Windows 7 Lockers Secure Data and Applications

More secure, manageable PCs are the goal of two Windows 7 features: improvements to BitLocker Drive Encryption, which secures data stored in a computer or on removable media, and a new feature called AppLocker, which prevents the installation of malicious software or unauthorized applications by controlling the applications a user can run on a computer. Both features can be used without a server, but most organizations will likely use them with Active Directory (AD) for centralized management and consistent deployment.

BitLocker and AppLocker are available only in the highest-end Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.

BitLocker Simplified, Added to Removable Drives

Introduced with Windows Vista, BitLocker Drive Encryption is designed to prevent theft of confidential data, particularly on mobile computers, which are frequently lost or stolen. BitLocker prevents the bypassing of file and system protections in Windows to gain unauthorized access to data stored on an encrypted disk drive. An unauthorized user cannot access the data by booting the computer with a different OS, using software hacking tools, or moving the BitLocker-protected drive to another computer.