I got Windows Server 2025 Standard running in a VMware virtual machine (Legacy / No TPM / No Secure Boot / MBR) and I am happy to report that this same procedure also works to completely disable Defender AntiVirus on Windows Server 2025 Standard. I guess I should expect this to work the same since Windows Server 2025 Standard is basically the same build as Windows 11 24H2.
Without me going back and reading the entire thread... In Server 2025.. .you can just uninstall Windows Defender , as in "Server" uninstalling the role/feature has been allowed without all the same trickery that has to be done on clients. (e.g. 10, 11)