Microsoft Defender AV must enable asynchronous inspection.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-278678 | WNDF-AV-000075 | SV-278678r1190771_rule | CCI-001170 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Network protection includes performance optimization that allows block mode to asynchronously inspect long-lived connections, which might provide a performance improvement. This optimization can also help with app compatibility problems. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-17 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-278678r1190771_chk)
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Network Inspection System >> Turn on asynchronous inspection 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\NIS
Criteria: If the value "AllowSwitchToAsyncInspection" is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.
If the value is 0, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-83117r1190770_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Network Inspection System >> Turn on asynchronous inspection to "Enabled".