Earlier this year, Microsoft announced an extension of its Microsoft 365 advanced endpoint security platform to other platforms, including macOS. By launching Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac this year, Microsoft wants to help IT admins protect Mac devices against viruses and all other security threats, and following a limited preview with select customers the solution is now available in public preview for business users.
“We are thrilled by the response of our customers and the industry to Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac, our own solution for protecting customers across operating systems,” the company wrote in a blog today. Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac currently works on macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, or macOS Sierra, and the app is regularly updated though Microsoft’s AutoUpdate service. All alerts go the online Microsoft Defender Security Center, where customers can protect Windows and non-Windows devices from a centralized dashboard.
Security teams can now try Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac by turning on preview features in the onboarding section of the Microsoft Defender Security Center. Again, this the pre-release version requires a Microsoft Defender ATP subscription, and it’s still not clear if a consumer version could become available for all Mac users in the future.
