Windows 8 Bible

Using BitLocker Drive Encryption

File History and System Protection ensure the availability of your files, in that they allow you to restore lost or damaged files by restoring from a backup copy. BitLocker drive encryption isn’t about availability. It’s about confidentiality. If your notebook computer is lost or stolen, that’s certainly a bad thing. But if it contains confidential personal, client, or patient information, that’s even worse. BitLocker drive encryption ensures that lost or stolen data can’t be read by prying eyes.

Tip

BitLocker differs from the Encrypting File System (EFS) in that EFS encrypts individual folders and files, whereas BitLocker encrypts the whole disk.

BitLocker drive encryption works by encrypting all the data on a hard drive. With BitLocker drive encryption active, you can still use the computer normally. All the necessary encryption and decryption takes place automatically behind the scenes. But a thief would be unable to access data, passwords, or confidential information on the drive.

Tip

BitLocker drive encryption ensures the confidentiality of data stored in portable computers.

BitLocker hardware requirements

BitLocker drive encryption uses an encryption key to encrypt and decrypt data. That key must be stored in a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Version 1.2 microchip and compatible BIOS. Only newer computers come with the appropriate hardware preinstalled. You’ll also need a USB flash drive to store a copy of the password.