Over the past few years, Microsoft has gradually phased out support for Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG), marking a significant shift in its security offerings. In November 2023, the tool was deprecated for Office applications, followed by a similar fate for the Edge browser in December 2023. By April 2024, MDAG was delisted from Edge and other browser stores, culminating in its complete removal from Windows 11, version 24H2. Now, Microsoft is poised to finalize the retirement of MDAG by discontinuing support in Edge entirely.
Final Stages of Retirement
In a recent advisory tagged as MC1459132, Microsoft outlined what appears to be the concluding phase of MDAG and Windows Information Protection (WIP) in Edge. It is important to note that WIP was phased out in favor of Microsoft Purview back in 2022. With MDAG also eliminated from Windows 11, this latest notice primarily affects Microsoft Edge users operating on Windows 10.
For organizations that have relied on WIP, Microsoft recommends transitioning to Microsoft Purview Information Protection, Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Endpoint DLP, and Intune app protection policies. Meanwhile, users of MDAG are encouraged to take advantage of Edge’s built-in security features, along with any suitable first- or third-party isolation solutions that align with their security needs.
Given that WIP and MDAG were already deprecated and required manual activation by IT administrators, the number of enterprise users impacted on Windows 10 may be relatively limited. Microsoft has urged customers to assess their current use of WIP and MDAG, as support will officially end by the close of September 2026. Users who have not transitioned to supported alternatives may find themselves vulnerable once the support phase concludes.
Furthermore, functionalities associated with WIP and MDAG will cease to operate in Microsoft Edge 154 and later versions once the retirement process is fully implemented by the end of next month. Therefore, IT administrators are advised to initiate migration activities promptly to mitigate any potential disruptions.
