Transitioning Modes

Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) allows administrators to transition between Audit and Enforce modes to balance security and operational readiness. This section outlines the steps and considerations for transitioning between these modes, ensuring minimal disruption and compliance with organizational requirements.

Transitioning from Audit to Enforce Mode¶

Steps and Commands¶

Validate Compliance: Ensure all critical applications are compliant with the WDAC policy by running audits in Audit mode.
```
Test-WdacPolicy -PolicyFilePath "C:\Policies\MyPolicy.xml"
```
Update Policy: If necessary, refine the policy to address any non-compliant applications.

Switch to Enforce Mode: Modify the policy to enforce compliance.

Set-WdacPolicy -PolicyFilePath "C:\Policies\MyPolicy.xml" -Enforce

Verify Mode: Confirm the transition.
```
Get-WdacPolicy | Select-Object Mode
```

Considerations¶

Testing: Conduct thorough testing in a controlled environment before enforcing policies in production.
Disruption Risk: Enforce mode blocks non-compliant applications immediately. Ensure all critical applications are explicitly allowed in the policy.
Execution Policy: Ensure the system's execution policy (e.g., RemoteSigned) allows the WDAC policy to load.

Transitioning from Enforce to Audit Mode¶

Steps and Commands¶

Revert Policy: If changes were made during Enforce mode, update the policy to reflect the desired state.
Switch to Audit Mode: Modify the policy to audit compliance without enforcement.
```
Set-WdacPolicy -PolicyFilePath "C:\Policies\MyPolicy.xml" -Audit
```
Verify Mode: Confirm the transition.
```
Get-WdacPolicy | Select-Object Mode
```
Monitor Logs: Use Event Viewer or Get-WdacLog to identify any applications blocked during Enforce mode.

Considerations¶

Rollback Plan: Ensure a rollback plan is in place, as Audit mode may allow previously blocked applications to run.
Policy Validation: Revalidate the policy in Audit mode to confirm it aligns with current operational needs.
Communication: Notify users of potential changes in application behavior during the transition.

Key takeaways¶

Audit to Enforce: Prioritize testing and ensure all applications are compliant before enforcing policies.
Enforce to Audit: Revalidate policies and prepare for potential disruptions as previously blocked applications may resume execution.
Execution Policy: Always verify the system's execution policy aligns with WDAC requirements.
Monitoring: Use logging and auditing tools to track compliance and identify issues during mode transitions.