Running a scheduled scan

Malware Scan > Running a scheduled scan

Running a scheduled scan

Fully scanning the computer takes some time and resources of the computer. You should choose the optimum time to run a computer scan to avoid adversely impacting the performance of other software. Kaspersky Endpoint Security lets you configure a normal schedule for scanning the computer. This is convenient if your organization has a work schedule. You can configure a computer scan to run at night or on weekends. If it is impossible to run the scan task for any reason (for example, the computer is off at that time), you can configure the skipped task to be run automatically as soon as this becomes possible.

If configuring an optimum scan schedule proves impossible, Kaspersky Endpoint Security lets you run a computer scan when the following special conditions are met:

After a database update.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security runs the computer scan with the updated signature databases.
After application startup.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security runs a computer scan when a specified amount of time elapses after application startup. At operating system startup, many processes are running, therefore it is advantageous to postpone running the scan task instead of running it immediately after Kaspersky Endpoint Security startup.
Wake-on-LAN.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security runs a computer scan on schedule even if the computer is powered off. To do so, the application uses the Wake-on-LAN feature of the operating system. The Wake-on-LAN feature allows remotely powering on the computer by sending a special signal over the local network. To use this feature, you must enable Wake-on-LAN in BIOS settings.

You can configure running the scan using Wake-on-LAN only for the Malware Scan task in Kaspersky Security Center. You cannot enable Wake-on-LAN for scanning the computer in the application interface.
When the computer is idling.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security runs a computer scan on schedule when the screensaver is active or the screen is locked. If the user unlocks the computer, Kaspersky Endpoint Security pauses the scan. This means that it may take several days for the application to complete a full computer scan.

How to configure the scan schedule in the Administration Console (MMC)

How to configure the scan schedule in the Web Console and Cloud Console

How to configure the scan schedule in the application interface

Scan schedule settings

Parameter	Description
Scan schedule	Manually. Run mode in which you can start scan manually at a time when it is convenient for you. By schedule. In this scan task run mode, the application starts the scan task in accordance with the schedule that you create. If this scan task run mode is selected, you can also start the scan task manually.
Postpone running after application startup for N minutes	Postponed start of the scan task after application startup. At operating system startup, many processes are running, therefore it is advantageous to postpone running the scan task instead of running it immediately after Kaspersky Endpoint Security startup.
Run skipped tasks	If the check box is selected, Kaspersky Endpoint Security starts the skipped task as soon as it becomes possible. The task may be skipped, for example, if the computer was off at the scheduled task start time. When the application gets an opportunity to execute missed tasks, it runs the tasks randomly within a certain time interval to distribute the load on the computer. If the check box is cleared, Kaspersky Endpoint Security does not run skipped tasks. Instead, it carries out the next task in accordance with the current schedule.
Run only when the computer is idle	Postponed start of the scan task when computer resources are busy. Kaspersky Endpoint Security starts the scan task if the computer is locked or if the screen saver is on. If you have interrupted the execution of the task, for example by unlocking the computer, Kaspersky Endpoint Security automatically runs the task, continuing from the point where it was interrupted.
Use automatically randomized delay for task starts (available only in the Kaspersky Security Center Console)	If the check box is selected, the task is not run strictly on schedule, but randomly within a certain interval, that is, the start times of the task are spread out. Randomized start times help avoid a great number of computers simultaneously accessing the Administration Server when the task is run on schedule. The range of randomized start times is automatically calculated when the task is created, depending on the number of computers that have the task assigned. Subsequently, the task is always run at its calculated start time. However, whenever task settings are modified or the task is run manually, the calculated start time changes. If the check box is cleared, the task is run exactly at scheduled time.
Stop task if it has been running longer than N (min) (available only in the Kaspersky Security Center Console)	Limiting the task execution time After the specified amount of time, Kaspersky Endpoint Security stops the task. The task is not marked as completed. Next time Kaspersky Endpoint Security runs the task, it will be run from the beginning and on schedule. To reduce the task execution time, you can, for example, configure the scan scope or optimize the scan.
Activate the device before the task is started through Wake-on-LAN (min) (available only in the Kaspersky Security Center Console)	If the check box is selected, the operating system of the computer is given a specified lead time to complete startup before the task is run. The default lead time is 5 minutes. Select the check box if you want to run the task on all computers including powered off computers.

Article ID: 123523, Last review: Mar 10, 2025

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