---
title: Defender Process Exception (macOS)
description: This guide will show an administrator how to configure a process that will be excluded from Defender Antivirus interference on Intune joined macOS devices.
---

[Skip to content](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/defender-process-exception-macos#main-content)

[![Sittadel-Logo-Icon-Slim-Large-Square-Green-Transparent copy](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sittadel-Logo-Icon-Slim-Large-Square-Green-Transparent%20copy.png?width=55&height=55&name=Sittadel-Logo-Icon-Slim-Large-Square-Green-Transparent%20copy.png)](https://sittadel.com/)

- [About Sittadel](https://sittadel.com/about/)
- [Capabilities](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/microsoft-office365-azure-security/)
  
  Show submenu for Capabilities

    - [Microsoft Security Architecture](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/microsoft-office365-azure-security/)
    - [Detection & Response](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/managed-detection-and-response/)
    - [Employee Training](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/security-awareness-training/)
    - [Security Risk Advisors](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/virtual-information-security-officer/)
- [Resources](https://sittadel.com/resources/)
- [Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [About Sittadel](https://sittadel.com/about/)
- [Capabilities](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/microsoft-office365-azure-security/)
  
  Show submenu for Capabilities

    - [Microsoft Security Architecture](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/microsoft-office365-azure-security/)
    - [Detection & Response](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/managed-detection-and-response/)
    - [Employee Training](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/security-awareness-training/)
    - [Security Risk Advisors](https://sittadel.com/capabilities/virtual-information-security-officer/)
- [Resources](https://sittadel.com/resources/)
- [Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/)
- [Get Sittadel](https://sittadel.com/start/)

[Get Sittadel](https://sittadel.com/start/)

 Find answers to your security questions.

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Sittadel Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/?hsLang=en)
2. [Azure Portals](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en)
3. [Intune](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#intune)

# Defender Process Exception (macOS)

## This guide will show an administrator how to configure a process that will be excluded from Defender Antivirus interference on Intune joined macOS devices.

### **![](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jan-19-2024-04-04-16-2156-PM.png?width=125&height=133&name=image-png-Jan-19-2024-04-04-16-2156-PM.png)Role Requirements**

Procedure Scope: **Administrators**

Required Group Membership: **Admin.Security**

**![](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jan-19-2024-04-29-09-3760-PM.png?width=670&height=5&name=image-png-Jan-19-2024-04-29-09-3760-PM.png)**

**Defender macOS Process Exclusion**

1. Navigate to the [Configuration Profiles - Intune](https://intune.microsoft.com/?feature.msaljs=true#view/Microsoft_Intune_DeviceSettings/DevicesMenu/~/configuration) portal. Select the **Security Essentials macOS Defender Settings** configuration profile or an equivalent **macOS** **Antivirus** configuration profile.  
   ![](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-28-2024-06-42-29-9111-PM.png?width=670&height=359&name=image-png-Oct-28-2024-06-42-29-9111-PM.png)
2. Scroll down to **Configuration Settings** and select **Edit.**  
   **![](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-28-2024-06-42-42-5796-PM.png?width=670&height=359&name=image-png-Oct-28-2024-06-42-42-5796-PM.png)**
3. Find the **Scan Exclusions** section and select the **Add** button, an entry should be generated below. Select the **Edit Instance** button to configure the item to be a process exclusion. A pop-out will be generated, specify the **Type** as **File Name** from the dropdown, supply the desired **File Name** associated with the desired process in the provided text field (specified either by the full path or file name). It is recommended that these are not commonly used processes or processes which could be used to spawn in malware. Select **Save** to finalize the **File Extension** exclusion addition, followed by selecting **Review + save** to proceed to the review section.  
   ![](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-28-2024-06-43-51-7429-PM.png?width=670&height=360&name=image-png-Oct-28-2024-06-43-51-7429-PM.png)
4. From the **Review** section, you will be able to select the **Settings** dropdown to verify that the necessary exclusions are properly generating. Select **Save** to finalize the necessary file extension exclusion.Rule changes propagate in less than 24 hours.  
   ![](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-28-2024-06-44-10-8091-PM.png?width=670&height=359&name=image-png-Oct-28-2024-06-44-10-8091-PM.png)

### Need Assistance?

Reach out to your Customer Success Manager to discuss how a Sittadel cybersecurity analyst can assist in managing these tasks for you. New to our services? [Inquire](https://sittadel.com/start/) about arranging a consultation to explore optimizing your Azure environment for painless management.

- [UserOps](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/userops?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Access & Permissions](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/userops?hsLang=en#access-permissions)
    - [Account](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/userops?hsLang=en#account)
    - [Devices](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/userops?hsLang=en#devices)
    - [Document Sharing](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/userops?hsLang=en#document-sharing)
    - [Email](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/userops?hsLang=en#email)
    - [Requests](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/userops?hsLang=en#requests)
    - [Troubleshoot](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/userops?hsLang=en#troubleshoot)
- [TechOps](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/techops?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Tenant Foundations](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/techops?hsLang=en#tenant-foundations)
    - [Collaboration Security](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/techops?hsLang=en#collaboration-security)
    - [Email Security](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/techops?hsLang=en#email-security)
    - [Device Security](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/techops?hsLang=en#device-security)
    - [Identity Security](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/techops?hsLang=en#identity-security)
- [SecOps](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/secops?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Email SOC](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/secops?hsLang=en#email-soc)
    - [Identity SOC](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/secops?hsLang=en#identity-soc)
    - [Tenant SOC](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/secops?hsLang=en#tenant-soc)
    - [Device SOC](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/secops?hsLang=en#device-soc)
- [Deploy Intune](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-intune?hsLang=en)
- [Deploy MDE](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-mde?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Overview](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-mde?hsLang=en#overview)
    - [Intune Deployment](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-mde?hsLang=en#intune-deployment)
    - [Hands-On Deployment](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-mde?hsLang=en#hands-on-deployment)
    - [Azure Arc Deployment](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-mde?hsLang=en#azure-arc-deployment)
    - [RMM Tool Deployment](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-mde?hsLang=en#rmm-tool-deployment)
    - [MECM/SCCM Deployment](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-mde?hsLang=en#mecm-sccm-deployment)
    - [GPO Deployment](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-mde?hsLang=en#gpo-deployment)
- [Deploy Services](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-services?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Cloud Enclave](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/deploy-services?hsLang=en#cloud-enclave)
- [Azure Portals](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Entra ID](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#entra-id)
    - [Intune](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#intune)
    - [Defender](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#defender)
    - [Purview](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#purview)
    - [SharePoint Admin Center](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#sharepoint-admin-center)
    - [Teams Admin Center](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#teams-admin-center)
    - [Admin Center](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#admin-center)
    - [Exchange Admin Center](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/azure-portals?hsLang=en#exchange-admin-center)

[![](https://knowledge.sittadel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sittadel_LogoH_Color_BlackText.png?width=186&height=55&name=Sittadel_LogoH_Color_BlackText.png)](https://Sittadel.com)

Security for Humans.

Copyright © 2026, Sittadel

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/sittadel> <https://outlook.office365.com/book/StartSittadelcom@sittadel.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true> <https://outlook.office365.com/book/StartSittadelcom@sittadel.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true>