Defender is coming to Rowan computers this spring

Information Resources & Technology is upgrading the antivirus software we use to protect Rowan-managed computers from Trellix (formerly McAfee) to Microsoft Defender in phases this spring.

We will start deploying Defender to groups of Rowan-managed computers on Monday, April 3. All Rowan-managed computers will be moved to the new antivirus software by July 1. 

The upgrade will require you to restart your computer, if you use a PC. No further action is required for the upgrade, and you should see improved speed and performance on your computer once the upgrade is complete because Defender uses fewer resources than Trellix.

What can you expect when we deploy Defender to your computer?

We will notify you directly the week your computer is scheduled to receive Defender.

• If you use a PC, you must be on campus or connected to the Rowan VPN for the upgrade process to begin. Once it does, you will receive a pop-up message asking you to move forward with removing Trellix and installing Defender. You’ll have the option to delay the start of this process for up to two hours. Once Trellix is removed, which may take up to one hour, you’ll be prompted to restart your computer. For more details, review our article on the upgrade to Defender. 
• If you use a Mac, the process of removing Trellix and installing Defender happens in the background and can be done from anywhere. You will not be required to restart your computer. When the update is complete, the Trellix icon will be removed from your menu bar. 

What else do you need to know?

The transition to Defender is part of a larger effort to better support flexible work at Rowan University. Defender also integrates with Office 365 and Exchange Online to provide enhanced protection against phishing scams, malware, ransomware, and malicious links and attachments.