Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection coming to Windows 7 and 8.1

(credit: Jerry Raia)

Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), Microsoft's security software that combines end-point security and data collection with cloud analytics, has hitherto been unique to Windows 10. But no longer; Microsoft announced today that it's bringing the same features to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

Coming this summer, the Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) portions of ATP will be available for these older operating systems, allowing their health and status to be managed through the cloud interface. This will be paired with either third-party antivirus for endpoint protection or Windows Defender/System Center Endpoint Protection.

This move shows the contradictory position Microsoft finds itself in. On the one hand, Microsoft wants enterprises to deploy and use ATP as it continues to build its cloud-based device management and monitoring software. On the other hand, Redmond wants those same companies to upgrade to Windows 10. This creates a tension: having ATP as a Windows 10 exclusive feature makes Windows 10 more attractive-Microsoft says that security is one of the major reasons enterprises cite for moving to the new operating system-but with many organizations still having Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 systems that they need to support, the inability to monitor those machines makes ATP less attractive.

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