Configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler for VDI clients.
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 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 configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler for VDI-configured computers. It is used together with the shared security intelligence location (SharedSignaturesLocation). If you enable this policy setting and configure SharedSignaturesLocation, updates from the configured location occur only at the previously configured scheduled update time. If you either disable or do not configure this policy setting, updates occur whenever a new security intelligence update is detected at the location that is specified by SharedSignaturesLocation.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates Value name: SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly
Enabled: SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly = 1
Disabled: SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly = 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: Configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler 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]
"SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler 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 'SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly' -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: Configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler 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 'SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler 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: Configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure security intelligence updates according to the scheduler 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 'SharedSignatureRootUpdateAtScheduledTimeOnly' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.