Microsoft Introduces Hardware-Accelerated BitLocker to Boost Windows 11 Security and Performance

Microsoft is updating Windows 11 with hardware-accelerated BitLocker to improve both data security and system performance. The change enhances full-disk encryption by shifting cryptographic work from the CPU to dedicated hardware components within modern processors, helping systems run more efficiently while keeping data protected. 

BitLocker is Windows’ built-in encryption feature that prevents unauthorized access to stored data. During startup, it uses the Trusted Platform Module to manage encryption keys and unlock drives after verifying system integrity. While this method has been effective, Microsoft says faster storage technologies have made the performance impact of software-based encryption more noticeable, especially during demanding tasks. 

As storage speeds increase, BitLocker’s encryption overhead can slow down activities like gaming and video editing. To address this, Microsoft is offloading encryption tasks to specialized hardware within the processor that is designed for secure and high-speed cryptographic operations. This reduces reliance on the CPU and improves overall system responsiveness. 

With hardware acceleration enabled, large encryption workloads no longer heavily tax the CPU. Microsoft reports that testing showed about 70% fewer CPU cycles per input-output operation compared to software-based BitLocker, although actual gains depend on hardware configurations. 

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