Device Control for macOS

Article
06/12/2024

Applies to:

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Requirements

Device Control for macOS has the following prerequisites:

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint entitlement (can be trial)
Minimum OS version: macOS 11 or higher
Minimum product version: 101.34.20

Overview

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Device Control feature enables you to:

Audit, allow, or prevent the read, write, or execute access to removable storage; and
Manage iOS and Portable devices, and Apple APFS encrypted devices and Bluetooth media, with or without exclusions.

Prepare your endpoints

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint entitlement (can be trial)
Minimum OS version: macOS 11 or higher
Deploy Full Disk Access: you may already have previously created and deployed this https://github.com/microsoft/mdatp-xplat/blob/master/macos/mobileconfig/profiles/fulldisk.mobileconfig for other MDE features. You need to grant Full Disk Access permission for a new application: com.microsoft.dlp.daemon.
Enable Device Control on the MDE Preference setting:
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP)/Features/
- For Feature Name, enter "DC_in_dlp"
- For State, enter "enabled"

Example 1: JAMF using schema.json.

Screenshot that shows how to enable Device Control in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Data Loss Prevention / Features.

Example 2: demo.mobileconfig

<key>dlp</key>
<dict> 
  <key>features</key>
  <array> 
	<dict> 
	  <key>name</key>
	  <string>DC_in_dlp</string>
	  <key>state</key>
	  <string>enabled</string>
	</dict>
  </array>
</dict>

Minimum product version: 101.91.92 or higher
Run mdatp version through Terminal to see the product version on your client machine:

Understanding policies

Policies determine the behavior of device control for macOS. The policy is targeted via Intune or JAMF to a collection of machines or users.

The Device Control for macOS policy includes settings, groups, and rules:

Global setting called 'settings' allows you to define the global environment.
Group called 'groups' allows you to create media groups. For example, authorized USB group or encrypted USB group.
Access policy rule called 'rules' allows you to create policy to restrict each group. For example, only allow authorized user to Write access-authorized USB group.

Note

We recommend you use the examples on the GitHub to understand the properties: mdatp-devicecontrol/Removable Storage Access Control Samples/macOS/policy at main - microsoft/mdatp-devicecontrol (github.com).

You can also use the scripts at mdatp-devicecontrol/tree/main/python#readme at main - microsoft/mdatp-devicecontrol (github.com) to translate Windows Device Control policy to macOS Device Control policy or translate macOS Device Control V1 policy to this V2 policy.

Note

There are known issues with device control for macOS that customers should consider when creating policies.

Best practices

Device control for macOS has similar capabilities to Device control for Windows, but macOS and Windows provide different underlying capabilities to manage devices, so there are some important differences:

macOS doesn't have a centralized Device Manager or view of devices. Access is granted/denied to applications that interact with devices. This is why on macOS there are a richer set of access types. For example on a portableDevice device control for macOS can deny or allow download_photos_from_device.
To stay consistent with Windows, there are generic_read,generic_write and generic_execute access types. Policies with generic access types don't need to be changed if/when additional specific access types are added in the future. The best practice is to use generic access types unless there's a specific need to deny/allow a more specific operation.
Creating a deny policy using generic access types is the best way to attempt to completely block all operations for that type of device (e.g. Android phones), but there may still be gaps if the operation is performed using an application that isn't supported by macOS device control.

Settings

Here are the properties you can use when you create the groups, rules, and settings in device control policy for macOS.

Property name	Description	Options
features	Feature specific configurations	You can set `disable` to false or true for following features: - `removableMedia` - `appleDevice` - `portableDevice`, including camera or PTP media - `bluetoothDevice` The default is `true`, so if you don't configure this value, it will not apply even if you create a custom policy for `removableMedia`, because it's disabled by default.
global	Set default enforcement	You can set `defaultEnforcement` to - `allow` (default) - `deny`
ux	You can set a hyperlink on notification.	`navigationTarget: string`. Example: `"http://www.microsoft.com"`

Group

Property name	Description	Options
`$type`	The kind of group	"device"
`id`	GUID, a unique ID, represents the group and will be used in the policy.	You can generate the ID through New-Guid (Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility) - PowerShell or the uuidgen command on macOS
`name`	Friendly name for the group.	string
`query`	The media coverage under this group	See the query properties tables below for details.

Query

Device Control supports two kinds of queries:

Query type 1 is as follows:

Property name	Description	Options
`$type`	Identify the logical operation to perform on the clauses	all: Any attributes under the clauses are an And relationship. For example, if the administrator puts `vendorId` and `serialNumber`, for every connected USB, the system checks to see whether the USB meets both values. and: is equivalent to all any: The attributes under the clauses are Or relationship. For example, if administrator puts `vendorId` and `serialNumber`, for every connected USB, system does the enforcement as long as the USB has either an identical `vendorId` or `serialNumber` value. or: is equivalent to any
`clauses`	Use media device property to set group condition.	An array of clause objects that are evaluated to determine group membership. See the Clause section below.

Query type 2 is as follows:

Property name	Description	Options
`$type`	Identify the logical operation to perform on the subquery	not: logical negation of a query
`query`	A subquery	A query which will be negated.

Clause

Clause properties

Property name	Description	Options
`$type`	The type of clause	See the following table for supported clauses.
`value`	$type specific value to use

Supported clauses

clause $type	value	Description
`primaryId`	One of: - `apple_devices` - `removable_media_devices` - `portable_devices` - `bluetooth_devices`
`vendorId`	4 digit hexadecimal string	Matches a device's vendor ID
`productId`	4 digit hexadecimal string	Matches a device's product ID
`serialNumber`	string	Matches a device's serial number. Doesn't match if the device doesn't have a serial number.
`encryption`	apfs	Match if a device is apfs-encrypted.
`groupId`	UUID string	Match if a device is a member of another group. The value represents the UUID of the group to match against. The group must be defined within the policy prior to the clause.

Access policy rule

Property name	Description	Options
`id`	GUID, a unique ID, represents the rule and will be used in the policy.	New-Guid (Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility) - PowerShell uuidgen
`name`	String, the name of the policy and will display on the toast based on the policy setting.
`includeGroups`	The group(s) that the policy will be applied to. If multiple groups are specified, the policy applies to any media in all those groups. If not specified, the rule applies to all devices.	The id value inside the group must be used in this instance. If multiple groups are in the `includeGroups`, it's AND. `"includeGroups": ["3f082cd3-f701-4c21-9a6a-ed115c28e217"]`
`excludeGroups`	The group(s) that the policy doesn't apply to.	The id value inside the group must be used in this instance. If multiple groups are in the excludeGroups, it's OR.
`entries`	One rule can have multiple entries; each entry with a unique GUID tells Device Control one restriction.	See entry properties table later in this article to get the details.

The following table lists the properties you can use in your entry:

Property name	Description	Options
`$type`		Includes: - `removableMedia` - `appleDevice` - `PortableDevice` - `bluetoothDevice` - `generic`
enforcement		- `$type`: - `allow` - `deny` - `auditAllow` - `auditDeny` When $type allow is selected, options value supports: - `disable_audit_allow` Even if Allow happens and the auditAllow is setting configured, the system won't send event. When $type deny is selected, options value supports: `disable_audit_deny` Even if Block happens and the auditDeny is setting configured, the system won't show notification or send event. When $type auditAllow is selected, options value supports: `send_event` When $type auditDeny is selected, options value supports: `send_event` `show_notification`
`access`		Specify one or more access rights for this rule. These may include either device specific granular permissions, or broader generic permissions. See table below for more details on the valid access types for a given entry $type.
`id`	UUID

The following table lists the properties you can use in entry:

Enforcement

Enforcement property name

Property name	Description	Options
`$type`	The type of enforcement	See table below for supported enforcements
`options`	$type specific value to use	An array of options for the entry. May be omitted if not options are desired.

Enforcement type

Property name	Description	Options
`Enforcement $type`	`options` values [string]	Description
`allow`	`disable_audit_allow`	Even if Allow happens and the auditAllow is setting configured, the system won't send event.
`deny`	`disable_audit_deny`	Even if Block happens and the auditDeny is setting configured, the system won't show notification or send event.
`auditAllow`	`send_event`	Send telemetry
`auditDeny`	- `send_event` - `show_notification`	- Send telemetry - Display Block UX to user

Access types

entry $type	'access' values [string]	Generic Access	Description
appleDevice	backup_device	generic_read
appleDevice	update_device	generic_write
appleDevice	download_photos_from_device	generic_read	download photo from the specific iOS device to local machine
appleDevice	download_files_from_device	generic_read	download file(s) from the specific iOS device to local machine
appleDevice	sync_content_to_device	generic_write	sync content from local machine to specific iOS device
portableDevice	download_files_from_device	generic_read
portableDevice	send_files_to_device	generic_write
portableDevice	download_photos_from_device	generic_read
portableDevice	debug	generic_execute	ADB tool control
*removableMedia	read	generic_read
removableMedia	write	generic_write
removableMedia	execute	generic_execute	generic_read
bluetoothDevice	download_files_from_device
bluetoothDevice	send_files_to_device	generic_write
generic	generic_read		Equivalent to setting all access values denoted in this table that map to generic_read.
generic	generic_write		Equivalent to setting all access values denoted in this table that map to generic_write.
generic	generic_execute		Equivalent to setting all access values denoted in this table that map to generic_execute.

End-user experience

Once Deny happens and the notification is enabled in the policy, the end user sees a dialog:

Status

Use mdatp health --details device_control to inspect the Device Control status:

active                                      : ["v2"]
v1_configured                               : false
v1_enforcement_level                        : unavailable
v2_configured                               : true
v2_state                                    : "enabled"
v2_sensor_connection                        : "created_ok"
v2_full_disk_access                         : "approved"

active - feature version, you should see ["v2"]. (Device Control is enabled, but not configured.)
- [] - Device Control isn't configured on this machine.
- ["v1"] - You are on a preview version of Device Control. Migrate to version 2 using this guide. v1 is considered obsolete and not described in this documentation.
- ["v1","v2"] - You have both v1 and v2 enabled. Offboard from v1.
v1_configured - v1 configuration is applied
v1_enforcement_level - when v1 is enabled
v2_configured - v2 configuration is applied
v2_state - v2 status, enabled if fully working
v2_sensor_connection - if created_ok, then Device Control established connection to the system extension
v2_full_disk_access - if not approved, then Device Control can't prevent some or all operations

Reporting

You are able to see the policy event on Advanced hunting and Device Control report. For more information, see Protect your organization's data with Device Control.

Scenarios

Here are some common scenarios to help you familiarize with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Device Control.

Scenario 1: Deny any removable media but allow specific USBs

In this scenario, you need to create two groups: one group for any removable media, and another group for approved USBs group. You also need to create an access policy rule.

Step 1: Settings: enable Device Control and set Default Enforcement

"settings": { 

	"features": { 

		"removableMedia": { 

			"disable": false 

		} 

	}, 

	"global": { 

		"defaultEnforcement": "allow" 

	}, 

	"ux": { 

		"navigationTarget": "http://www.deskhelp.com" 

	} 

}

Step 2: Groups: Create any removable media group and approved-USBs group

Create a group to cover any removable media devices.
Create a group for approved USBs.
Combine those groups into one groups.

"groups": [ 

        { 

            "type": "device", 

            "id": "3f082cd3-f701-4c21-9a6a-ed115c28e211", 

            "name": "All Removable Media Devices", 

            "query": { 

                "$type": "all", 

                "clauses": [ 

                    { 

                        "$type": "primaryId", 

                        "value": "removable_media_devices" 

                    } 

                ] 

            } 

        }, 

        { 

            "type": "device", 

            "id": "3f082cd3-f701-4c21-9a6a-ed115c28e212", 

            "name": "Kingston Devices", 

            "query": { 

                "$type": "all", 

                "clauses": [ 

                    { 

                        "$type": "vendorId", 

                        "value": "0951" 

                    } 

                ] 

            } 

        } 

    ]

Step 3: Rules: Create Deny policy for unallowed USBs

Create access policy rule and put into rules:

"rules": [ 

	{ 

		"id": "772cef80-229f-48b4-bd17-a69130092981", 

		"name": "Deny RWX to all Removable Media Devices except Kingston", 

		"includeGroups": [ 

			"3f082cd3-f701-4c21-9a6a-ed115c28e211" 

		], 

		"excludeGroups": [ 

			"3f082cd3-f701-4c21-9a6a-ed115c28e212" 

		], 

		"entries": [ 

			{ 

				"$type": "removableMedia", 

				"id": "A7CEE2F8-CE34-4B34-9CFE-4133F0361035", 

				"enforcement": { 

					"$type": "deny" 

				}, 

				"access": [ 

					"read", 

					"write", 

					"execute" 

				] 

			}, 

			{ 

				"$type": "removableMedia", 

				"id": "18BA3DD5-4C9A-458B-A756-F1499FE94FB4", 

				"enforcement": { 

					"$type": "auditDeny", 

					"options": [ 

						"send_event", 

						"show_notification" 

					] 

				}, 

				"access": [ 

					"read", 

					"write", 

					"execute" 

				] 

			} 

		] 

	} 

]

In this case, only have one access rule policy, but if you have multiple, make sure to add all into rules.

Known Issues

Warning

Device Control on macOS restricts Android devices that are connected using PTP mode only. Device control does not restrict other modes such as File Transfer, USB Tethering and MIDI.