Microsoft plans to phase out Defender Application Guard from Office by December 2027, replacing it with Protected View for enhanced security. This deprecation aims to streamline security and encourage the use of alternative protection tools like Defender for Endpoint and Windows Defender Application Control. #DefenderApplicationGuard #MicrosoftOffice #ProtectedView
Keypoints
- Microsoft will retire Defender Application Guard from Office starting with version 2602 in February 2026.
- MDAG protected Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise users by isolating untrusted files.
- After deprecation, Office files will open in Protected View instead of using Application Guard.
- Administrators are advised to enable Defender for Endpoint ASR rules and WDAC for ongoing security.
- The complete removal of MDAG is expected with Office version 2612 by December 2026.