Overview
Encryption helps protect the data on your device so it can only be accessed by people who have authorization. Encryption is a common focus area during cybersecurity-related regulatory examinations.
The information in this article demonstrates how to encrypt your laptop/workstation using Microsoft Bitlocker.
Steps:
1. You’ll see a notification pop-up from the lower right-hand corner stating encryption is needed as shown below:
The notification will keep showing up from time to time until the machine is encrypted
2. Select the Encryption needed notification and begin encrypting the device
3. Select "I don't have any other disk encryption software installed, encrypt all my disks" then Click "Yes"
4. Create your own Password/PIN, that you will use every time the machine is rebooted, then click Next
PIN/Password min length is 6 characters
5. Click on "Save to your Cloud domain account", wait until the process it finish then click "Next"
6. Click "Next" for Choose how much of your drive to encrypt" Windows and Keep the default settings
7. Click "Next" for Choose which encryption mode to use, and keep the default settings
8. Click "Continue" For "Are you Ready to encrypt this drive"
9. Close Bitlocker Drive encryption window.
*** Encrypting Process will run on the background, it will be completed without any notification, and does not require to close any app.
10. Next time you reboot the machine, The blue BitLocker Window will show up asking for Password/PIN created
Troubleshoot Tips:
- Some Laptops originally encrypted with un-managed BitLocker encryption, so if the above steps didn't work, then open Start Menu, search for "Manage Bitlocker", select "Turn Off BitLocker", then wait for managed Bitlocker notification
- If the above process didn't ask for Password/PIN, wait for 1-2 hours for encryption to finish, open Start Menu, search for "Manage Bitlocker", select Change PIN
- The PIN/Password can be the same or different from current Windows login PIN/Password