At Plugins4Automate, we’re thrilled to announce the release of Habitat Build 1.0.1.61, featuring a powerful new addition to the toolbox: the Defender for Automate plugin!
This build marks an exciting step forward for ConnectWise Automate users, expanding your MSP’s capabilities to include full-scale, real-time antivirus management through Microsoft’s trusted Windows Defender—now available natively within Habitat for all subscribers.
🛡️ Meet Defender for Automate
Gone are the days of fragmented AV oversight. With Defender for Automate, you can now monitor, manage, and control Windows Defender across every endpoint—whether it's running Windows 10, 11, or even earlier versions still under your care.
This integration brings:
- Real-time threat visibility across clients and agents
- Remote scan scheduling (quick, full, and offline)
- Live signature updates and Defender health checks
- Threat history exports for compliance and incident review
- AV preference control, including exclusions and settings management
And yes—it’s all accessible directly from the Client Console in ConnectWise Automate, streamlining your workflow and delivering faster results when security matters most.
💡 Why It Matters
Windows Defender has evolved into a top-tier, Gartner-rated antivirus solution. It protects users with real-time malware scanning, phishing site detection, firewall and network protection, and even system performance monitoring.
By integrating Defender into the Habitat ecosystem, we’ve made it possible to:
- Run centralized antivirus operations from a single pane of glass
- Ensure endpoints remain protected with up-to-date definitions
- Push Defender configurations to endpoints in bulk
- Keep tabs on threats without leaving the Automate platform
The Defender plugin doesn’t just plug a gap—it gives MSPs critical, automated security posture control without third-party bloatware.
🔄 Automatic Updates or Manual Setup
If you’ve enabled automatic updates in Habitat, the Defender plugin has already joined your toolbox overnight. Otherwise, simply visit the Plugins4Automate repository to download and install it manually. Don’t forget to restart the DBagent to complete the installation!
We’re proud to keep building the Habitat Toolbox into something MSPs can truly rely on. Defender for Automate is one more reason why your RMM platform doesn’t just monitor—it protects.
