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Month in brief

Defender for Cloud previews Azure plan management with DWU migration billing

October’s highest-impact changes center on a preview Defender for Cloud workflow for connecting Azure commercial environments and managing cloud security plans in the Defender portal. Migration can make Azure portal settings view-only, discard resource-level configurations, and use Defender Workload Unit billing. Server guidance now warns that Direct onboarding is tenant-wide, while Defender for Office 365 has a November permission change and new post-delivery Teams QR-code protection. Cloud Apps also retired two EWS-based detections on October 15. Most of the 293 entries were documentation updates, with many limited to editorial or maintenance changes.

  • The new preview guidance covers global or scoped cloud security plan configuration for connected Azure commercial environments. After migration, plan settings become view-only in the Azure portal and resource-level configurations are not preserved; required permissions and migration behavior are documented.

  • Endpoint · Architecture and deployment
    Direct server onboarding is explicitly tenant-wide

    The updated Defender for Endpoint server guide separates automatic onboarding, manual deployment, and servers already reporting to the service. It adds rollout prerequisites and warns that Direct onboarding applies across the tenant; existing reporting servers need no onboarding, reinstallation, or migration.

  • Starting in November 2026, the Microsoft Entra Security Operator role will no longer have default access to Defender for Office 365 email threat policies or the Tenant Allow/Block List when Unified RBAC is enabled. Continued access requires manual permission assignment.

  • Defender for Office 365 is rolling out post-delivery detection for malicious URLs embedded in Microsoft Teams QR codes from October through November 2026. Users receive warnings, and security teams can investigate the activity through Advanced Hunting.

  • As of October 15, 2026, two EWS-based App Governance anomaly detections are marked Retired and no longer generate alerts. Monitoring and response processes that depend on them should use other available signals.

For Defender administrators

Before using the Defender for Cloud preview, verify permissions and scope, inventory resource-level plan settings, and assess DWU billing implications. For server onboarding, account for Direct onboarding’s tenant-wide scope and do not re-onboard servers already reporting to Defender for Endpoint. Before November 2026, review Unified RBAC assignments for the Microsoft Entra Security Operator role and manually preserve access to email threat policies and the Tenant Allow/Block List where needed. Update monitoring that depends on the retired Cloud Apps detections and review Teams URL-protection settings and investigation processes for QR-code coverage.

This period briefing was generated by AI from the tracked Microsoft Learn and Message Center changes.

293 updates by product

19

Governance Relationships

Doc update

The documentation now explains how to grant Microsoft Sentinel permissions to delegated remote tenant groups through Defender URBAC, including required permissions, role assignment, and workspace selection. It also retains the resource-group assignment option and clarifies management-plane versus data-plane access.

21 October 2026

Investigate Users

Doc update

The user investigation documentation revises its authoring reference links and changes `GraphApiAuditEvents` to `GraphAPIAuditEvents`.

21 October 2026

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps: Permission changes for select App Governance Entra roles

New

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps will update App Governance permissions for select Microsoft Entra roles starting mid-November 2026. Changes include role-based access control alignment with Defender XDR, affecting Cloud App Security, Compliance Administrator, and Compliance Data Administrator roles. Admins should review and update role assignments accordingly.

20 October 2026
Message CenterMC1479503 on mc.merill.net ↗Plan for change

Microsoft Threat Actor Naming

Doc update

The page now lists Crystal Typhoon and Storm-2380, Storm-2570, Storm-2634, Storm-2990, Storm-2992, Storm-3069, Storm-3119, Storm-3168, and Storm-3189, including available aliases, classifications, and reference links. The page date was also updated and two internal authoring links were removed.

20 October 2026

Ai Agent Real Time Protection

Feature update

The documentation now states that block events from Microsoft Prompt Shields for Foundry, Copilot Studio, and Copilot Agent Builder are recorded as behaviors.

20 October 2026

Create a rule from the Settings page

Public preview

Administrators can select specific detection sources within service sources when creating or editing alert tuning rules, including include/exclude choices for existing rules.

19 October 2026

Mto Urbac

Doc update

Updated reference links and removed “(Preview)” from the headings for creating or editing custom roles, deleting roles, and importing roles.

16 October 2026

Ai Agent Real Time Protection

Doc update

The documentation now describes malicious content propagation, secret exfiltration, evasion techniques, and unsafe email domains, including how blocking affects user requests, model responses, tool requests, and tool responses.

16 October 2026

Manage Rbac

Doc update

The page adds two reference links, refreshes the Microsoft Sentinel table entry, and adds a sample two-column table.

16 October 2026

Governance Relationships

Doc update

The page updates its DevRel reference links and removes the “Important” callout stating that the feature is currently in preview.

15 October 2026

Whats New

Doc update

The What's new entries for the preview AgentsInfo and AIAgentsInfo advanced hunting tables now show table names as inline code instead of linked text.

14 October 2026

Investigate Alerts

Feature update

The documentation adds steps for disabling a built-in alert tuning rule and states that each alert tuning rule supports up to 200 conditions.

14 October 2026

Dlp Investigate Alerts Defender

Doc update

The documentation now states that the built-in rule took effect in early October 2026. DLP signals are treated as behaviors, so they do not generate alerts or appear in the incident queue, but remain available in advanced hunting.

14 October 2026

Alerts Incidents Correlation

Feature update

The page now states that detection rules involved in creating a source incident are added to the target incident. It also explains that correlation settings control alerts from analytics rules or custom detections.

13 October 2026

Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Post-delivery protection for malicious QR codes in Microsoft Teams

New

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 extends Teams URL protection to detect malicious URLs in QR codes post-delivery, warning users and enabling security teams to investigate via Advanced Hunting. Rolling out worldwide from October to November 2026, no user action is required, but admins should review related settings and processes.

7 October 2026
Message CenterMC1490905 on mc.merill.net ↗Stay informed

Automatic Attack Disruption Exclusions

Doc update

The documentation now explains that identity exclusions affect automated response actions in both Defender for Identity and Defender for Endpoint. It clarifies Unified RBAC permissions for both products’ data sources and adds guidance on role assignments and data-source scope.

4 October 2026
16

Advanced Hunting Schema Changes

RetirementAction required

The `AadDeviceId` column is being replaced by `EntraIdDeviceId`. `AadDeviceId` will remain available for 30 days to support query updates.

21 October 2026

Api Advanced Hunting

Doc update

The page’s author metadata changed from EdB-MSFT (edbaynash) to Karinschwabacher13 (kschwabacher).

20 October 2026

Advanced Hunting Clouddnsevents Table

Doc update

The table reference replaces DnsEventType and DnsEventSubType with EventType and EventSubType, and updates the request-filter example accordingly.

19 October 2026

Advanced Hunting Schema Changes

Doc update

The documentation now describes the transition from `AIAgentsInfo` to the unified `AgentsInfo` table, which expands beyond Copilot Studio-specific columns.

14 October 2026

Advanced Hunting Agentsinfo Table

Doc update

The page no longer includes the notice that some information concerns prereleased products subject to substantial change before commercial release.

14 October 2026

Advanced Hunting Aiagentsinfo Table

RetirementAction required

The AIAgentsInfo advanced hunting table is transitioning to AgentsInfo. AIAgentsInfo remains accessible until July 1, 2026, and its reference documentation was removed.

14 October 2026

Custom Detection Manage

Public preview

The documentation now states that custom detections are included in correlation by default and have a per-rule option to include or exclude them.

13 October 2026

Custom Detection Manage

Doc update

The Edit description no longer mentions flexible frequency and lookback being in public preview or links to related guidance. Author and date metadata also changed.

4 October 2026

Custom Detection Rules

Feature update

Custom frequency from 5 minutes to 14 days is available only for rules based exclusively on Microsoft Sentinel data. Rules using Defender XDR data now use fixed lookback periods based on their run frequency, ranging from 4 hours to 30 days.

4 October 2026

Custom Detection Rules

Public preview

The documentation now describes independently configuring detection frequency from 5 minutes to 14 days and lookback from 5 minutes to 30 days across supported data sources. Lookback must be at least as long as the frequency to avoid coverage gaps.

4 October 2026

Custom Detection Manage

Public preview

The Edit option description now notes flexible frequency and lookback for all supported data sources and links to further guidance.

4 October 2026
2

Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Changes to Unified RBAC permission mapping for Microsoft Entra Security Operator role

New

Microsoft is updating Microsoft Defender for Office 365's Unified RBAC mapping for the Microsoft Entra Security Operator role, removing default access to email threat policies and Tenant Allow/Block List. This change starts November 2026 and requires manual permission assignment for continued access when Unified RBAC is enabled.

2 October 2026
Message CenterMC1486293 on mc.merill.net ↗Major updatePlan for change
1
1

Whats New

Doc update

The what's new documentation now uses the table name `GraphAPIAuditEvents` when describing Microsoft Entra ID API requests to Microsoft Graph API.

21 October 2026
1

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management: Private preview for selected developer package vulnerability coverage

New

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management is privately previewing expanded vulnerability coverage for selected Node.js, Python, and Java packages on Windows devices. It integrates with existing workflows, APIs, and exports, with rollout planned from September to December 2026. Organizations should prepare for increased data volume and validate integrations before enabling.

7 October 2026
Message CenterMC1490909 on mc.merill.net ↗Plan for change
40

Whats New In Microsoft Defender Endpoint

Doc update

The Defender for Endpoint What's New page now lists macOS release version 20.126082.12.0 as GA and links to its enhancements and features.

21 October 2026

Offboard Machines

Feature update

The documentation now covers Windows, Linux client and server, macOS, Android, and iOS offboarding. It also distinguishes subscription-wide Azure server offboarding from manual individual-server offboarding and clarifies that offboarding does not uninstall software.

21 October 2026

Microsoft Defender Endpoint Releases

New feature

The macOS 101.26082.0012 release adds EDR support for configuring AI agent runtime protection, plus Bluetooth permission and antivirus health reporting improvements, accessibility updates, reliability fixes, and performance fixes.

21 October 2026

Microsoft Defender Antivirus Windows

Doc update

The Windows Defender Antivirus documentation now lists `DefenderSessionHelper.exe` in the Details tab for Microsoft Defender Clipboard Protection, with Processes and Services marked N/A. The page date and reviewer metadata were also updated.

21 October 2026

Offboard Machines

Doc update

The article now distinguishes automatic Azure offboarding, Defender for Servers coverage changes, manual endpoint offboarding, and endpoint software removal. It adds preparation steps, verification guidance, package-handling details, and method-specific procedures for Linux and Windows.

20 October 2026

Microsoft Defender Endpoint Releases

Feature update

The documentation now lists Linux release 101.26091.0003, including updated release, engine, and signature versions. It also documents a libcurl 8.22.0 upgrade addressing CVE-2026-9546 and stronger quarantine authorization and path protections.

20 October 2026

Azure Server Integration

Doc update

The page now links new deployments to server onboarding guidance and on-premises server connections to Defender for Servers, including automatic or manual deployment options and onboarding verification.

20 October 2026

Android Mobile Threat Defense Role

Doc update

The documentation now clarifies that the mobile threat defense connector is the Defender for Endpoint–Intune integration, separates assignment steps, and refers to the automatic-launch control as a switch.

19 October 2026

Microsoft Defender Endpoint Releases

Feature update

The documentation adds Platform 4.18.26090.9, Engine 1.1.26090.9, and security intelligence 1.461.1.0 release details, including automatic protection-engine refresh, improved update reliability, ASR path handling, and policy-exclusion retention.

16 October 2026

Whats New In Microsoft Defender Endpoint

Generally available

The October 2026 entry replaces the previous Preview listing for vulnerability assessment of applications installed via the Microsoft Store, including Microsoft Teams.

15 October 2026

Mobile Resources Defender Endpoint

Doc update

The documentation now lists onboarding, security reporting, and iOS TVM as Mobile TVM service uses. It also warns that restrictive Conditional Access policies can disrupt these flows and recommends excluding the service from those policies.

12 October 2026

Mtd

Doc updateAction required

The article now lists firewall and proxy URLs needed to onboard and maintain Microsoft Defender for Endpoint devices on Android and iOS, covering commercial and US Government cloud environments.

12 October 2026

Machine Tags

Feature update

The documentation now clarifies that the DeviceTagging registry key supports only one tag in the Group value. Tags assigned through other methods aren't written there, so the registry value may not show all tags on a device.

12 October 2026

Ai Agent Runtime Protection Overview

Doc update

The article now uses broader descriptions of inspection points, streamlines explanations of agent-native and network inspection, updates discovery terminology, and removes the explicit event-point list and vendor links.

9 October 2026

Local Agent Discovery Overview

Feature update

The documentation now states that Defender lists a local AI agent after observing activity on an onboarded device; installation alone does not guarantee discovery. It also clarifies that the inventory is not a complete software inventory and references the support matrix for coverage details.

9 October 2026

Offboard Machines

Doc update

The documentation explains that disabling Defender for Servers automatically offboards eligible servers. It also describes exclusions, processing times, verification, retry behavior, and what happens when the plan is re-enabled.

8 October 2026

Microsoft Defender Endpoint Releases

Doc update

The release page now lists Android version 1.0.9330.0101, released September 30, 2026, with performance improvements and general bug fixes.

8 October 2026

Wait for cloud-init to finish provisioning, including setting the hostname.

Doc updateAction required

The Linux deployment article now explains how to embed the tenant-specific onboarding file in a golden image, keep `mdatp` stopped during image creation, and start Defender on clones only after their final hostname is set. It also adds onboarding and health verification steps.

6 October 2026

Microsoft Defender Endpoint Releases

Generally available

The documentation now covers centrally scheduled Linux antivirus scans through managed JSON and Defender Portal policies, expanded detection of critical Node.js, Python, and Java libraries, a libcurl 8.20.0 security update, and Windows Antivirus August 2026-2 details and fixes.

1 October 2026

Secure Controlled Configuration

Feature update

The documented device requirement now includes Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2025. The local exclusion guidance also clarifies that local administrator-defined antivirus exclusions are not honored by default and can be enabled through Defender or Intune policy.

1 October 2026
2

Onboard Server

Doc update

The server onboarding page now links to `offboard-machines` instead of the `#offboard-servers` fragment.

21 October 2026
2

Troubleshoot Collect Support Log

Feature update

The guidance replaces manual analyzer download steps with self-contained binary or Python Live Response action pairs. It adds package validation, workspace-ID handoff, explicit prerequisites, HTTPS requirements, and a local-workflow alternative for devices without Microsoft endpoint access.

8 October 2026
1

Mac Resources

Doc update

The page author metadata changed from paulinbar/painbar to limwainstein. The uninstall guidance continues to direct administrators to the Offboard Mac devices documentation for cleanup requirements.

21 October 2026
21

Submissions Admin Review User Reported Messages

Doc update

The documentation now lists the languages supported by localized default notification templates, including English, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and others.

21 October 2026

Anti Spam Bulk Complaint Level Bcl About

Doc update

The documentation now says the features, including SOC experiences, should be available in all organizations by the end of October instead of mid-September.

17 October 2026

Anti Spam Bulk Complaint Level Bcl About

Doc update

The page now explains that `X-MS-Exchange-Organization-BulkStamping` is used only during message transport and removed before delivery to the mailbox, so recipients cannot see it in message headers.

15 October 2026

Defender For Office 365 Whats New

Feature update

The EmailPostDeliveryEvents table documentation now includes the ApproverUpn field, which identifies the approving user or administrator.

15 October 2026

Safe Links About

Doc update

The Safe Links documentation date was updated, and its explanation of URL scanning before delivery, at click time, and through the client-side API was revised.

15 October 2026

Attack Simulation Training Faq

Doc updateAction required

The FAQ now explains that security tools can generate click telemetry during content inspection, recommends built-in simulation reports, and notes that Safe Links and UrlClickEvents may not capture all simulation activity.

14 October 2026

Air About

Doc update

The documentation now explains how to select a built-in rule on the Alert tuning page and disable it from the rule details pane, with a screenshot.

14 October 2026

Attack Simulation Training Insights

Doc update

The documentation now refers to automated inspection of the simulation payload in the Clicked Message Link entry, replacing wording about non-Microsoft filtering services.

14 October 2026

Anti Spam Bulk Complaint Level Bcl About

Feature update

As of July 2026, messages identified as bulk receive the Promotions tag and, when Bulk moves enabled is turned on, are moved from the Inbox to the Promotions folder only when they are promotional in nature, regardless of BCL value.

13 October 2026

Quarantine Admin Manage Messages Files

Doc update

The instructions now state that the Source tab displays the message body as HTML with links disabled. The separate Plain text tab description was removed, and the metadata date was updated.

8 October 2026

Defender For Office 365 Whats New

New feature

Users can report scheduled or Meet now Microsoft Teams meetings, or individual meeting participants, as security concerns during or after the meeting.

6 October 2026

Submissions Teams

Feature update

The documentation now covers reporting Teams meetings and meeting participants, including related metadata, the meeting reporting policy, and updated government-cloud limitations.

6 October 2026

Mdo Support Teams Sec Ops Guide

Doc update

The guide now covers reported Teams meetings and meeting participants, including alert generation and Defender portal review locations. It also corrects alert wording and terminology.

6 October 2026

Mdo Support Teams About

Doc update

The article now covers malicious activity in Teams messages, calls, and meetings, and lists messages, calls, meetings, and meeting participants as reportable items. It also links to Teams user reporting settings.

6 October 2026

Mdo Support Teams Quick Configure

Doc update

The guide now directs administrators to configure the Allow users to report meetings policy in the Teams admin center. The Defender portal step to verify Monitor reported items in Microsoft Teams remains.

6 October 2026

Scc Permissions

Doc update

The documentation now describes Data Security AI Admins and the Data Security AI Admin role as editing Data Loss Prevention policies without the previous “related to Copilot” qualifier. Access to view AI content remains documented, while prompt and response access remains excluded.

2 October 2026

Submissions Teams

Doc update

The article now points administrators to the Teams user reported settings page and documents Exchange Online PowerShell commands for viewing and configuring Teams report destinations: Microsoft, a reporting mailbox, or both.

1 October 2026

Submissions User Reported Messages Custom Mailbox

Doc update

The article’s metadata links and update date changed. Teams-specific explanatory text and several Teams-related parameters were removed from the reported-message policy examples.

1 October 2026

Mdo Support Teams Quick Configure

Doc update

The setup instructions now direct administrators to the Teams user reported settings page and its updated URL when verifying Microsoft Teams monitoring. The document date was also updated.

1 October 2026

Defender For Office 365 Whats New

Feature update

Customers in Worldwide environments with Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 or 2, Microsoft 365 E5, or Office 365 E5 can now manage Teams user reporting settings on a separate page from email settings.

1 October 2026

Mdo Support Teams Sec Ops Guide

Doc update

The page date changed to September 28, 2026, and the reporting guidance now links directly to the Teams user reporting settings section.

1 October 2026
1

Alert Policies Defender Portal

Doc update

The article now explains how to select a built-in rule on the Alert tuning page and choose Disable, with a supporting screenshot.

14 October 2026
35

Identity Inventory

Doc update

The page updates the Hybrid identity description, corrects the Risk score link, and points investigation guidance to non-human identities.

21 October 2026

Activate Sensor

Feature update

The documentation now describes Defender for Identity sensor v3.x onboarding without Defender for Endpoint for eligible servers, including domain controllers, AD FS, AD CS, and Microsoft Entra Connect.

20 October 2026

Whats New

Doc update

The page now links to entries covering malicious or suspicious MFA-device and method registration, organization branding changes by newly created users, and potential Certighost (CVE-2026-54121) AD CS abuse.

20 October 2026

Uninstall Sensor

Doc updateAction required

The guidance now applies to servers, specifically v3.x sensors deployed without Defender for Endpoint. Administrators must run the offboarding package on the server before deleting its portal entry; deleting the entry alone may leave the sensor active, sending data, and able to reactivate.

20 October 2026

Alerts Xdr

Doc update

The page’s DevRel metadata links were updated, and the “AADInternals private key extraction attempt” alert entry was removed.

20 October 2026

Whats New

Feature update

The documentation expands support for Defender for Identity sensor v3.x activation without Defender for Endpoint to eligible AD FS, AD CS, and Microsoft Entra Connect servers running Windows Server 2019 or later, in addition to eligible domain controllers.

20 October 2026

Whats New

Feature updateAction required

Eligible organizations with an active Defender for Identity workspace receive a 30-day banner before sensor v3.x activation and Windows auditing are enabled by default, including settings currently set to Off. Windows Server 2025 sensor migration support is also documented as resolved.

19 October 2026

Migrate To Sensor V3

Doc updateAction required

The guide now says to select “Automatically use the sensor's local system account” before migrating because migration does not change this setting automatically. It also instructs admins to verify that the setting remains selected instead of using gMSA for action accounts.

19 October 2026

Health Alerts

Doc update

The guidance now specifies that automatic Windows event auditing applies to v3.x sensors and tells administrators to check the health issue table for the relevant sensor version before remediation. Several alert descriptions were also clarified.

19 October 2026

Troubleshooting Known Issues

Doc update

The troubleshooting page now points scheduled-task and proxy silent-installation references to the corresponding sections under `deploy/install-sensor`; page metadata was also refreshed.

19 October 2026

Sensor Settings

Doc update

The section now refers to removing the legacy Unified Sensor RPC Audit tag and clarifies that removing it does not disable automatic RPC auditing on v3.x sensors.

19 October 2026

Install Sensor

Doc update

The guide now specifies that eligible Windows Server 2019 or later domain controllers should follow the v3.x deployment guidance, not the v2.x installer procedures. It also links to the v3.x onboarding package for deployments without Defender for Endpoint.

19 October 2026

Migrate To Sensor V3

Feature updateAction required

The prerequisite changed from the July 2026 to the September 2026 or later Windows Server cumulative update. Post-migration guidance now covers manually removing workspace DSA or gMSA configuration and retiring unused gMSA accounts after verifying they have no other users.

14 October 2026

Technical Faq

Doc update

The FAQ now states that offboarding a server from Defender for Endpoint stops Defender for Identity v3.x sensor reporting, including sensors migrated from v2.x, and does not automatically enable identity-only mode.

14 October 2026

Alerts Xdr

Doc update

The alert catalog now includes updated descriptions and fields, plus entries for several OAuth, Okta, Kerberos, AD CS, and DPAPI-related alerts. The malicious MFA device registration severity is shown as High.

14 October 2026

Whats New

New feature

The October announcement adds 19 alerts covering Entra ID, Active Directory, and other identity providers, including Okta, with links to detailed alert information.

14 October 2026

Health Alerts

Doc update

The health alerts page revises the entry describing a missing or incorrectly applied Unified Sensor RPC Audit configuration tag and its resolution steps.

14 October 2026

Sensor Settings

Feature updateAction required

The documented prerequisite changed from the July 2026 or later cumulative update to the September 2026 or later cumulative update.

14 October 2026

Whats New Archive

Doc update

The archive entry for “Suspicious network connection over Encrypting File System Remote Protocol” now links to the “Suspected PetitPotam coercion attack” section.

14 October 2026

Remediation Actions

Feature update

The Defender for Identity remediation-actions table now lists Security Operator among the roles for the Revoke session action.

12 October 2026

Activate Sensor

Feature update

The documentation now states that automatic sensor activation and automatic Windows auditing require an active license that includes Microsoft Defender for Identity. The domain-controller onboarding heading no longer labels the process as preview.

6 October 2026

Uninstall Sensor

Doc update

The page date was updated, and the “Offboard a domain controller without Defender for Endpoint deployment” heading no longer includes “(Preview).”

6 October 2026

Whats New

Generally available

The documentation adds sensor v3.x activation without Defender for Endpoint for eligible Windows Server 2019 or later domain controllers. It applies only to new sensor v3.x deployments, and automatic activation and Windows auditing require an active license that includes Microsoft Defender for Identity.

6 October 2026

Configure Windows Event Collection

Feature updateAction required

Automatic sensor activation and automatic Windows auditing now require an active license that includes Microsoft Defender for Identity.

6 October 2026

Activate Sensor

Doc update

The page now specifies that the method supports new sensor v3.x deployments on eligible domain controllers without sensor v2.x, and that the standalone package activates sensor v3.x on Windows Sense in restricted identity-only mode.

5 October 2026
6

Deploy Defender Identity

Feature update

Windows Server 2019 or later AD FS, AD CS, and Microsoft Entra Connect servers are now documented as supporting sensor v3.x onboarding with or without Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

20 October 2026

Deploy Sensor V3

Feature update

The documentation now states that eligible servers can use sensor v3.x onboarding without Defender for Endpoint deployment, replacing the previous domain-controller-specific wording.

20 October 2026

Deploy Defender Identity

Feature update

The deployment guidance now links to v2.x server requirements and migration prerequisites. It specifies that in-place migration from sensor v2.x to v3.x is currently available only for eligible domain controllers, not other servers.

19 October 2026

Deploy Sensor V3

Feature updateAction required

The sizing tool now applies only to v2.x sensors and is not required for v3.x. Automatic auditing for v3.x configures supported auditing settings, with additional steps specified.

19 October 2026

Deploy Sensor V3

Feature updateAction required

The prerequisite changed from the July 2026 to the September 2026 Windows Server cumulative update for sensor version 3.0.10 or later. The guidance also clarifies v2 migration account settings and that migration does not automatically remove workspace DSA or gMSA configuration.

14 October 2026

Deploy Defender Identity

Feature update

The documented prerequisite for Windows Server 2019 or later changed from the July 2026 cumulative update to the September 2026 cumulative update.

14 October 2026
6

Migrate File Policies To Purview

Feature update

The guide now lists auto-labeling migration for SharePoint and OneDrive, plus DLP file-policy migration for Google Workspace, Box, Dropbox, and Salesforce. Previously, it listed only SharePoint and OneDrive DLP migration as supported.

15 October 2026

Caac Known Issues

Doc update

The documentation now explains that protection applies across tenants within the same Microsoft Edge work-profile session. Separate Edge work profiles provide separate session enforcement between tenants.

15 October 2026

Release Notes

Feature update

Starting October 15, 2026, the Defender for Cloud Apps integration with Identity inventory will move from opt-in to automatic enablement for eligible tenants that do not use the listed excluded configurations.

5 October 2026

Manage Admins

Retirement

App/instance admin and User group admin role assignments can no longer be used in new configurations. Existing configurations remain supported.

4 October 2026
32

Azure Portal Vs Defender Portal Comparison

Doc update

The comparison now documents Defender portal preview support for environment onboarding, plan management, and cloud security cost reporting. It also clarifies that data export remains available in the Azure portal.

20 October 2026

What changes when managing cloud security plans in the Defender portal - Microsoft Defender for Cloud | Microsoft Learn

Doc update

A new page explains that moving plan management from the Azure portal to the Defender portal changes billing to Defender Workload Units, shifts configuration to tenant, management-group, or subscription scope, and may replace, consolidate, or measure plans differently. Resource-level configurations are not preserved, and migrated settings become view-only in Azure portal.

20 October 2026

Integration Faq

Feature update

The documentation now states that cloud security data supports Azure, AWS, and GCP, while onboarding and plan management currently support Azure commercial environments only. After migration, plan settings become view-only in the Azure portal, resource-level configurations are not preserved, and billing uses Defender Workload Units.

20 October 2026

Release Notes

Public preview

On October 20, 2026, the expanded server security experience will support automated and manual onboarding for Azure, Azure Arc-enabled, Windows, Linux, and on-premises servers. Cloud security plan management will also become available in the Defender portal, including DWU cost tracking and eligible 30-day trials.

20 October 2026

Known Limitations

Public previewAction required

The page now documents supported environments, scope-level-only plan configuration, replacement of resource-level settings during migration, remaining Azure portal capabilities, and daily cost fluctuations.

20 October 2026

Enable Preview Features

Doc update

The Microsoft Learn page describing eligibility, required roles, enablement steps, and expected results for Defender for Cloud preview features in the Defender portal was deleted.

20 October 2026

Defender For Cloud Defender Portal

Public preview

The documentation now describes connecting Azure commercial environments at subscription or management-group level and configuring Defender for Cloud plans for selected or all connected environments. AWS, GCP, and unsupported Azure environments must still be onboarded through the Azure portal.

20 October 2026

Faq Defender For Servers

Doc update

The FAQ now explains that existing Defender for Endpoint servers need no changes, how to onboard new servers, Direct onboarding scope, offboarding options, and why historical records may remain visible. The offboarding link was also updated.

20 October 2026

Cloud Scopes Unified Rbac

Doc update

The documentation now states that updates to cloud scopes, including subscription changes, may take about 8–10 hours to appear in portal filters and scoped data views. During the refresh, results may be incomplete or empty even when the configuration was saved.

20 October 2026

Cost Calculator

Doc update

The article now states that the calculator covers the existing plan-pricing model and links to separate guidance for estimating costs with the Defender Workload Unit (DWU) pricing model.

20 October 2026

Connect Azure Subscription

Doc update

The article now specifies that it covers enabling Defender for Cloud on an Azure subscription in the Azure portal and links to separate instructions for connecting Azure commercial subscriptions or management groups in the Microsoft Defender portal.

20 October 2026

Identify Sql Servers Protected By Monitor Agent

Doc update

The documented KQL now queries SQL Vulnerability Assessment records, filters resources by Log Analytics workspace IDs, and returns workspace ID, machine name, and machine UUID. The prior subassessment, OnPremiseSql, and 30-day scan-time filters were removed.

16 October 2026

Enable Agentless Scanning Vms

Feature updateAction required

The documentation now states that deletion authorization failures involving 250 or more Defender-tagged snapshots suspend new scans for the affected AWS scope. Snapshots continue accruing storage charges until deleted.

14 October 2026

Agentless Data Collection

Feature update

When 250 or more Defender-tagged snapshots accumulate because deletion authorization fails, new scans are suspended for the affected AWS scanning scope to limit additional storage charges.

14 October 2026

Faq General

Doc update

The FAQ now recommends having more than one subscription owner and removing disabled or guest accounts with owner, write, or read permissions on Azure resources.

13 October 2026

File Integrity Monitoring Enable Defender Endpoint

Feature update

The documentation now specifies that Security Admin and Owner roles on the subscription containing the Log Analytics workspace are required to enable, disable, or change File Integrity Monitoring. Security Reader can view results.

11 October 2026

Release Notes

New feature

The release notes now describe a new server asset page combining cloud and endpoint details, link to server offboarding guidance, and reference the new Defender server security experience.

11 October 2026

Simulate Alerts Sql Machines

Doc update

The document’s author and ms.author metadata changed from TimShererWithAquent and v-tishe to ElazarK and elkrieger.

9 October 2026

Workflow Automations

Doc update

The page author changed from TimShererWithAquent to ElazarK, and the ms.author value changed from v-tishe to elkrieger.

9 October 2026

Release Notes

Public preview

The experience combines Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Servers data, enabling unified inventory, cross-service investigations, Go hunt, and access management through RBAC, device groups, and cloud scopes. Administrators can also offboard eligible servers from Defender for Endpoint by disabling Defender for Servers for a subscription.

8 October 2026

Release Notes

Feature update

Starting October 5, 2026, KSPM misconfiguration recommendations will align with Kubernetes workload controllers instead of individual running container instances.

6 October 2026

Enable Defender For Endpoint

Feature updateAction required

The documentation now states that the integration can use an existing Defender for Endpoint sensor from the same tenant, adds updated platform and Linux requirements, and lists pre-deployment checks for connectivity, proxy authentication, file-system settings, and security policies.

5 October 2026

On Demand Malware Scanning

Doc update

The documentation heading for filtering malware scans to specific items no longer includes “(Preview).”

5 October 2026

Release Notes

Generally available

Microsoft Defender for Storage on-demand malware scanning can now target individual blobs or files, containers or file shares, or objects matching a path prefix. REST API filters define the scope; without filters, the entire storage account is scanned.

5 October 2026

Regional Availability

Feature update

The regional availability documentation now lists ap-southeast-7 among the supported regions.

4 October 2026
3

Plan Management Changes Defender Portal

Feature update

The documentation now maps legacy plans to new plans, including default serverless protection in Defender CSPM, revised billing units, consolidated Databases and API plans, and discontinued DNS coverage. DNS protection can be maintained by manually enabling Defender for Servers Plan 2, with possible additional charges.

20 October 2026

Onboard Management Group

Doc update

The article now clarifies that it covers using Azure Policy to enable Defender for Cloud across subscriptions in a management group, and links to separate guidance for connecting Azure environments in the Defender portal.

20 October 2026

Tutorial Enable Servers Plan

Doc update

The documentation now states that disabling Defender for Servers for Azure subscriptions in public preview automatically offboards eligible servers. Switching from Plan 2 to Plan 1 does not trigger automatic offboarding.

8 October 2026
3

Defender Sensor Change Log

Doc update

The documentation now lists sensor versions 0.11.8, 0.10.11, 0.9.69, and 0.8.62, all released in October 2026 with security updates to sensor components and dependencies.

20 October 2026

Recommendations Reference Identity Access

Doc update

The documentation now explains that some identity and access recommendations can appear without the Azure CSPM standard assigned, but those recommendations don't support exemptions unless the standard is assigned. It also links to assignment instructions.

13 October 2026

Defender Sensor Change Log

Doc update

The changelog now lists sensor versions 0.11.7, 0.10.10, 0.9.68, and 0.8.61 as GA releases from September 2026, each containing security vulnerability fixes and dependency updates.

4 October 2026
1

Defender For Containers Troubleshoot

Doc update

The article now covers EKS provisioning failures caused by recreated IAM roles, endpoint allowlist reconciliation, and stale Azure Arc registrations. It adds diagnostic commands and resolution steps.

13 October 2026
22

Sap Btp Solution Overview

New feature

The documentation adds a separate preview connector for SAP BTP Application Vulnerability Report Service findings, plus a preview analytics rule and an Application Vulnerabilities workbook tab with a vulnerability posture KPI.

21 October 2026

Microsoft Sentinel Solution for SAP BTP - security content reference | Microsoft Learn

New feature

The documentation now describes an optional Application Vulnerabilities workbook tab and an analytics rule correlating SAP Application Vulnerability Report Service findings with BTP audit events. The rule detects custom apps with open high or critical vulnerabilities, using a default CVSS threshold of 7.0 and a 14-day evaluation window.

21 October 2026

Whats New

New feature

The October 2026 documentation adds an analytics rule that correlates SAP Application Vulnerability Report findings with BTP audit logs to detect interactive XSUAA logins involving custom apps with open high or critical vulnerabilities.

21 October 2026

Data Connectors Reference

Doc updateAction required

The documentation now lists required CrowdStrike REST API scopes, links to upgrade notes, adds Pathlock deployment guidance, removes the Red Canary connector section, and adds SilentPush Feeds details.

17 October 2026

Sentinel Tables Connectors Reference

Doc update

The table adds entries for SilentPush Feeds, Theom, and Theom via the Codeless Connector Framework, and removes the Red Canary Threat Detection entry.

17 October 2026

Data Connectors Reference

Doc update

The connector reference now uses a relative setup-guide link, an anonymized server URL example, and reformatted CrowdStrike region mapping table.

15 October 2026

Defender portal

Doc update

The instructions now use Create > Logic App playbook and distinguish Consumption triggers—including alert, case, and legacy options—from Standard playbooks, which start with Blank playbook. The page also explains case-versus-incident terminology and adds supporting links.

14 October 2026

Compare Analytics Rules Custom Detections

Public preview

The comparison table now describes excluding a rule from the correlation engine and marks it supported for analytics rules and custom detections, with configuration guidance linked.

13 October 2026

Data Connectors Reference

New featureAction required

The reference adds a connector that ingests SAP BTP application vulnerability findings into Microsoft Sentinel. It also updates Confluence permissions and DCR support, and changes Corelight naming and access requirements.

10 October 2026

Sentinel Tables Connectors Reference

Retirement

The table now labels the Netskope Web Transactions connector as deprecated, removes several older connector entries, and adds new connectors plus Snowflake V3 tables.

10 October 2026

Normalization Manage Parsers

Doc update

The documentation now explains that the generated table sets `disabled=false` to enable custom parsers and advises forwarding `pack` only when the source-specific parser supports it.

9 October 2026

Normalization About Workspace Parsers

Doc update

The documentation adds AgentEvent and AssetEntity entries, updates the ProcessEvent listing, and revises parser examples to show explicit parameter-to-column mappings. Several examples also include fields such as `pack` and `disabled`.

8 October 2026

Normalization Manage Parsers

Doc update

The parser-management documentation updates custom unifying-function examples to pass `disabled=disabled` where supported, including AgentEvent and DNS parser examples, and adds or updates parser entries.

8 October 2026

Normalization Parsers List

Doc update

The documentation now lists the `_Im_AgentEvent_AnthropicClaudeCompliance` parser, its BlueVoyant Codeless Connector Framework source, and that it uses the pack parameter. The page date was also updated.

8 October 2026

Normalization About Parsers

Doc update

The page adds an Email Event mapping to `_Im_EmailEvent`, updates the Process Event mapping to include `_Im_ProcessEvent`, and refreshes ontology links and the publication date.

8 October 2026

Normalization About Schemas

Doc update

The schema reference now lists the Email Event schema as `EmailEvent`, version 1.0.0, with GA status.

6 October 2026

Normalization

Doc update

The normalization page now links to the Email Event schema and has an updated documentation date.

6 October 2026

Understand Threat Intelligence

Doc update

The page now states that re-ingestion costs follow standard log ingestion pricing for paid tables, with final costs affected by tenant discounts or commitment tiers.

6 October 2026

Compare Analytics Rules Custom Detections

Feature update

The documentation now lists flexible and high-frequency support for Sentinel data. It specifies lookback limits of up to 48 hours for frequencies over one hour and up to 14 days for frequencies of one hour or less; lookback remains in public preview.

4 October 2026

Compare Analytics Rules Custom Detections

Public preview

The comparison table now identifies flexible rule frequency and configurable lookback for custom detection rules, with links to detailed guidance. Page metadata was also updated.

4 October 2026

Data Connectors Reference

Feature update

The Cisco Meraki connector now documents File Scanned detections and the `CiscoMerakiFileScannedEvents_CL` table. F5Telemetry LTM and RFI Playbook Alert Results tables are marked supported, and workspace transform DCR support is documented.

1 October 2026

Sentinel Tables Connectors Reference

Doc update

The reference now lists CiscoMerakiFileScannedEvents_CL and changes F5Telemetry_LTM_CL and RFI_PlaybookAlertResults_V2_CL from No/No to Yes/Yes in the two status columns.

1 October 2026
2

Normalization Schema Process Event

Doc update

The page now documents `imProcessEvent` for querying all process event types, retains specialized parsers, revises custom parser naming guidance, and updates the filtering example.

8 October 2026
1

Deploy Microsoft Sentinel solution for SAP BTP | Microsoft Learn

New feature

The article now documents a connector that ingests SAP Application Vulnerability Report Service findings into Microsoft Sentinel, including setup prerequisites, credentials, polling and ingestion-delay settings, verification, and related analytics content.

21 October 2026
23
12

Create Azure Devops Connector

Doc update

The instructions now direct administrators to Agentic code scanning management, select Add another beside Source code environment, and choose Azure DevOps to open the connector flow.

8 October 2026

Create Github Connector

Doc update

The guide now instructs administrators to select GitHub under Source code environment, rather than Azure DevOps, and proceed to the GitHub connector flow.

8 October 2026

Create Github Connector

Doc update

The instructions now direct administrators to Agentic code scanning management, select Add another under Source code environment, and choose Azure DevOps. Connector naming remains optional.

6 October 2026
2

Tvm Software Inventory

Doc update

The page no longer labels Microsoft Store applications as Preview or lists individual supported apps. It now states that vulnerability assessment is available for a limited set of commonly used Microsoft Store applications.

15 October 2026

Tvm Software Inventory

Doc update

The documentation date was updated, “Dell Command” was changed to “Dell Command | Update,” and the listed software examples were revised to add 1Password, Beyond Compare, and Evernote while removing two entries.

4 October 2026
34

Mdb Requirements

Doc update

The page now frames prerequisites around subscriptions, user accounts, browsers, and client operating systems, with clearer wording and links for accounts, permissions, operating systems, Microsoft Entra ID, and Conditional Access.

1 October 2026

Mdb Firewall

Doc update

The article updates wording, links, step references, and portal terminology such as “flyout pane.” Instructions continue to cover firewall policies, custom rules, profiles, and the 150-rule limit.

1 October 2026

Mdb Overview

Doc update

The overview now has revised introductory and capability descriptions, clearer image text, corrected grammar, and improved table and footnote formatting.

1 October 2026
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