Why It’s Time to Enable Your Drive’s Encryption

In our security-conscious world today, most computers are equipped with self-encrypting drives (SEDs), especially business-class laptops and desktops. These drives offer powerful hardware-level encryption built directly into the storage device, which enables users to secure sensitive data with no performance loss, unlike software encryption.

Why Most Users Miss Out on Built-In Encryption

Despite these features, most users remain unaware that they already have access to powerful data encryption tools right under their fingertips.

Unlike software-only solutions, SEDs use encryption embedded directly into the drive’s controller, ensuring that data is always protected at rest and in transit without relying on the host system. This form of encryption protection activates the moment data is written to the drive, and it remains encrypted even if the storage device is removed from its original system. For users and IT managers alike, this offers a seamless data encryption solution that resists tampering, malware, and offline attacks, which are some of the most common ways breaches occur after device theft.

How Drive Encryption Software Unlocks Your SED’s Full Potential

To truly benefit from your SED, however, you need the right tools to enable your drive’s encryption and manage its features effectively. Many systems ship with the encryption disabled by default, or with basic BIOS-level passwords that don’t offer full protection. This is where drive encryption software becomes essential. Properly setting up and locking your SED can turn your drive into an encrypted hard drive that’s virtually impenetrable without your credentials. Using drive encryption ensures that your data remains secure, whether you’re safeguarding financial records, personal files, or company IP.

You can maximize your device’s potential by pairing your SED with trusted data encryption software that fully supports the Opal protocol, the industry standard for SED management. These tools help you set strong authentication credentials, manage access, and securely reset drives using the PSID if necessary. They also help enforce encryption policies across systems, making them indispensable for businesses that need scalable, compliant encryption security solutions.

Turn Your Drive into a Data Fortress with Opal Lock

Fidelity Height’s Opal Lock is designed specifically to make SED management accessible and foolproof. Whether you’re an individual user or part of an IT team, Opal Lock lets you configure your drive’s hardware encryption, manage preboot access, and lock external drives with ease. If your device already includes an Opal-compatible SED, you’re just a few steps away from transforming it into a secure vault for your data. Don’t let your SED go unused. Take full control of your drive’s built-in security with Opal Lock.