• What is BitLocker?
• Should I Have BitLocker turned on or off?
• How Can I Check and/or Modify My Device's BitLocker Status?

What is BitLocker?

BitLocker is an optional encryption feature for Windows devices that encrypts a device's entire drive(s) to ensure data remains secure in the case of the device being stolen and/or tampered with. When BitLocker is turned on and tampering is suspected, BitLocker locks down the device's drive(s); a locked down device's data can only be recovered by entering the device's recovery key. It is important to keep a record of a device's recovery key if BitLocker is turned on for that device.

Should I Have BitLocker turned on or off?

The choice between keeping BitLocker turned on or off is up to you but you should keep the following in mind.

When turned on, BitLocker encrypts a device's entire drive(s) to ensure data remains secure in the case of the device being stolen and/or tampered with. If suspected tampering is detected, BitLocker will lock down your device's drive(s), meaning that the data on the device will become inaccessible until the recovery key is entered. If BitLocker locks down a device's drive and there is no record of the recovery key, that device's data will become permanently inaccessible.

• If you choose to keep BitLocker turned on, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you keep a record of your recovery key to avoid your data becoming inaccessible in the event that your device ever suspects tampering. Keeping a record of a device's recovery key on the device itself is not sufficient; if your device's drive(s) are ever locked you will be unable to access the record of the recovery key that was stored on the device. 
• For up to date instructions on how to find your BitLocker recovery key, please reference Microsoft's instructions and/or this instructional YouTube video.

When turned off, BitLocker will not encrypt your device's drive(s). This means that the data on your device would be less secure in the event that the device is stolen/tampered with. However, having BitLocker turned off also means that you do not run the risk of potentially being locked out of your device's drive(s). 

How Can I Check and/or Modify My Device's BitLocker Status?

1. Type "Manage BitLocker" into the Search bar at the bottom of your screen.
   • Note: BitLocker a feature only available on Windows devices. If you do not have a Windows device you do not have BitLocker.
2. Click on the Manage BitLocker app in the search bar results.
3. If you see an option to "Turn off BitLocker" in blue text then BitLocker is currently turned on/activated.
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   • Note: If you would like to turn BitLocker off click "Turn off BitLocker"
4. If you see an option to "Turn BitLocker on" then BitLocker is currently turned off/deactivated.
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   • Note: If you would like to turn BitLocker on click "Turn BitLocker on"