATP to add support for Windows 7 and 8.1 this summer

Microsoft has announced that it will soon add support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). Previously only available as a threat-detection service for Windows 10, Windows Defender ATP will support Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) functionality on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices.

Windows Defender ATP is expected to be available for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8.1 starting this summer, but a public preview will be available starting this spring. However, Windows Defender ATP will onyl be available for Windows 7 and 8.1 for customers who are in the process of moving to Windows 10. The goal, Microsoft says, is to give security teams a way to keep an eye on all of their systems even if some are still waiting to be upgraded.

According to Microsoft, Windows Defender ATP can be run alongside third-party antivirus solutions, but the company recommends using it alongside Windows Defender Antivirus.

As businesses continue their Migration to Windows 10, the expansion of Windows Defender ATP to Windows 7 and 8.1 is sure to be welcome. The move should make the transition simpler by providing administrators with a single point to keep an eye on security threats across their environment. This also comes jsut a few months after Microsoft announced that Windows Defender ATP will soon be able to monitor threats across macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.