Security Policy Errors

Fix Unavailable Months in Microsoft Attack Simulation Campaign Scheduling

Maira Mehtab Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to select certain months when attempting to schedule an Attack Simulation campaign in Microsoft Defender.

How to Fix Unavailable Months in Microsoft Attack Simulation Campaign Scheduling

Product: Microsoft Defender
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Scheduling a security attack simulation campaign for organizational training.
Observed behavior: Specific months are greyed out or completely unavailable for selection during the campaign scheduling process.

Before you start

Ensure you have the required administrator permissions (such as Security Administrator or Attack Simulation Administrator) in the Microsoft Defender portal before attempting to schedule or modify campaigns.

Solution 1Recommended

Review Campaign Scheduling Rules and Permissions in Microsoft Defender

Verify your administrator credentials and check the campaign duration, start dates, and termination rules that might restrict date selection.

Microsoft Defender restricts campaign scheduling based on configured termination rules, maximum duration limits, and organizational blackout policies. Ensuring your campaign parameters fall within these allowable windows is the primary way to resolve greyed-out dates.

Sign in to Microsoft Defender

Navigate to the Microsoft Defender portal and log in using an account with Attack Simulation Administrator or Security Administrator credentials.

Open Attack Simulation Training

Go to 'Email & collaboration' in the left navigation pane and select 'Attack simulation training'.

Check Campaign Settings

Select your desired attack scenario and proceed to the scheduling page. Carefully verify the configured campaign duration, start dates, and termination settings to ensure they do not exceed allowed limits.

Contact Microsoft Support

If expected months remain unavailable after verifying that your dates comply with organizational scheduling requirements, use the support portal to contact Microsoft Support or submit product feedback.

Review Campaign Scheduling Rules and Permissions in Microsoft Defender

Organizational Scheduling Requirements: Some organizations enforce strict scheduling policies that block campaigns during specific high-traffic or freeze months (e.g., end of the financial year). Check with your global admin to see if tenant-wide blackout dates are applied.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What administrator roles are required to schedule an attack simulation?

You must be assigned the Security Administrator, Attack Simulation Administrator, or Global Administrator role in Microsoft Entra ID to create and schedule campaigns.

Why is the campaign duration restricted in Attack Simulation Training?

Campaigns have maximum duration limits (typically up to 30 days) to ensure timely reporting and follow-up training for users. This duration limit can affect which end dates are available for selection.

Can I bypass organizational blackout dates for security training?

If your organization has configured tenant-wide blackout dates or scheduling restrictions, you cannot bypass them during setup without adjusting the global tenant settings or consulting your IT security lead.

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