title: Evaluate Microsoft Defender Antivirus description: Businesses of all sizes can use this guide to evaluate and test the protection offered by Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows. ms.service: defender-endpoint ms.localizationpriority: medium ms.topic: article author: chrisda ms.author: chrisda ms.reviewer: yongrhee manager: bagol ms.custom: nextgen ms.date: 10/20/2025 ms.subservice: ngp ms.collection:
- m365-security
- tier2
- mde-ngp
search.appverid: met150
appliesto:
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Use this guide to determine how well Microsoft Defender Antivirus protects you from viruses, malware, and potentially unwanted applications. It explains the important next-generation protection features of Microsoft Defender Antivirus available for both small and large enterprises, and how they increase malware detection and protection across your network.
- Windows
You can choose to configure and evaluate each setting independently, or all at once. We have grouped similar settings based upon typical evaluation scenarios, and include instructions for using PowerShell to enable the settings.
The guide is available:
- Evaluate Microsoft Defender Antivirus using PowerShell.
- In PDF format for offline viewing: Download the guide in PDF format.
You can also download a PowerShell that will enable all the settings described in the guide automatically. You can obtain the script alongside the PDF download above, or individually from PowerShell Gallery:
Important
The guide is currently intended for single-machine evaluation of Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Enabling all of the settings in this guide may not be suitable for real-world deployment.
For the latest recommendations for real-world deployment and monitoring of Microsoft Defender Antivirus across a network, see Deploy Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
Tip
If you're looking for Antivirus related information for other platforms, see:
- Set preferences for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on macOS
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Mac
- macOS Antivirus policy settings for Microsoft Defender Antivirus for Intune
- Set preferences for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Linux
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Linux
- Configure Defender for Endpoint on Android features
- Configure Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on iOS features
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Evaluate Microsoft Defender Antivirus using Microsoft Defender Endpoint Security Settings Management (Endpoint security policies)
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Evaluate Microsoft Defender Antivirus using Group Policy
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Evaluate Microsoft Defender Antivirus using Powershell
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Advanced technologies at the core of Microsoft Defender Antivirus
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Microsoft Defender Antivirus compatibility with other security products
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Microsoft Defender Antivirus and non-Microsoft antivirus solutions without Defender for Endpoint