Microsoft Defender AV must set cloud protection level to High.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-278863 | WNDF-AV-000073 | SV-278863r1190777_rule | CCI-001170 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Cloud protection in Microsoft Defender Antivirus delivers accurate, real-time, and intelligent protection. Cloud protection should be enabled by default. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-17 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-278863r1190777_chk)
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> MpEngine >> Select cloud protection level is set to "Enabled". Verify the policy value for "Select cloud blocking level" is set to "High blocking level"; otherwise, this is a finding.
Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine
Criteria: If the value "MpCloudBlockLevel" is REG_DWORD = 2, this is not a finding.
If the value is other than 2, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-83302r1190776_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> MpEngine >> Select cloud protection level to "Enabled".
Set policy value "Select cloud blocking level" to "High blocking level".