Dell Encryption Personal and Dell Encryption Enterprise both offer the ability to encrypt the contents of the hibernation file within Windows. Changes within Windows 10 Creators Update have changed how the hibernation file is handled, and expands the use of this hibernation file to the "fast startup" feature that Microsoft has enhanced with Windows 10's most recent feature update.
By default, the hibernation file is not encrypted. With our policies for Enable Secure Hibernation, only enabling hibernation on operating systems before Windows 10's Creators Update, works. Both hibernation and fast startup are disabled on the operating system to ensure that the computer remains as secure as possible, when enabling Prevent Unsecure Hibernation.
With v8.15 and later, an option exists to allow legacy BIOS-booted devices to leverage a secure hibernation method. To enable this, create the registry key:
HKLM\System\Dell\Dell Data Protection\Encryption\ DWORD: EnableSecureHibernation Value: 1
This allows devices with legacy BIOS as the boot option to encrypt the contents of the hibernation file, and they now work properly through Hibernation, Fast Startup, and other technologies that leverage the file.
This chart outlines the supported matrix with Dell Encryption and hibernation depending on policy settings.
Secure Hibernation Policy | Prevent Unsecured Policy | Enable Secured Registry (Supported in Legacy Bootmode only) | Expected Behavior |
---|---|---|---|
hibernate / no encryption | |||
X | prevent hibernation | ||
X | X | prevent hibernation | |
X | X | prevent hibernation | |
X | X | X | prevent hibernation |
X | prevent hibernation | ||
X | X | prevent hibernation | |
X | hibernate / no encryption |
Powercfg /h on
Dell is investigating methods to support hibernation within UEFI boot modes. Hibernation, fast start-up and modern standby is automatically disabled when a computer is running a UEFI boot mode.
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