[CentOS] Deciding when to do system encryption

Tue Oct 11 13:10:47 UTC 2011
m.roth at 5-cent.us <m.roth at 5-cent.us>

Bade Iriabho wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I have read that system encryption slows a computer down. However, I am
> more interested in when to use it. Consider the following scenarios:

Some, but not that much (depending on how you're using the system).
>
> 1. You have a server in a secured server room on a rack (is there any need
> and advantage to having system encryption in this particular case)

Only if there's requirements from above... or if you're going to be
pulling drives as backups, say, and taking them out of there.

> 2. you have a server sitting in an office that is accessible by everyone

It would be a good idea.

> 2. You have a desktop

Depends on who has access, and how much your data's worth.

> 3. You have a laptop
<snip>
The US gov't, and federal contractors, require encryption on all laptops.
Many companies are starting to go that way. Do *you* really want to read
in the papers, or have your manager call you in (if it's a work laptop),
and tell you what happened to all the information on your laptop? Or how
someone broke into it, and used it to get to *their* network?

         mark