Laptop encryption is a particularly hot topic in most enterprises, partially due to the increased influx of notebooks into enterprises, and partially due to the increased publicity of losses and thefts. As enterprises scramble to find budget allocation for third-party tools, most overlook the solution they already own. Microsoft's Encrypting File System (EFS) has been included in that company's operating systems for over seven years and can afford most enterprises an adequate level of coverage.
Encrypting File System, a History Lesson
Microsoft first released the Encrypting File System (EFS) as a component of Windows 2000. With each subsequent operating system release, Microsoft has expanded the capabilities of the tool and the protection that it affords. While the tool was somewhat crude initially, in its currently supported incarnations, it offers plenty of functionality.