Question

Using Group Policy to enforce EFS

Asked by: -Juddy-

We are going to roll out some new securtiy measures and I wanted to ask a few question about implementing this.  I want our users to make better use (or start using!) EFS on their laptops (XP and Vista) to keep sensative data secure.  Now, I know how to make a folder encrypted and take advantage of the EFS capability, but is there anything that can be done via Group Policy?  We have a Small Business Server (2003) running the domain.

I am also going to employ secure memory sticks for data transfer, any thought on these:

http://www.pcwb.co.uk/action/quicksearch?keywords=integral+crypto

Thanks!

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Asked On
2009-11-05 at 06:35:13ID24874518
Tags

EFS

,

Windows Small Business Server

,

Vista

,

XP

Topics

Encryption for Network Security

,

SBS Small Business Server

,

Windows Vista

Participating Experts
1
Points
250
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: afootPosted on 2009-11-05 at 06:38:55ID: 25749861

You need to configure some global settings via Group Policy for EFS to work but, to the best of my knowledge, you can't set EFS on specific folders using Group Policy itself.  Please see the following article for more information:

http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Controlling-Encrypting-File-System-EFS-Group-Policy.html

Secure data sticks for information transfer is definitely the way ahead!  The ones you have indicated look good to me.

Regards,

Ady

 

by: -Juddy-Posted on 2009-11-05 at 06:44:41ID: 25749924

So this pretty much looks like it just allows / disallows the use of EFS?  Do I need to create or add a Data Recovery Agent, and is this so I (as Administrator) can recover data from users laptops that has been 'EFSed'?

 

by: afootPosted on 2009-11-05 at 06:46:09ID: 25749940

Exactly that.  You still need to manually set the EFS property on each folder you wish to use it.  You definitely need to add a network Data Recovery Agent so that you can recover files that are encrypted and inaccessible due to any reason.

Regards,

Ady

 

by: -Juddy-Posted on 2009-11-05 at 07:00:03ID: 25750124

There are two options, which to go for?! Create or Add Data Recovery Agent?

 

by: afootPosted on 2009-11-05 at 07:07:12ID: 25750206

Sorry - you need to create one rather than add an existing one.

 

by: -Juddy-Posted on 2009-11-05 at 07:08:25ID: 25750222

Oops1 'Windows cannot create a data recovery agent. Directory object not found.'

 

by: afootPosted on 2009-11-05 at 07:09:47ID: 25750239

 

by: -Juddy-Posted on 2009-11-05 at 07:13:11ID: 25750278

This arcticle refers to creating a recovery agent on the local computer, must this be done on each machine? I was attempting this on the domain contoller.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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