Define security intelligence location for VDI clients.
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1903
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Security Intelligence Updates Description
This policy setting allows you to define the security intelligence location for VDI-configured computers. If you disable or do not configure this setting, security intelligence will be referred from the default local source.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates MDM / Intune (CSP)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_MicrosoftDefenderAntivirus/SignatureUpdate_SharedSignaturesLocation Multiple CSP matches are possible; the first one was selected.
Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
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: Define security intelligence location for VDI clients.
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1903
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates]
"SharedSignatureRoot"=""More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Define security intelligence location for VDI clients.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1903
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SharedSignatureRoot' -Value '' -Type StringIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_MicrosoftDefenderAntivirus/SignatureUpdate_SharedSignaturesLocation
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="SignatureUpdate_SharedSignaturesLocation" value=""/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Define security intelligence location for VDI clients.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1903
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'SharedSignatureRoot' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Define security intelligence location for VDI clients.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1903
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SharedSignatureRoot' -Value '' -Type StringSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Define security intelligence location for VDI clients.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1903
# 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: Define security intelligence location for VDI clients.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1903
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'SharedSignatureRoot' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Define security intelligence location for VDI clients.
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1903
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SharedSignatureRoot' -Value '' -Type StringBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.