asked on 1/8/2016

Password Protect files on server 2008 R2

Exactly what it sounds like. I need to find a free solution to password protecting whole folders instead of individual word documents

Encryption OS Security Windows Server 2008 Windows 7 Network Security

Last Comment

btan

1/9/2016

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Matt Minor

1/8/2016

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McKnife

1/8/2016

Did you look at EFS yet?

Neil Russell

1/8/2016

NTFS SECURITY
If a user can't get into the folder then then can not access the files. Don't give them access if they are not meant to see what's in it.

Matt Minor

1/8/2016

Security Groups = NTFS Security.

Also consider EFS as Mcknife suggested, depending on your requirements.

Neil Russell

1/8/2016

Well done Matthew!

btan

1/8/2016

Wouldn't agree more than to explore Encrypting File System (EFS - http://www.ghacks.net/2011/07/08/avoiding-efs-encryption-disasters-in-windows/), or "security by obscruity" via manually specify who can access the folders or files by setting permissions, or hide them. Before password protecting any document, you may want to create a backup of the non-password protected files and folder in case you forget the password in the future. Besides the EFS, maybe Axcrypt (freeware) - http://www.axantum.com/AxCrypt/features.html

unrealone1

1/8/2016

ASKER

Yes there is NTFS, but this client is very particular. It's easier to change a password on something than to change NTFS security permissions and members in the groups.

I will put across doing security groups but there is a reason I hadn't at this stage..

discgman

1/8/2016

Yes it is easier to change a password, but it is also easier to manage groups and people coming and going if you create security groups. Otherwise you end up with orphaned random users with full permissions or if you want to change permissions for a user you have to push down those settings on all files in folders which could take forever if you have a lot of them. I am sure there is a good reason and the customer is always right, but in the long run you will end up saving time.

TG Tran

1/8/2016

Btan mentioned AxCrypt, but this utility is file-based encryption, not whole folder. I would suggest VeraCrypt of the TrueCrypt lineage.

btan

1/9/2016

Yap file based and probably I missed the folder instead of file. Just to share, AxCrypt is intended for file encryption, and will likely stay that way. So, no, it's not possible to encrypt a whole folder with AxCrypt. In some cases, a hybrid approach is possible, where a zip archive is used to bundle files together, and then that zip-file is encrypted with AxCrypt. Another is 7z for the password protected zip archive. I believe veracrypt and truecrypt has discontinue support.