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Step-by-step guide

BitLocker is Microsoft’s encryption program for Windows, used to encrypt your hard drive and help protect your files and folders from unauthorized access. It also protects against unauthorized changes to your system, such as firmware-level malware.

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How does BitLocker work?

With BitLocker installed everything happens in the background, invisible to the user. BitLocker checks the computer during startup for any conditions that could represent a security risk (for example, a change to the BIOS or changes to any startup files). If a potential security risk is detected, BitLocker will lock the operating system drive and require a special BitLocker recovery key to unlock it.

BitLocker recovery keys are self-serve (see instructions belowthe article How to Recover your BitLocker Key) or users can contact the IST Service Desk.

Is your Laptop/Notebook encrypted?

You can verify that BitLocker is turned on by the lock icon on the drive when you open "This PC" in File Explorer.Image Removed

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If it's not encrypted contact your Computer Support Rep or the IST Service Desk for assistance.

How to recover your BitLocker key

If a potential security risk is detected, BitLocker will lock the operating system drive and require a special BitLocker recovery key to unlock it.

If you have access to another computer or mobile device, you can obtain the recovery key yourself. If not, please contact an IST Service Desk.

Note: You must have logged in to your encrypted laptop at least once with your Nexus userid.

From an unlocked computer or mobile device:

1. In a web browser, navigate to https://mbamsrv.nexus.uwaterloo.ca/SelfService (requires VPN if off campus)
2. Log on with your Nexus credentials
3. After reading the Security Notice, click the checkbox beside ‘I have read and understand the above notice‘
4. Select Continue
5. Enter the first 8 characters of the 32-digit code into the Recovery Key ID field. (This code should be displayed on the BitLocker recovery screen on your locked computer.)
6. Select the Reason for needing to recover the key
7. Select Get Key
8. You should receive a 48-digit Bitlocker Recovery Key
9. Enter this key into the Recovery Key field on the locked computer

Note: the Recovery key may need to be entered using the “F” keys at the top of the keyboard (e.g. F1, F2, etc.) instead of the usual number keys. The hyphens/dashes between every group of 6-digits will appear automatically.

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