Prevent Local Administrators from managing BitLocker with the manage-bde command
BitLocker is the Windows encryption technology that protects your data from unauthorized access by encrypting your drive and requiring one or more factors of authentication before it will unlock it. In this blog post, we shall discuss how to Prevent Local Admins from managing BitLocker with manage-bde command. Please see how to correctly disable BitLocker on Windows Server, How to Set up an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Account, and Hide Windows Updates: How to Hide or Fix HP Printer Windows Updates Error 0x800f020b.
As you can see below. I just recently enabled BitLocker on this server just to show you the steps. Also, it is possible to turn off BotLocker now as a Local Administrator. When we are done creating the AppLocker rules, this will no longer be possible.
Why Should I Prevent Local Administrators From Disabling BitLocker?
Preventing local administrators from disabling BitLocker is crucial to maintaining robust security measures. Disabling BitLocker, if in the hands of local administrators, poses a significant risk by potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access or tampering.
Restricting this capability ensures the consistent enforcement of encryption protocols, safeguarding the integrity and confidentiality of the system’s contents against potential threats or breaches.
Please see how to fix this computer is a domain controller: The snap-in cannot be used on a domain controller, how to save and stop modification to Microsoft Management Console, and how to Disable BitLocker on Windows 10.
Disallow Administrators from Turning Off BitLocker
To restrict Administrators from disabling BitLocker in your domain environment. You will have to implement a group policy that explicitly denies the “Manage BitLocker” right to local administrators. This will prevent them from altering BitLocker settings.
Group Policy is a hierarchical infrastructure that allows a network administrator in charge of Microsoft’s Active Directory to implement specific configurations for users and computers. Group Policy is primarily a security tool, and can be used to apply security settings to users and computers.
Below are the steps to do this locally on your Windows Client PC or Windows server. Remember, BitLocker is not available by default on a Windows Server. You have to enable BitLocker via the Server Manager (Add Roles and Features), and how to Change BitLocker Password in Windows.
What is AppLocker?
AppLocker is an application allowlisting technology introduced with Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system. It helps you control which apps and files users can run. These include executable files, scripts, Windows Installer files, and dynamic-link.
What is Manage-BDE Command?
The manage-bde-status provides information about all drives on your windows computer. Whether or not they are BitLocker-protected, including the, Size, BitLocker version, Conversion status, Percentage encrypted, Encryption method, Protection status, Lock status, identification field, and Key protectors
Step 1: Access the Services Manager
Open Services snap-in by running services.msc command. In Services snap-in, ensure the Application Identity service is running. You can right-click on this service and select Start if it isn’t running.
The service is running now.
Sep 2: Security Policy Policy
You will have to launch the secpol. You can do this by pressing Win + R and enter secpol.msc in Run dialog box to open the Security Policy snap-in. Or from the Windows search button. Click OK.
Next, in the Security Policy snap-in window, navigate to Security Settings > Application Control Policies > AppLocker > Executable Rules.
Right click on Executable Rules, select Create New Rule.
Click Next to continue
On the Permissions tab, select Action Deny.
Select the administrator accounts or users which you want to prevent turning off BitLocker. Click Next. Select Applicable users or groups to block
See this video showing the steps to Disable Touchpad on Windows 11, and the video on how to use the Reliability Monitor in Windows
Click Next
On the next section, select Publisher and click Next.
Under Publisher, select browse
browse to C:\Windows\System32 and select manage-bde.exe file.
Click Next to continue with the rule set up.
On the Exception Tab, I will have to click Next as I do not want to add an exception.
Under Name, provide a description and click Create.
On the AppLocker warning prompt, click Yes.
Here are the created rules to prevent administrators from turning off BitLocker.
Close the Security Policy snap-in and run gpupdate /force command to update machine policies on the client PC. You may want to learn about Group Policy GPUpdate Commands.
Now let’s test. Run “manage-bde -status, you will see the program has been blocked.
If you wish to do this also for the BitLocker Drive Encryption Wizard. Please create a rule to deny these executables.
FAQs
What Steps Can I Take to Ensure BitLocker Persistence Against Local Administrator Disabling?
Configure BitLocker policies through Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to enforce specific settings, ensuring that even local administrators cannot easily disable BitLocker protection.
How Can I Secure BitLocker Settings to Resist Local Administrator Changes?
With the above solution via GPOs or use the Microsoft Endpoint Manager Configuration Manager to deploy and enforce BitLocker policies to safeguarde against unauthorized changes by local administrators
What Measures Should I Take to Harden BitLocker Against Local Administrator Tampering?
Regularly audit and monitor BitLocker settings using tools such as PowerShell scripts or security information and event management (SIEM) solutions, promptly identifying and rectifying any unauthorized changes.
Are There Specific Group Policy Configurations to Prevent Local Administrators from Disabling BitLocker?
Leveraging the Group Policy settings such as “Deny write access to removable drives not protected by BitLocker” to restrict local administrators from disabling BitLocker on removable drives, bolstering overall security.
I hope you found this blog post on how to Prevent Local Admins from managing BitLocker with manage-bde command useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.
Great info! Thank you.
You are welcome, Gman