Passwords alone do not protect data
Each year, millions of laptop computers are misplaced, stolen, or lost, many of them containing important and sensitive data. Passwords alone do not protect data. The best way to make sure your data is secure at rest is by encrypting the computer’s hard drive. Encryption secures your data by scrambling it so it can’t be read without authenticated decryption using a recovery key. In fact, full disk encryption is the essential first line of defence to protect your data in the event of laptop theft or loss and should be taken seriously.
Why? Well, if your laptop went missing not only is there the expense of buying a new machine, but also the potential damage to your company’s reputation for data management. Plus, there is the significant risk of hefty fines* (see below) from the Information Commissioners Office, should they deem insufficient steps have been taken to secure data under GDPR regulations.
*Fines for GDPR non-compliance
-
- Up to 10 million Euros, or 2% of annual global global turnover – whichever is greater OR
- Up to 20 million Euros, or 4% of annual global turnover – whichever is the greater
So why take the risk? CTO can show you how enabling BitLocker – a free feature included as standard in Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise – can secure your data by encrypting it and mitigate the risk of fines.
Is it complicated? Not at all. BitLocker differs from most other encryption programs because it uses your Windows login to secure your data; no extra passwords are needed. Once you’re logged in, your files look just like they would otherwise, and once you log out, everything’s secured. In fact, once it’s setup, you might even forget that it’s there and working!
Is BitLocker right for me? There are many reasons to use data encryption. If any of the below apply to you, BitLocker might be just what you’re looking for!
- YES
- I want to secure my data in the case of device theft
- My job requires that I encrypt my data
- I want a little extra peace of mind
- NO
- My device doesn’t have Windows 10 Pro** (see below note)
- I only want to encrypt a couple of files
So get in touch with CTO today and address the threats of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or inappropriately decommissioned computers. BitLocker is a great way to easily encrypt the data on your entire device and keep it protected from prying eyes.
Please Note: If you’re not on Windows 10 Pro and would like to upgrade to take advantage of the encryption and other business-oriented features it has to offer, please contact CTO. **In addition, if you are running Windows 7 Pro be aware this operating goes End of Life on the 14th January 2020 and you will not receive any further Patches or Security Updates for the device – migrate to Windows 10 Pro now!
