Effect of Encryption

Will encryption slow down my computer?

According to ITS, a laptop that is encrypted and one that is not will not function any differently in day-to-day computing. In benchmarking tests, ITS found negligible difference in the speed of an encrypted system versus an unencrypted one.

Is encryption the only security I need?

No. This “data at rest” encryption only helps when the laptop is powered off. If the laptop is in standby or “sleep” mode, your data is not encrypted. You will always need to have a password to secure your system on login and wake-up and when returning from a screensaver. Encryption is only a small piece of the puzzle when it comes to keeping your data secure.