Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of BeGentleWithMe-INeedHelp
BeGentleWithMe-INeedHelpFlag for United States of America

asked on

Securing a windows 7 laptop when out of the office. It's part of an SBS 2011 domain

What are the options for the way to 'secure' the data on a laptop in case it gets stolen?

I was thinking there's the drive bootup password in the bios of the laptop (Dell Latitude).  I guess I could take the drive out to see for myself, but does that actually keep the drive locked up even if removed from the laptop and connected to another PC?

We're not talking state secrets here.  So if the answer to the hard drive password lock is that they can swap out the board on the drive and get in, that's not a concern.

We're more concerned with keeping people from getting to the data going so far as taking the drive out of the laptop and putting in another PC using a USB to SATA cable or similar.

The OS is Windows 7 Pro and the server for the domain is SBS 2011.

Any recommendations?
SOLUTION
Avatar of Pune Tech
Pune Tech

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
SOLUTION
Avatar of McKnife
McKnife
Flag of Germany image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
There's no bitlocker on win7 pro.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Quite correct, it was introduced in Windows 8.0 Pro.

You could upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro, via Windows 8.0 as it's cheaper (i.e. £45.00 in the UK) or 10 Pro or 7 Ultimate to get BitLocker.

Alternatively, if you or the user needs adaptions for some form of accessibility, then it'st still possible to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/windows10upgrade - no proof is needed that assistive technology is used so there is no paperwork.

It might be difficult to trust OpenSource encryption solutions especially since the TrueCrypt issue and many won't leverage the TPM which will protect part of the keychain used to decrypt the drive.
Avatar of skullnobrains
skullnobrains

It might be difficult to trust OpenSource encryption solutions

hmm... i'd never consider using any encryption software that's not opensource.
if you can't audit your solution, it's probably not as failsafe as the vendor claims.
Avatar of BeGentleWithMe-INeedHelp

ASKER

Re:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/windows10upgrade - no proof is needed that assistive technology is used so there is no paperwork.

I've been meaning to ask this question.  Feel free to check / comment on this page:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28985942/How-do-you-know-you-are-properly-activated-on-Windows-10-upgrades.html