This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection Description
Disabled (Default): If Not Configured or Disabled, network protection is not allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server. Enabled: If Enabled, administrators can control whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server. Note, that this configuration is dependent on the EnableNetworkProtection configuration. If this configuration is false, EnableNetworkProtection will be ignored, otherwise network protection will start on Windows Server depending on the value of EnableNetworkProtection.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection Value name: AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer
Enabled: AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer = 1
Disabled: AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer = 0
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection]
"AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection' -Name 'AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection' -Name 'AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Network Protection'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.