![]() ![]() If yes, you would simply use the options in the right pane of that window to prepare and enable it. In the Trusted Platform Module Management window that opens, look at the middle pane to see if a TPM exists. If this does not show you a TPM, try the following: Press the Windows and R keys simultaneously and type tpm.msc. You could right click it to see if the settings for it allow you to enable it. In the Device Manager window that opens look for "Security Devices" and upon expanding that you should see "Trusted Platform Module" followed by a version number. Alternatively, you could type "Device Manager" in the search box near the Windows Start icon (lower left of screen) and select Device Manager from the results. ![]() In the command prompt that opens, type devmgmt.msc. The TPM module may actually be present but just not enabled.įirst press the Windows key and R key simultaneously. If Windows prompts you about a missing TPM module, and you have a business or office use computer, it is worth checking if the TPM module is configured correctly. It will simply provide you data protection through encryption.įor more details see instructions here, and should you want to understand all its advanced options read this, and this, more specifically for Windows 10. So BitLocker will not affect your productivity. You will not notice any difference in how you use your computer. Once done, your primary drive will be encrypted. Once you make your selection in the turn on BitLocker wizard, the encryption process starts. That would be like leaving your house key at the front door.Ī good place is to store it in your Microsoft Account online by selecting "Save to your Microsoft Account." Alternatively, or additionally, you could also store it in your secure document portal. If the PC or its storage device and a printout of the recovery key are stolen together, it is as good as not encrypted in the first place. Save this recovery key somewhere away from the PC. Also, if you used the USB drive option to unlock the drive and the USB drive malfunctions or is lost, you would again need the recovery key. Since this is a password you will probably never use (the disk will be set to unlock automatically on the computer), it is easy to forget or loose track of. You do not want to make security unnecessarily hard to use since that may negatively affect productivity and also become a reason to not use it.īesides the password, Windows will provide a recovery key in case the password is forgotten. We recommend selecting that because it makes BitLocker completely transparent and easy to use. The setting will also offer you to unlock automatically on this PC. We do not recommend using a USB drive because if the USB drive is left on your desk or near your computer, it can be stolen along with the PC and then the disk is as good as not encrypted. The turn on wizard will ask you to choose How to unlock your drive. Right click on the primary drive (typically "C:") and select Turn on BitLocker. You will see all your hard drives listed. To enable BitLocker in Windows 10, open File Explorer and click on This PC. If your device lacks a TPM chip, Windows will prompt you and then you can follow the instructions further down below to use BitLocker without a TPM chip. Get started with a steps below to enable BitLocker. But you can use BitLocker even without it. Most PCs sold as business PCs (such as the Dell Precision and Optiplex series, Lenovo ThinkCenter series, and HP Pro and Elite among others) do come with a TPM chip. (The cost of upgrading your OS alone should be weighed against purchasing a new PC as that will help address the TPM requirement, described below, as well.)Īdditionally, having a computer with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip is helpful. If you are using a Home version of Windows, it is worth considering an upgrade to the Pro version. Windows Vista and Windows 7: Enterprise and Ultimate editions Windows 8 and 8.1: Pro and Enterprise editions Windows 10: Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions). Most Pro or Ultimate versions of Windows have BitLocker (e.g. The first requirement is to have the right version of Windows. Lost or stolen mobile devices are the biggest cause of data breaches, including newsworthy breaches at NASA and Coca Cola. So you can stay protected in case your computer or a data drive is lost or stolen. Microsoft BitLocker provides easy to use encryption for your computer's data drives. your business from data breach reporting requirements and costs, and.Also, loss or theft of encrypted data is not considered a data breach according to the law. However, if the data is encrypted, it is practically impossible for the thief to retrieve. The thief need not even login to your computer - they can simply remove the hard drive and connect it to a different computer. If your PC computer is lost or stolen, having a password does not protect your data. ![]()
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