Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide

The Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide (V2 R10) has 67 STIG checks. New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist?, CKL vs CKLB, and STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

Find STIG checks

67STIG checks

Search filters this STIG's checks locally. Separate terms must all match (use quotes for an exact phrase). A search you ran on the Search page carries over here.

Severity

Version

V2 · R10

CurrentPublished Wed Sep 30 2026

Microsoft Defender AV must randomize scheduled task times.

Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide

Assessment Title

Rule Text

Microsoft Defender AV must randomize scheduled task times.

Description

Discussion Text

In Microsoft Defender Antivirus, randomize the start time of the scan to any interval from 0 to 23 hours. By default, scheduled tasks begin at a random time within four hours of the time specified in Task Scheduler.

New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist? and CKL vs CKLB.

Objective

V-278659

Rule

SV-278659r1192819_rule

Severity

medium

Rule Version

WNDF-AV-000055

Documentable

false

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Rev 5

Assessment Procedure

Check Text

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Randomize scheduled task times is set to "Enabled"; otherwise, this is a finding.

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: 
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

Criteria: If the value "RandomizeScheduleTaskTimes" is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

If the value is 0, this is a finding.

Implementation Procedure

Fix Text

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Randomize scheduled task times to "Enabled".

STIG check 53 of 67 in the Microsoft Defender Antivirus STIG checklist

← Previous · V-278658Microsoft Defender AV must control whether exclusions are visible to Local Admins.Next · V-278660 →Microsoft Defender AV must hide the Family options area.