Digital Technology Services will be moving from Sophos antivirus protection to Microsoft Defender ATP from this month.
Microsoft Defender ATP will be automatically installed on your device and Sophos automatically uninstalled, all new devices and updated devices will no longer have Sophos installed as standard.
We have compiled some FAQs below, please check these before contacting the IT Service Desk.
Antivirus Transition: Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to uninstall Sophos Endpoint Agent from my device?
Sophos will be uninstalled automatically from your device. The time required to uninstall Sophos Endpoint Agent will vary depending on the capabilities of your device’s hardware, as well as the software programs that are installed on your device.
How do I confirm Microsoft Defender ATP is running on my device?
In Windows 10, the Windows Security Center ‘White Shield’ icon should be present in the system tray showing that Windows Defender is running.
How do I confirm Sophos Endpoint Agent has been removed from my device?
Check the system tray, located in the lower right-hand corner of your screen. If Sophos Endpoint Agent has been removed, then the blue Sophos shield shown below will not be present.
You can also open Add or Remove Programs on your device and browse the list of installed programs to confirm that it has been removed.
You may see Sophos and Windows Security both installed on your device at the same time, this is fine and will be the case until Sophos is removed. At this point, Windows Security will take over.
What about Mac or Linux?
This information is currently for Windows only. Work is being undertaken for Mac and Linux and updates will follow.
How does Microsoft Defender ATP differ from Windows Defender?
Microsoft Defender ATP is actually two products in one. It includes Windows Defender, Microsoft’s antivirus solution that is included with recent versions of the Windows operating system. It also includes ATP, which is a cloud-based enterprise security solution that builds on Defender’s antivirus features and enhances its capabilities for managed computers.
Microsoft Defender ATP also provides antivirus services to macOS-based Apple devices when deployed with our installation package. Computers that are transitioned to Microsoft Defender ATP become centrally managed in order to take advantage of the features provided by this solution. The process of transitioning University-owned devices to Microsoft Defender ATP is not automatic, but it can be automated by Digital Technology Services.
Why do I see a yellow warning icon when I check my Windows Security settings?
Until the rollout is completed, the Microsoft Defender ATP icon may not always have a Green tick. A review of the non-AV features that represent many of these messages is currently in progress.