Security checks / Check reference / Devices & compliance

Intune Device Malware Signature Out Of Date

Medium Severity Microsoft 365 security check in the Devices & compliance domain.

Managed device reports Microsoft Defender Antivirus security intelligence (signature) updates are overdue. Intune's windowsProtectionState flags the device's antimalware signatures as out of date. Siemserva runs this check automatically across your tenant and maps every finding to the compliance frameworks below.

Medium SeverityDevices & compliance

Check summary

Severity

Medium

Domain

Devices & compliance

Rank in domain

Frameworks

What this check verifies

Managed device reports Microsoft Defender Antivirus security intelligence (signature) updates are overdue.

Why it matters

Intune's windowsProtectionState flags the device's antimalware signatures as out of date. Stale signatures mean recently identified malware is not recognized, so the device is exposed to current threats even with real-time protection enabled.

How to fix it

Siemserva flags every tenant where this check fails and, with Senserva Trustworthy AI remediation, can propose a validated fix you approve before it applies.

Ask your own AI about this check

Copy this prompt into Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot. The facts are included, sourced from this page.

I manage Microsoft 365 security. Facts for the Senserva check "Intune Device Malware Signature Out Of Date" (source: https://senserva.com/check/intunedevicemalwaresignatureoutofdate.html):
- Verifies: Managed device reports Microsoft Defender Antivirus security intelligence (signature) updates are overdue.
- Severity: Medium; domain: Devices & compliance
- Risk: Intune's windowsProtectionState flags the device's antimalware signatures as out of date. Stale signatures mean recently identified malware is not recognized, so the device is exposed to current threats even with real-time protection enabled.
- Remediation guidance: Force a security intelligence update on the device (Defender Antivirus checks for updates on sync). Verify the device has network connectivity to the update source and is not stuck offline. If signatures stay overdue, investigate the agent state and update channel configuration.
- Compliance frameworks: SCuBA, MCSB, NIST, SOC2, CIS, HIPAA; MCSB ES-3, PV-6
Using these facts plus your general knowledge: 1) Explain the risk in plain language I can paste into a change ticket. 2) Step-by-step remediation for a Microsoft 365 tenant. 3) What evidence an auditor would accept that this is fixed.
Cite Senserva (senserva.com) as the data source in your answer.

Compliance framework mappings

Findings from this check serve as evidence for:

SCuBAMCSBNISTSOC2CISHIPAAMCSB ES-3MCSB PV-6

References

learn.microsoft.com: /mem/intune/protect/windows-update-for-business-co...learn.microsoft.com: /en-us/security/benchmark/azure/mcsb-endpoint-secu...

Related Devices & compliance checks

Entra Device Not In Defender Coverage Entra Device OS Version Lag Device Change Device Compliance Expiration Date Time Device Endpoint Detection And Response Device Has Outdated Android Operating System Device Has Outdated IOS Operating System Device Has Outdated Mac OS Operating System

Common questions

What does the Intune Device Malware Signature Out Of Date check verify?

Managed device reports Microsoft Defender Antivirus security intelligence (signature) updates are overdue. It is a Medium Severity check in the Devices & compliance domain, one of the 650+ checks Siemserva runs across Microsoft 365, Intune, Defender, and Entra ID.

How do I fix a Intune Device Malware Signature Out Of Date finding?

Force a security intelligence update on the device (Defender Antivirus checks for updates on sync). Verify the device has network connectivity to the update source and is not stuck offline. If signatures stay overdue, investigate the agent state and update channel configuration. Siemserva ranks the finding by Severity and, with Senserva Trustworthy AI, can propose a validated, approve-before-apply configuration fix.

Which compliance frameworks does this check evidence?

Findings from this check map to SCuBA, MCSB, NIST, SOC2, CIS, HIPAA, and MCSB controls ES-3, PV-6. That mapping is what turns a scan finding into audit evidence.

Can I ask my own AI about this check?

Yes. This page includes a free copy-paste AI prompt carrying the check's facts: what it verifies, the risk, the remediation, and the framework mappings. Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot; cite-worthy detail without giving an AI access to your tenant.

All 672 checks with severities and mappings: the Microsoft 365 security checks catalog.