What is the recommended method to enable extended detection and response (EDR) capabilities for Microsoft Sentinel on Windows Server virtual machines?

The recommended method to enable extended detection and response (EDR) capabilities for Microsoft Sentinel on Windows Server virtual machines is to onboard the servers to Defender for Cloud. This approach integrates with Microsoft Sentinel to provide comprehensive security features, including threat detection, investigation, and response directly from the cloud environment.

By onboarding to Defender for Cloud, you gain access to advanced security features that leverage machine learning and analytics to detect threats across your virtual machines. It enhances visibility and enables centralized management of security alerts. This integration is crucial for leveraging the full capabilities of Microsoft Sentinel, which focuses on gathering and analyzing security data from various sources, including servers that are onboarded to Defender for Cloud.

Other options, while they may contribute to overall security, do not specifically facilitate the EDR capabilities of Sentinel as effectively. Installing antivirus software on each virtual machine provides endpoint protection but does not offer the integrated threat detection and response capabilities required for EDR. Configuring a dedicated virtual network and implementing network security groups can enhance security posture but do not directly relate to enabling EDR within Sentinel effectively.