How to Enable Bitlocker Recovery Tab in Active Directory

The BitLocker Drive Encryption feature is a vital security tool for Windows, safeguarding your data on encrypted drives. Active Directory (AD) integration allows you to manage BitLocker recovery keys centrally, offering an additional layer of security. This article explores how to enable the BitLocker Recovery tab in Active Directory, facilitating easy access and management of these keys.

Prerequisites:

• Group Policy Object (GPO): You’ll need a GPO linked to the organizational unit (OU) containing the computers you want to manage with BitLocker.
• RSAT: BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration Tools: Ensure the RSAT: BitLocker Drive Encryption Administration Tools feature is installed on the system you’ll use to manage BitLocker recovery keys in AD. You can find it under Apps & features > Manage optional features > Add a feature.

Enabling BitLocker Recovery in Group Policy:

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
2. Navigate to the desired GPO linked to your target computers.
3. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Operating System Drives.
4. Locate the policy setting named Choose how BitLocker-protected operating system drives can be recovered.
5. Double-click the policy and select Enabled.
6. (Optional) Under Configure recovery options, you can choose to:
   • Store the recovery key in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) (recommended for centralized management).
   • Use a different recovery method (like saving to a file or external storage).
7. Click Apply and OK to save the GPO settings.

Verifying the BitLocker Recovery Tab:

1. Open the Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) console.
2. Right-click on a computer object that has BitLocker enabled and select Properties.
3. If the GPO settings are applied correctly, you should now see a new tab named BitLocker Recovery in the computer object’s properties window.

Additional Considerations:

• Delegate control over BitLocker recovery objects in AD to authorized users or groups for proper access management.
• Regularly back up your Active Directory to ensure recovery key availability in case of disaster.

By following these steps, you’ll successfully enable the BitLocker Recovery tab in Active Directory, centralizing the management of your BitLocker recovery keys and enhancing data security within your organization.