Microsoft Defender for Endpoint in Depth

About the Book

Gain an up-to-date, practical understanding of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and learn how to run it reliably in real environments with this expert-led practitioner's guide. Key Features Understand and compare Defender for Endpoint capability on non-Windows operating systems Learn how to deal with more complex deployment and configuration scenarios Find new ways of tuning the product to your specific environment Set yourself up for success by preparing for incidents with recommendations from seasoned professionals Book DescriptionModern organizations run on constantly changing endpoints, yet many teams still struggle to make Microsoft Defender for Endpoint a dependable control. Coverage gaps, noisy detections, mixed platforms, and unclear device behavior often get in the way of effective prevention, detection, and response. This second edition helps you tackle those challenges directly. Updated for today’s Defender for Endpoint and the broader Microsoft Defender ecosystem, it shows how MDE works across clients, servers, and now mobile devices, and how to align deployments with real-world constraints. New chapters on mobile threat defense, production rollout, and tuning provide practical guidance for moving beyond pilot environments, handling edge cases, and protecting critical and legacy assets. Throughout, the book brings together IT and SecOps viewpoints to help you operate Defender for Endpoint with more clarity and less friction. You’ll learn how to maintain sensor health, interpret incidents confidently, reduce noise without weakening protection, and troubleshoot recurring issues. Whether you’re refining an existing deployment or planning a new one, this edition gives you a clearer path to making Defender for Endpoint a reliable part of your security program.What you will learn Explore the current Defender for Endpoint architecture and capabilities Clarify how next-gen protection, ASR, and EDR work together Prepare a deployment plan that fits your estate, risk, and existing tools Roll out Defender for Endpoint to production in staged, testable phases Protect mobile devices using Defender for Endpoint and MTD Tune alerts, exclusions, and policies for different scenarios and assets Support SecOps investigations using incidents, hunting, and device data Diagnose common health, connectivity, and performance issues in live estates Who this book is forThis book is for cybersecurity professionals, security engineers, incident responders, and endpoint administrators who are responsible for planning, deploying, or operating Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. It assumes a basic understanding of systems management, endpoint security, security baselines, and networking. Returning readers get updated, real-world guidance plus new coverage of mobile devices, production rollouts, and tuning. New readers get a structured introduction from core concepts to deployment, operations, and troubleshooting.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents

1. A Brief History of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
2. Exploring Next-Generation Protection
3. Introduction to Attack Surface Reduction
4. Understanding Endpoint Detection and Response
5. Expanding to Other Platforms
6. Planning and Preparing for Deployment
7. Considerations for Deployment and Configuration
8. Rolling Out to Production
9. Tuning and SItuational Optimizations
10. Managing and Maintaining the Security Posture
11. Establishing Security Operations
12. Troubleshooting Common Issues
13. Reference Guide, Tips, and Tricks

About the Author :
With almost 20 years of industry experience and relevant certifications, Paul Huijbregts has a long history of working with customers across the world leveraging his passion for (Microsoft) security solutions – and being brutally honest about them. After joining Microsoft in 2016 and engaging regularly with Defender for Endpoint teams, Paul moved to Redmond (together with his wife and kids) to join them and become a product manager – in the middle of the pandemic (October 2020). Here, he is on what is called the “Platforms” team, working on solutions across operating systems and environments, focusing primarily on server endpoints and security management. His motto is: “I drink beer and I know Microsoft security things.” Ruairidh (Ru) Campbell is a Microsoft Security MVP and leads Microsoft consultancy at Threatscape. At Threatscape, Ru develops, delivers, and manages offerings and professional services for cybersecurity, compliance, identity, and management. In the cybersecurity community, Ru runs the Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance user group and his blog, regularly speaks at other user groups and conferences, and contributes to well-known industry publications such as Practical 365. Ru holds 14 Microsoft certifications and a B.Sc. (Distinction) in computer networking from the University of the West of Scotland. Away from cybersecurity, he is a petrolhead who enjoys heavy metal and hiking around Scotland with his wife. Joe Anich has 15 years of experience in the IT industry ranging from endpoint management with a focus on SCCM and Intune to endpoint security and incident response. Currently working on Microsoft's Detection and Response Team (DART), he works closely with customers during critical moments. Working in incident response has given Joe insight into SOC operations and how to help teams around the world improve their security posture as a whole. Outside of work, Joe enjoys running around the house with his 2-year-old son playing “chase me.” Fun fact: During the late 90s, Joe could be found at the roller-skating rink most Friday nights, gliding around the rink with a super rope in hand, maybe in JNCOs or Lee Pipes, vibing to 90s hip hop. Justen Graves is a security engineer with 14 years of IT experience. Most of his career has been focused on endpoint enablement and security, with the last 4 years spent at Microsoft. Currently working in Microsoft's Cyber Defense Operations Center, their internal SOC, he uses tools such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint every day to defend corporate Microsoft from attack. Justen has a BS in cybersecurity and an MBA. He holds many industry certifications, including CISSP, PMP, and GSEC, and several Microsoft certifications, including Azure Solutions Architect Expert and Enterprise Administrator Expert. Starting his career at Walmart and managing to never relocate, he resides in Northwest Arkansas with his wife and three children.