diff --git a/cluster/gce/windows/configure.ps1 b/cluster/gce/windows/configure.ps1
index 8edabaf2f7..05436287bd 100644
--- a/cluster/gce/windows/configure.ps1
+++ b/cluster/gce/windows/configure.ps1
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ try {
   Dump-DebugInfoToConsole
   Set-PrerequisiteOptions
   $kube_env = Fetch-KubeEnv
+  Disable-WindowsDefender
 
   if (Test-IsTestCluster $kube_env) {
     Log-Output 'Test cluster detected, installing OpenSSH.'