Enhancing Your Azure Arc Enabled Server Security with Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Introduction

Now that your Arc Enabled Windows server has the Azure Monitoring Agent installed, let's bolster its security with Microsoft Defender for Cloud. This powerful tool provides comprehensive protection against various threats.

Prerequisites:

• An Azure account with an active subscription.
• A Windows VM enabled with Azure Arc.

Enabling Microsoft Defender for Cloud

1. Access Your Azure Portal: Log in to your Windows VM and then your Azure account. Search for and select "Microsoft Defender for Cloud."

   

2. Get Started: Navigate to the "General" section and click "Getting started."

3. Upgrade Your Subscription: Locate your subscription, check the box beside it, and select "upgrade." Ignore any prompts to install agents.

   

4. Configure Environment Settings: Go to "Management" on the left-hand side and click "Environment settings."

   

5. Select Your Environment: Choose the entry you're using for these guides that contains your Arc VM.

   

6. Review and Enable Plans: Explore the available plans and enable the desired ones. Save your selections.

   

Exploring Microsoft Defender for Cloud Capabilities

To understand how Microsoft Defender for Cloud protects your Arc Enabled Windows server:

1. Access Inventory: Return to the "General" section in Microsoft Defender for Cloud and click "Inventory."

   

2. Find Your Arc Instance: Locate and select your Azure Arc instance.

   

3. Review Recommendations: Click on a recommendation to view details.

   

4. Implement Fixes: Follow the instructions under "Remediate" or use the "Fix" option if available.

   

Conclusion:
Congratulations! You've successfully enabled Microsoft Defender for Cloud to safeguard your cloud environment. By proactively addressing recommendations, you're strengthening your server's security posture.

Next Steps:
In the next post, we'll delve into monitoring your Azure Arc-enabled Windows servers using Azure Monitor.