BitLocker Encryption for External Drives
Notes and Instructions

Why you may want to encrypt your data

Portable drives, USB drives and SD Memory cards can contain a wealth of data. If a device containing data is lost or stolen, the data on the device is at risk of exposure. If the confidentiality of the data is subject to laws or regulation, this loss may constitute a breach. Encrypting the data on the device is a great way to mitigate this risk. Many regulations and laws encourage or require encryption.

Instructions

Throughout this section, you will see icons such as this . Click this icon to see a screen shot for additional information. Click the larger image to close the image.

Starting BitLocker

  1. Navigate to the Windows file browser. Right click on the option representing the external drive.

  2. Select "Turn on Bitlocker" from the menu.

    However, this menu option is not present on every type of external storage device. If this option is not present, then do the following:
    • Navigate to the Windows control panel

    • Double click the option for "BitLocker Drive Encryption" from the Control Panel Home screen.

    • You should see a section for "Hard Disk Drives" and a section for "BitLocker To Go". You external drive should be in the section for "BitLocker To Go". Select "Turn On Bitlocker" for your external drive.

  3. It may take a minute or so for Bitlocker to execute

  4. Select the option "Use a password to unlock the drive". You should use a long pass-phrase to protect the data. Select "Next" when you are ready to encrypt.

  5. You will be prompted to save a recovery key. You should either save the key to your computer or print the key and keep it in a safe location.

  6. When prompted, select "Start Encrypting".

  7. As the encryption process starts, it is important to leave the drive attached to the computer. After the encryption process begins, you can pause the process and remove the drive from this computer. However, we do not recommend interrupting the encryption process. Please let the drive finish encryption.

  8. You will see this screen when the encryption is finished.

Using BitLocker

  1. When you or someone else attaches this drive to a Windows computer it will require the password you supplied.





The End