Microsoft Defender AV must be configured to monitor for file and program activity.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-213443	SRG-APP-000278	WNDF-AV-000019	SV-213443r823058_rule	2022-04-08	2

Description
This policy setting allows configuration of monitoring for file and program activity. If this setting is enabled or not configured, monitoring for file and program activity will be enabled. If this setting is disabled, monitoring for file and program activity will be disabled.

ℹ️ Check
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Real-time Protection >> "Monitor file and program activity on your computer to be scanned" is set to "Enabled" or "Not Configured". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection Criteria: If the value "DisableOnAccessProtection" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding. If the value does not exist, this is not a finding. If the value is 1, this is a finding.

ℹ️ Check

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Real-time Protection >> "Monitor file and program activity on your computer to be scanned" is set to "Enabled" or "Not Configured". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection Criteria: If the value "DisableOnAccessProtection" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding. If the value does not exist, this is not a finding. If the value is 1, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Real-time Protection >> "Monitor file and program activity on your computer" to "Enabled" or "Not Configured".