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Configure definition updates for Endpoint Protection

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Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

With Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager, you can use any of several available methods to keep antimalware definitions up to date on client computers in your hierarchy. The information in this topic can help you to select and configure these methods.

To update antimalware definitions, you can use one or more of the following methods:

Important

For Windows 10 or later PCs, you must configure Endpoint Protection to update malware definitions for Windows Defender.

How to Configure Definition Update Sources

Use the following procedure to configure the definition update sources to use for each antimalware policy.

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Assets and Compliance.

  2. In the Assets and Compliance workspace, expand Endpoint Protection, and then click Antimalware Policies.

  3. Open the properties page of the Default Antimalware Policy or create a new antimalware policy. For more information about how to create antimalware policies, see How to create and deploy antimalware policies for Endpoint Protection.

  4. In the Security Intelligence updates section of the antimalware properties dialog box, click Set Source.

    • The Definition updates section was renamed to Security Intelligence updates starting in Configuration Manager version 1902.

  5. In the Configure Definition Update Sources dialog box, select the sources to use for definition updates. You can click Up or Down to modify the order in which these sources are used.

  6. Click OK to close the Configure Definition Update Sources dialog box.

Configure Endpoint Protection definitions

  • Updates distributed from Configuration Manager - This method uses Configuration Manager software updates to deliver definition and engine updates to computers in your hierarchy.

  • Updates distributed from Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) - This method uses your WSUS infrastructure to deliver definition and engine updates to computers.

  • Updates distributed from Microsoft Update - This method allows computers to connect directly to Microsoft Update in order to download definition and engine updates. This method can be useful for computers that are not often connected to the business network.

  • Updates distributed from Microsoft Malware Protection Center - This method will download definition updates from the Microsoft Malware Protection Center.

  • Updates from UNC file shares - With this method, you can save the latest definition and engine updates to a share on the network. Clients can then access the network to install the updates.