Why Full Disk Encryption is a Must for Laptops

Pfizer, the largest biomedical and pharmaceutical company in the world, reported in February that a laptop computer had been stolen, potentially exposing 800 employees and contractors to identity theft.

On the laptop were names, credit card numbers, addresses, phone numbers, hotel loyalty program numbers as well as a incalculable of other data. It didn't look like there were any social security numbers or PIN numbers revealed.

The laptop computer, stolen by burglars from the home of a contractor setting travel and meeting plans for Pfizer, was password protected. Various operating systems will store application data in multiple places on your System . Your whole disk drive can be protected through full disk encryption software.

To keep your personal and other data fully protected, using full disk encryption will provide you with benefits not available with regular file, folder, or vault encryption.

Full-Disk Encryption:

• Swap space and temporary folders are files which could reveal confidential information, but now can be encrypted along with most all other data, with full disk encryption
  


• Pre-boot Authentication (PBA) which keeps the operating system from booting until the correct password is entered
  


• If you need it there is data destruction by ridding of the cryptograph key
  

Due to recent lap-top thefts and security breaches, it is vital that full data encryption is enlisted by users to best protect all confidential information. For this same reason, the United States Government is now comparing various FDE solutions before selecting which they will be using. If you have data that needs to be kept secure, but is in a risky place, you should use full disk encryption to encrypt and protect your information.