1. Initiate the encryption process by launching the Self Service application. It is located within the Applications folder and may also be found in the Dock.

2. Locate the Encrypt my computer icon and click on the button Encrypt.

3. A message will appear:

Please save your work before continuing. Restart the computer to complete the process.

Click Encrypt.

4. When the progress icon has stopped spinning, the computer will notify you that it will restart after 1 minute. You can also manually restart the computer by clicking on the Apple menu and selecting Restart…

5. After restarting, log into the computer. A dialog box will appear and ask you to enable FileVault.

Click on the Enable Now button to continue.

After a few moments, the encryption process will complete and your desktop will appear. Your data is now protected against unauthorized access and you may use your computer as usual. This message should ONLY appear once. If it appears each time you log in, please contact the IT Service Desk for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take to enable encryption?

After about a minute, the computer will restart. When you log into the computer, it will ask you to confirm encryption. The entire process should not take longer than 2-3 minutes to complete.

Will I be able to continue working during the encryption process?

Yes, the process will run in the background and should not affect your work.

Will the encryption process affect how I access my files?

No, you will be able to access and use files normally.

Will I be able to share encrypted files with others?

You can share your files with others but any files which leave your computer will no longer be encrypted.

I do not have a Self Service application in my Applications folder.

Please contact the IT Service Desk and a technician will confirm if your Mac is currently enrolled in our Mobile Device Management system.

I do not see the Encrypt my computer icon in the Self Service application.

There are several possible reasons why you do not have the FileVault Disk Encryption - NEIU:

• Did you previously run the Novell Migration & Login Improvements? If you haven’t, you may need to do so. It can be run via the Self Service application.
• Are you logging into the computer with a generic account or is a generic account currently on your computer? You can check by going into the System Preferences / Settings —> Users & Groups. The generic account may be named neiustaff. If so, please contact the Service Desk and a technician will either rename the account, or, if the account is not being used, will remove the account.
• Your Mac may also need to be re-enrolled into our Mobile Device Management system. Please contact the Service Desk to inspect or troubleshoot the issue.

How is this process different than if I were to turn on FileVault manually?

This process will escrow a digital security key with our management system and allow the Service Desk technicians to troubleshoot technical issues and to assist with unlocking the computer if the password is forgotten.

Does encryption change how I use my password to log in?

After your computer has been encrypted, the computer will prompt you to enter your computer password before completing boot up. If your computer password is the same as your NetID password, the computer will automatically log you into the NEIU network after you log into the computer.

If the two passwords are different (not synchronized), the computer will prompt you to synchronize the two by entering both your NetID password and then your computer password. This will change your computer password to match your NetID password.

When I restart the computer or try to log into the computer, it prompts me each time to enable encryption.

This message should only appear once. If it appears each time you log in, encryption is not successfully implemented.

In this situation, there is usually a pre-existing corruption on the drive which is is preventing encryption from taking place.

Please contact the IT for assistance.