Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a powerful tool for securing your environment, and this book is your practical guide to using it effectively. Written by an engineer who works hands-on with the daily challenges of IT infrastructure, it covers everything from on-prem data centers to cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP, across Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and Kubernetes.

This book offers a focused, practical guide to MDE, covering its architecture, evolution, and key features. While centered on MDE, it also addresses broader cybersecurity concepts relevant to DevOps, SREs, developers, system administrators, and newcomers entering the field. You will explore endpoint protection principles, the threat landscape, and frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, along with deployment across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It covers EDR, SOC operations, data protection with Microsoft Purview, and incident response using Live Response. With rising threats powered by AI, deepfakes, and organized cybercrime, this guide prepares you to secure hybrid and cloud infrastructures using Microsoft Defender for Azure and Microsoft 365, backed by practical configurations, case studies, and a forward-looking view of endpoint security.

By the time you reach the final chapter, you will possess a strong technical understanding of MDE, equipped with the practical knowledge to confidently implement, manage, and leverage its full capabilities to defend your digital assets and enhance your organization's security posture.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

* Understanding of security domains like XDR, MDR, EDR, CASB, TVM, etc.
* Learn to perform the SOC analyst and security administrator roles using Microsoft security products.
* Security incident management and problem management using Microsoft security.
* Advanced hunting queries like Kusto Query Language (KQL).
* Management of MDE and endpoints through Microsoft Intune Endpoint Manager.
* Management of MDE using the Security Web Portal.
* Learn cloud and container security and DevSecOps techniques around it.
* Learn cross-platform (Linux, macOS, and Android) endpoint security.

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

This book is for college graduates, DevOps, SRE, software developers, system administrators who would like to switch to a security profile, or especially into the early starting roles like SOC analyst, security administrators, or would like to learn the Microsoft security products. A foundational understanding of endpoint security concepts and Windows/macOS/Linux operating systems will be beneficial for readers.

1. Introduction to Microsoft Defender Endpoint
2. Understanding Endpoint Security Fundamentals
3. Deploying Microsoft Defender Endpoint
4. Configuring Microsoft Defender Endpoint
5. General EDR with Respect to SOC
6. Monitoring and Alerting with Defender SOC
7. Defender SOC Investigating Threats
8. Responding to Threats with Defender SOC
9. Endpoint Vulnerability Management
10. Cross-platform Endpoint Security
11. Endpoint Security for Cloud Environments
12. Managing and Maintaining Microsoft Defender Endpoint
13. Future Ahead with AI and LLM
14. Practical Configuration Examples and Case Studies

Shailender Singh is a seasoned technology leader with over 17 years of rich and diverse experience spanning cybersecurity, software development, and IT architecture. As a former Microsoft team member, he contributed extensively to the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) and Microsoft Defender for Application (MDA) teams, where he spearheaded initiatives such as the development of a cross-platform lab that analysed millions of malware samples automatically. His career journey also includes pivotal roles at Symantec (now Broadcom), where he worked on cutting-edge security products like Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) and Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP).

Currently serving as an advisor - software architect in the core banking sector with Finxact (Fiserv), Shailender brings his deep expertise in hybrid cloud infrastructures, container security, DevOps, DevSecOps, and site reliability engineering (SRE) to drive innovation and efficiency. He is actively working on Agentic Mesh in the AI domain, creating fusion across security, system engineering, and AI/ML. With a background as a C developer on the Linux platform during his early career and now an active Python developer along with Polyglot programming languages, he combines hands-on technical proficiency with strategic vision. Additionally, his academic credentials include two master’s degrees in IT and computer applications.

Shailender’s professional footprint extends to prominent organizations such as McKinsey a business consulting firm and Hewlett Packard (HP), where he contributed in various impactful roles. Passionate about leveraging his skills for problem-solving, he is currently focused on building solutions in the security domain and developing Infrastructure from Code (IfC) frameworks aimed at reducing engineering costs for budding startups. His expertise bridges the gap between engineering and innovation, making him a dynamic force in cybersecurity, software architecture, and AI advancement.