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Is Microsoft Defender Attack Simulator Being Retired? How to Check Status

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if Microsoft Defender Attack Simulator is being deprecated because associated phishing simulation websites are inaccessible or flagged as blocked.

Is Microsoft Defender Attack Simulator Being Retired?

Product: Microsoft Defender
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to manage and run phishing simulation campaigns for organizational security training.
Observed behavior: The simulation websites appear unmaintained, blocked, or completely unavailable, prompting concerns about the service's lifecycle.

Before you start

Before concluding that the service is retired, ensure your organization's Microsoft 365 tenant subscription is fully active and check the Message Center for any temporary service outages or required allowlist updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Seek Specialized Assistance from the Microsoft Q&A Community

Because Defender services and URLs update frequently, the most accurate resolution for blocked or unmaintained simulation sites requires official Microsoft support.

Microsoft frequently updates its Attack Simulation Training domains to prevent them from being universally blocked by third-party security vendors. If your links appear unmaintained or blocked, it often points to a tenant configuration issue or a recently rotated simulation domain rather than a full product retirement.

Gather your tenant details

Collect the specific simulation URLs that are failing, exact error messages, and ensure you have your tenant details ready (do not share sensitive credentials publicly).

Visit the Microsoft Q&A Community

Navigate to the official Microsoft Q&A platform via your web browser.

Post in the appropriate category

Select the 'Microsoft Defender' or 'Microsoft Defender for Office 365' tag and submit your detailed question to receive specialized assistance from Microsoft engineers.

Seek Specialized Assistance from the Microsoft Q&A Community

Service Transitions: Microsoft transitioned the legacy Attack Simulator to 'Attack Simulation Training'. Ensure you are using the modern training module in the Microsoft 365 Defender portal, as the legacy version has been deprecated.

Solution 2

Verify Service Health and Message Center Updates

Check your admin portal to see if Microsoft has announced any official retirements or ongoing service degradation for Defender.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Microsoft Defender Attack Simulator links being blocked by my browser?

Browsers and third-party security software often update their Safe Browsing lists. If a Microsoft simulation domain isn't explicitly allowlisted in your network firewall or browser security settings, it may be falsely flagged and blocked as an actual phishing threat.

Has the legacy Attack Simulator been completely replaced?

Yes, Microsoft replaced the legacy Attack Simulator (v1) with the newer 'Attack Simulation Training' integrated into Microsoft Defender for Office 365. If you are trying to access the old portals, they will appear unmaintained or unavailable.

Do I need a specific license to use Attack Simulation Training?

Yes, access to the modern Attack Simulation Training typically requires a Microsoft 365 E5 or Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 license. Without active licensing, these features will be disabled or blocked in your tenant.

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