Job Title: Defender Administrator (Contract)
Location: Gloucester or Warrington (Hybrid on-site)
Rate: £370/Day Inside IR35
Clearance: Must hold or be eligible for Security Clearance (minimum 5 years UK residency)
About the Role
We are recruiting an experienced Defender Administrator to support a large-scale migration programme, transitioning Windows and Linux servers from legacy antivirus solutions (Symantec/McAfee) to Microsoft Defender (ATP). You will play a key role in designing and implementing migration approaches within a complex and sensitive environment.
Key Responsibilities
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Migrate Windows and Linux servers to Microsoft Defender (ATP).
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Validate existing antivirus exclusion policies across the estate.
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Implement MDE policies and create AAD device groups.
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Develop migration approaches suitable for complex and sensitive infrastructures.
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Perform network connectivity testing and ensure readiness for deployment.
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Create and distribute Defender installation packages.
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Lead discussions with the image management team regarding MDE images for auto-scaling.
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Remove legacy AV solutions from servers.
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Provide end-to-end support for Microsoft Defender.
Required Skills & Experience
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4+ years’ experience onboarding Windows and Linux servers to Microsoft Defender.
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Strong experience migrating from Symantec and McAfee.
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Expertise in AV exclusion management.
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Solid knowledge of Microsoft Defender for Server, O365, Identity, and Microsoft 365 Defender.
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Understanding of EDR, TVM, ASR, AIR and threat remediation.
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Proficiency with Windows OS (Client & Server) and Linux (RHEL).
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Experience deploying ATP packages via GPO, SCCM or Intune.
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Strong investigative and analytical problem-solving skills.
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Ability to document policies, deployment approaches and processes.
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Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
Additional Requirements
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Willingness to work shifts, out-of-hours, and participate in an on-call rota when required.
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Strong relationship-building skills with both onsite and offshore teams.
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Ability to learn quickly and adapt to evolving technical environments.
If you have the required technical expertise and enjoy working in secure, complex environments, we’d love to hear from you
