Azure Defender for Cloud, formerly known as Azure Security Center, is a cloud security service provided by Microsoft Azure that helps organizations protect their cloud resources and workloads. Azure Defender for Cloud continuously monitors Azure and hybrid environments, identifies security threats and vulnerabilities, and provides security recommendations and remediation guidance. Here are key aspects and features of Azure Defender for Cloud:

1. Threat Detection: Azure Defender for Cloud uses advanced analytics and machine learning to detect and alert on suspicious activities and potential security threats across Azure services and resources. It monitors activities such as unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and malware propagation.

2. Vulnerability Assessment: The service performs continuous vulnerability assessments on Azure virtual machines (VMs) and recommends security patches and updates to address potential vulnerabilities.

3. Security Recommendations: Azure Defender for Cloud provides actionable security recommendations based on best practices and compliance standards. These recommendations help organizations improve their security posture and mitigate potential risks.

4. Integrated Security Policies: Organizations can define and enforce security policies to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements. Azure Defender for Cloud helps assess and enforce these policies.

5. Hybrid Environment Protection: Azure Defender for Cloud extends its protection to hybrid environments by integrating with Azure Arc. This enables organizations to monitor and secure on-premises servers, Kubernetes clusters, and other resources alongside Azure resources.

6. Just-in-Time Access: The service supports just-in-time (JIT) access, allowing organizations to limit the exposure of VMs by temporarily opening specific network ports for authorized users and closing them afterward.

7. Container Security: Azure Defender for Cloud includes container security features to monitor the security posture of containerized applications deployed in Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).

8. Serverless Security: It also covers serverless computing environments like Azure Functions, providing insights and protection against potential security threats.

9. Integration with Azure Monitor: Organizations can integrate Azure Defender for Cloud with Azure Monitor to gain deeper insights into security events and incidents.

10. Security Incident Investigation: The service offers investigation tools and dashboards to help security teams analyze and respond to security incidents efficiently.

11. Threat Intelligence: Azure Defender for Cloud leverages Microsoft’s global threat intelligence to stay updated on emerging threats and adapt its security detection capabilities accordingly.

12. Multi-Cloud Support: While primarily designed for Azure, Azure Defender for Cloud can extend security monitoring and protection to other cloud providers and on-premises environments through Azure Arc and third-party integrations.