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Today in Microsoft Defender
Every tracked change across Microsoft Defender documentation, in plain English. Browse the archive from 1 January 2026 → About this project →
Advanced Hunting API retirement sets January 2027 migration deadline
Microsoft will retire the Defender for Endpoint and Defender XDR Advanced Hunting APIs by February 1, 2027; workflows must be manually migrated to the Microsoft Graph Security API by January 31. The period also brings a rolling Teams message-content table, an Endpoint Linux release with Azure Linux 4 support and socket-bind telemetry, and clearer AKS policy guidance for Defender for Cloud Security Gating.
- Advanced Hunting APIs retire on February 1, 2027
Defender XDR · Hunting and detection
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Defender XDR Advanced Hunting APIs are scheduled for retirement by February 1, 2027. Existing workflows must be manually migrated to the Microsoft Graph Security API by January 31, 2027.
- Teams message snippets and metadata enter Advanced Hunting
Defender XDR · Hunting and detection
The new MessageContents table is rolling out in Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Advanced Hunting from late September through mid-November 2026. Authorized analysts can query Teams message snippets and metadata for investigations, subject to specific permissions.
- AKS Deny policies can block Security Gating provisioning
Defender for Cloud · Cloud and workloads
Defender for Cloud guidance now documents that Deny policies targeting AKS managed clusters can produce RequestDisallowedByPolicy during Security Gating provisioning, even for compliant clusters. Administrators can identify the blocking assignment in the Activity Log and coordinate an Audit-mode change or narrowly scoped exemption.
- October Linux release adds Azure Linux 4 and socket-bind telemetry
Endpoint · Endpoint protection
The October 2026 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Linux release notes list version 101.26091.0004, Azure Linux 4 support, and TCP socket bind telemetry. After gradual rollout, the telemetry will be available in Advanced Hunting through DeviceNetworkEvents.
- Sentinel residency guidance revises regional data handling
Sentinel · Cloud and workloads
The Sentinel residency page now states that processed and configuration data are processed and stored in onboarding destination regions or applicable existing Defender XDR regions. It adds processed-data examples and removes the 21Vianet retirement notice.
This period briefing was generated by AI from the tracked Microsoft Learn and Message Center changes.
18 updates
Microsoft Defender XDR
6 updatesMicrosoft added public guidance describing five steps to strengthen threat defense: deploy relevant Defender workloads, configure automatic attack disruption, respond to incidents, prevent recurrence, and continuously optimize protection. It includes links to setup and attack-disruption configuration resources.
Custom Permissions Details
Doc updateThe permission details now state that Email & collaboration metadata Read access includes submitting email messages by Network message ID on the Submissions page. Documentation metadata and ontology links were also updated.
Microsoft is retiring the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Defender XDR Advanced Hunting APIs by February 1, 2027. Organizations must manually migrate workflows to the Microsoft Graph Security API by January 31, 2027, to ensure continued functionality and improved security integration.
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 introduces a new MessageContents table in Advanced Hunting for Teams messages, enabling authorized security analysts to query message snippets and metadata for threat investigations. Rollout is from late September to mid-November 2026. Access requires specific permissions and may impact security procedures.
Onboard Isoc Workspace
Doc updateThe documentation now states that an ISOC workspace follows the same data residency and retention behavior as an Azure Log Analytics workspace and links to related Microsoft Sentinel and Log Analytics guidance.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
2 updatesMicrosoft Defender Endpoint Releases
Feature updateThe October 2026 Linux release notes now list version 101.26091.0004, support for Azure Linux 4, and TCP socket bind telemetry. After gradual rollout, the telemetry will be available in Advanced Hunting through the DeviceNetworkEvents table.
Manage Gradual Rollout
Doc updateThe page now documents using MpCmdRun.exe on Windows to roll back Microsoft Defender Antivirus platform updates to the previous version or the Windows inbox version. It also notes additional rollback support in platform version 4.18.26030.3011 or later.
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
3 updatesQuarantine Admin Manage Messages Files
Doc updateThe page updates its date and link ordering, renames an existing quarantine permission entry to “View and release emails and messages from quarantine,” and adds guidance for submitting quarantined messages to Microsoft, including read permissions for Security data basics and Email & collaboration metadata.
Mdo Ices Vendor Ecosystem
Doc updateThe page adds Proofpoint Core Email Protection API, updates related links, and directs readers to Get Started for the supported vendor list.
Submissions Admin
Doc updateThe page’s update date and several internal references changed, and its Microsoft Defender XDR unified RBAC guidance was refreshed.
Microsoft Defender for Identity
1 updateAlerts Xdr
Doc updateThe page no longer lists alerts including NEGOEX relay attack, suspicious Okta account enumeration, OAuth app created a user, suspicious Entra role addition, and seven other entries.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud
3 updatesEnablement Guide Runtime Gated
Feature updateAction requiredThe guide now explains that `Deny` policies targeting AKS managed clusters can prevent Security Gating provisioning with `RequestDisallowedByPolicy`, even for compliant clusters. It adds steps to identify the blocking assignment in the Activity Log and use `Audit` or a narrowly scoped exemption.
Defender Sensor Change Log
Feature updateThe changelog adds October 2026 GA entries for sensor versions 0.11.9, 0.10.12, 0.9.70, and 0.8.63. Their images remove trust in affected certificate authorities.
Defender For Containers Troubleshoot
Doc updateAction requiredThe page now explains missing admission-controller resources, how to diagnose failed AKS writes with RequestDisallowedByPolicy, which policies may conflict, and how to resolve the issue through narrowly scoped changes or Microsoft Support.
Microsoft Sentinel
2 updatesGeographical Availability Data Residency
Feature updateThe page now states that Sentinel will process and store processed and configuration data in the onboarding destination regions or applicable existing Defender XDR regions. It also adds cases to the processed-data examples and removes the 21Vianet retirement notice.
Sap Deploy Troubleshoot
Doc updateThe documentation now explains retry and backoff behavior, checkpoint handling, continued processing of later windows, the seven-day recovery limit, and manual recovery using the Data Collector iFlow. Timeout troubleshooting guidance was also updated.
Fixed Reported Inaccuracies
Feature updateThe page now lists detection and recommendation fixes, updated Python end-of-support details, and MDVM support for Intel Endpoint Management Assistant and several Microsoft extensions, dated September 7–23 and October 3–9, 2026.
