Collect Windows Defender Antivirus logs

Supported in:

Google SecOps SIEM

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This document explains how to ingest Windows Defender Antivirus logs to Google Security Operations using Bindplane.

Windows Defender Antivirus is the built-in antimalware engine in Microsoft Windows that provides real-time threat detection, scan results, and protection event logs. The Bindplane agent collects exported Windows Defender event log files directly from the local file system.

Before you begin

Make sure you have the following prerequisites:

• A Google SecOps instance
• Windows Server 2016 or later with observiq-otel-collector service support
• If running behind a proxy, ensure firewall ports are open per the Bindplane agent requirements
• Administrator access to Windows endpoints running Windows Defender Antivirus

Get Google SecOps credentials for the Bindplane agent

To authenticate the Bindplane agent to Google SecOps, choose one of the following methods:

• New deployments: Use the Chronicle API (Option 1).
• Legacy deployments: Continue using the ingestion authentication file (Option 2) until the Ingestion API is discontinued on July 20, 2027.

Option 1: Create a service account for the Chronicle API (recommended)

1. Sign in to the Google Cloud console and select the Google Cloud project that is linked to your Google SecOps instance.
2. Go to IAM & Admin > Service Accounts.
3. Click Create service account.
4. Provide the following configuration details:
   • Service account name: Enter a name for the account (for example, bindplane-ingest).
   • Service account description: Enter a description (for example, Bindplane agent log ingestion).
5. Click Create and continue.
6. In the Grant this service account access to project section, click Select a role and select Chronicle Editor.
7. Click Continue, and then click Done.
8. Click the service account you created, and then go to the Keys tab.
9. Click Add key > Create new key.
10. Select JSON and click Create. The key file is downloaded to your computer.
11. Save the key file as ingestion-auth.json in the Bindplane collector directory (/opt/observiq-otel-collector/ingestion-auth.json on Linux or C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\ingestion-auth.json on Windows), or update creds_file_path in config.yaml to match the path where you save it.
12. Go to IAM & Admin > Settings and copy the Project number. You'll need it for the exporter configuration.

Note: The JSON key is a credential. Restrict access to the file on the Bindplane host and rotate the key according to your organization's policy.

Option 2: Download the ingestion authentication file (legacy)

1. Sign in to the Google SecOps console.
2. Go to SIEM Settings > Collection Agents.
3. Download the ingestion authentication file.
4. Save the file securely on the system where the Bindplane agent will be installed.

Note: This file authenticates the agent to the legacy Ingestion API (malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com), which Google has scheduled for end of life on July 20, 2027. Plan to move to Option 1 before that date.

Get Google SecOps customer ID

1. Sign in to the Google SecOps console.
2. Go to SIEM Settings > Profile.

3. Copy and save the Customer ID from the Organization Details section.

   Note: The customer ID is required for configuring the Bindplane agent exporter.

Install the Bindplane agent

Install the Bindplane agent on your Windows operating system according to the following instructions.

Windows installation

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as an administrator.

2. Run the following command:

   msiexec /i "https://github.com/observIQ/bindplane-agent/releases/latest/download/observiq-otel-collector.msi" /quiet
   

3. Wait for the installation to complete.

4. Verify the installation by running:

   sc query observiq-otel-collector
   

The service should show as RUNNING.

Additional installation resources

For additional installation options and troubleshooting, see Bindplane agent installation guide.

Note: The Chronicle API exporter configuration requires Bindplane collector v1.106.0 or later. The previous commands install the latest release. If you're updating an existing installation, upgrade the collector before changing the configuration.

Configure Bindplane agent to ingest logs and send to Google SecOps

Locate the configuration file

• Windows:

  notepad "C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\config.yaml"
  

Edit the configuration file

• Replace the entire contents of config.yaml with the following configuration:

  receivers:
    filelog:
      include:
        - C:\Logs\defender-av\*.evtx
      start_at: beginning
  
  exporters:
    chronicle/windows_defender_av:
      protocol: https
      # Region of your instance, for example us, europe, asia-southeast1
      location: <LOCATION>
      # Project number of the Google Cloud project linked to the instance
      project: '<PROJECT_NUMBER>'
      compression: gzip
      creds_file_path: 'C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\ingestion-auth.json'
      customer_id: '<customer_id>'
      endpoint: chronicle.googleapis.com
      log_type: WINDOWS_DEFENDER_AV
      raw_log_field: body
      ingestion_labels:
        env: production
  
  service:
    pipelines:
      logs/defender_av_to_chronicle:
        receivers:
          - filelog
        exporters:
          - chronicle/windows_defender_av
  

Configuration parameters

Replace the following placeholders:

• Receiver configuration:

  • filelog: The receiver type for collecting log files from disk
  • include: List of file paths to monitor. Set this to the location where you export Windows Defender event logs (for example, C:\Logs\defender-av\*.evtx)
  • start_at: Set to beginning to read existing logs or end to only read new entries

• Exporter configuration:

  • windows_defender_av: Descriptive name for the exporter
  • creds_file_path: Full path to the service account JSON key file (Option 1):
    • Windows: C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\ingestion-auth.json
  • <customer_id>: Customer ID from the previous step
  • location: Replace <LOCATION> with the region of your Google SecOps instance (for example, us, europe, or asia-southeast1). The exporter prefixes chronicle.googleapis.com with this value. See Regional Endpoints for the complete list.
  • project: Replace <PROJECT_NUMBER> with the project number from IAM & Admin > Settings.
  • endpoint: Keep set to chronicle.googleapis.com.
  • WINDOWS_DEFENDER_AV: Log type exactly as it appears in Chronicle
  • ingestion_labels: Optional labels in YAML format (for example, env: production)

• Pipeline configuration:

  • defender_av_to_chronicle: Descriptive name for the pipeline

Legacy ingestion API exporter

• If you use the ingestion authentication file from Option 2, replace the exporters block with the following. Set creds_file_path to the path to the ingestion authentication file, and if your instance is outside the US, replace malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com with your regional endpoint (for example, europe-malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com).

  exporters:
    chronicle/windows_defender_av:
      compression: gzip
      creds_file_path: 'C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\ingestion-auth.json'
      customer_id: '<customer_id>'
      endpoint: malachiteingestion-pa.googleapis.com
      log_type: WINDOWS_DEFENDER_AV
      raw_log_field: body
      ingestion_labels:
        env: production
  

Note: This exporter will stop working when the Ingestion API is discontinued on July 20, 2027.

Save the configuration file

• After editing, save the file:
  • Windows: Click File > Save

Restart the Bindplane agent to apply the changes

To restart the Bindplane agent in Windows:

1. Choose one of the following options:

   • Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator:

   net stop observiq-otel-collector && net start observiq-otel-collector
   

   • Services console:
     1. Press Win+R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
     2. Locate observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector.
     3. Right-click and select Restart.

2. Verify the service is running:

   sc query observiq-otel-collector
   

3. Check logs for errors:

   type "C:\Program Files\observIQ OpenTelemetry Collector\log\collector.log"
   

Configure Windows Defender Antivirus log export

Windows Defender Antivirus logs are stored in the Windows Event Log under Microsoft-Windows-Windows Defender/Operational. You need to export these logs to files on disk so the Bindplane agent can collect them.

1. Create a directory to store the exported log files:

   mkdir C:\Logs\defender-av
   

2. Export Windows Defender Antivirus event logs using wevtutil:

   wevtutil epl "Microsoft-Windows-Windows Defender/Operational" C:\Logs\defender-av\defender-av.evtx
   

3. (Optional) Schedule regular exports using Windows Task Scheduler:

   $action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "wevtutil" -Argument 'epl "Microsoft-Windows-Windows Defender/Operational" C:\Logs\defender-av\defender-av.evtx /ow:true'
   $trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -RepetitionInterval (New-TimeSpan -Hours 1) -Once -At (Get-Date)
   Register-ScheduledTask -Action $action -Trigger $trigger -TaskName "ExportDefenderLogs" -Description "Export Windows Defender AV logs for Bindplane agent"
   

4. Verify that the exported log file is being created at `C:\Logs\defender-av`.

5. Ensure the Bindplane agent include path in config.yaml matches the export directory.

   Note: The /ow:true flag overwrites the existing export file. Adjust the export strategy based on your log retention requirements. The Bindplane agent service account must have read access to the export directory.

UDM mapping table

Log Field	UDM Mapping	Logic
OpcodeValue, ThreadID, Channel, engine_version, security_intelligence_version, network_realtime_inspection_engine_version, network_realtime_inspection_security_intelligence_version, rtp_state, oa_state, ioav_state, bm_state, antivirus_security_intelligence_age, antispyware_security_intelligence_age, last_quick_scan_age, last_full_scan_age, antivirus_security_intelligence_creation_time, antispyware_security_intelligence_creation_time, last_quick_scan_start_time, last_quick_scan_end_time, last_quick_scan_source, last_full_scan_start_time, last_full_scan_end_time, last_full_scan_source, product_status	additional.fields	Merged with label maps {key: field name, value: {string_value: field value}} if not empty
	metadata.description	Set to event-specific description string based on EventID
	metadata.event_type	Set to "SCAN_HOST" if has_principal true, else "GENERIC_EVENT"; "SCAN_FILE" for EventID 1011,1116,1117
ProviderGuid	metadata.product_deployment_id	Value from ProviderGuid after removing {}
	metadata.product_event_type	Set to event-specific product event type string based on EventID
RecordNumber	metadata.product_log_id	Value copied directly as string
platform_version	metadata.product_version	Value copied directly
FWLink	metadata.url_back_to_product	Value copied directly
	metadata.vendor_name	Set to "Microsoft"
	metadata.product_name	Set to "Windows Defender AV"
SourceModuleType	observer.application	Value copied directly
Domain, _domain	principal.administrative_domain	Value from Domain, or _domain extracted from Detection User using grok for EventID 1116,1117
Hostname	principal.hostname	Value copied directly
Process Name	principal.process.file.full_path	Value copied directly for EventID 1116,1117
ProcessID	principal.process.pid	Value copied directly
SourceModuleName	principal.resource.name	Value copied directly
AccountType	principal.user.role_description	Value copied directly
AccountName	principal.user.user_display_name	Value copied directly
User, UserID, _account	principal.user.userid	Value from User, or UserID if not empty, or _account extracted from Detection User using grok for EventID 1116,1117
SourceName	security_result.about.resource.attribute.labels	Merged with label map {key: "SourceName", value: SourceName} if not empty
	security_result.action	Set to "ALLOW" by default; "BLOCK" for EventID 1116; "QUARANTINE" for EventID 1117
	security_result.category	Set to "SOFTWARE_MALICIOUS" for EventID 1011,1116,1117
ActivityID	security_result.detection_fields	Merged with detection_fields {key: "Activity ID", value: ActivityID} if ActivityID not empty and not "-"
EventID	security_result.description	Set to "EventID: %{EventID}"
Threat Name	security_result.rule_name	Value copied directly for EventID 1011,1116,1117
Severity, Level, EventType	security_result.severity	Set to LOW if Severity matches verbose|information|info, MEDIUM if warning|error, HIGH if critical; Severity set from Level (5|4 -> information, 2|3 -> warning, 1 -> critical); or from EventType (ERROR -> %{severity}, INFO -> "INFORMATIONAL", else severity_details)
Severity Name, severity	security_result.severity_details	Value from Severity Name for EventID 1011,1116,1117; or from severity for EventType not ERROR or INFO
Threat Name	security_result.summary	Value copied directly for EventID 1011,1116,1117
Category Name	security_result.threat_name	Value copied directly for EventID 1011,1116,1117
FWLink	security_result.url_back_to_product	Value copied directly for EventID 1011,1116,1117
Path	target.file.full_path	Value copied directly for EventID 1116,1117
	target.hostname	Set to "" for EventID 1117
Path	target.registry.registry_key	Value copied directly for EventID 1011
EventRecordID	event.idm.read_only_udm.metadata.product_log_id	Mapped from changelog
Product Version	event.idm.read_only_udm.metadata.product_version	Mapped from changelog
ProviderGuid	event.idm.read_only_udm.metadata.product_deployment_id	Mapped from changelog
Hostname	event.idm.read_only_udm.principal.asset.hostname	Mapped from changelog
xmlns	event.idm.read_only_udm.principal.url	Mapped from changelog
Threat Resource Path	event.idm.read_only_udm.target.file.full_path	Mapped from changelog
Hashes	event.idm.read_only_udm.target.file.sha1	Mapped from changelog
RenderingInfoLevel	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.severity_details	Mapped from changelog
Action Name	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.action_details	Mapped from changelog
Detection Time	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.first_discovered_time	Mapped from changelog
Threat ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.threat_id	Mapped from changelog
Remediation User	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Status Description	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Action ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Additional Actions ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Additional Actions String	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Category ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Detection ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Engine Version	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Error Code	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Error Description	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Execution ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Execution Name	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Origin ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Origin Name	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Post Clean Status	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Pre Execution Status	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Security Intelligence Version	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Severity ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Source ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
State	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Status Code	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Type ID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Type Name	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.detection_fields	Mapped from changelog
Level	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Culture	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Keywords	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Opcode	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Product Name	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Provider Name	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
RenderingInfoMessage	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Service	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Task	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Version	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
Security UserID	event.idm.read_only_udm.additional.fields	Mapped from changelog
EventID	event.idm.read_only_udm.security_result.summary	Mapped from changelog

Change Log

View the Change Log for this parser

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