Microsoft Defender for Endpoint adds vulnerability assessment on macOS for everyone

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint's vulnerability assessment has been expanded to devices running macOS, and it's now available to everyone. Microsoft also announced new expansions for the feature.

Microsoft announced today that Defender for Endpoint (formerly known as Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection) has added support for vulnerability assessment on macOS. The feature is now generally available, allowing admins to detect vulnerabilities that affect macOS devices within their enterprise network.

The expansion lets admins prioritize and fix vulnerabilities on the software and operating sytem levels found on macOS devices. Defender for Endpoint will also recommend the latest security tips and allow customers to review new vulnerabilities in their applications after onboarding their macOS devices to Defender for Endpoint. Customers can also request to have these vulnerabilities fixed.

It is worth noting that Defender for Endpoint has been available on macOS since March 2019. Back then, it was called Microsoft Defender ATP after it got renamed from Windows Defender ATP.

In addition, Microsoft extended vulnerability assessment and security configuration assessment features to Windows 8.1 as well as introduced email notifications for vulnerability events to Defender for Endpoint. Both features are now in public preview. You can choose the vulnerability events that should trigger notifications and select device groups. You can also pick who can receive notifications when vulnerability events are detected.