SafeGuard v7 and new Dell Laptop Models

Question

Hi, 
 does SafeGuard v7 already work with the new Latitude E7x70 and Precision M7510? 
 
 Best Regards

Toby_DataEncryption · Answer

Hello Michael, 
 
At present we don't have any official documentation on these models, just the models as detailed here: www.sophos.com/.../121787.aspx 
 
I would recommend backing up all data before testing but please do let us know how you get on if you plan to encrypt of of these machines.

Toby_DataEncryption · Answer

Hello Michael, 
 That's not correct, there are also KB articles like 123838, as per those articles this is not a Sophos issue as such. Please bear in mind that with this setup you're using a 7 year old operating system on brand new hardware. Microsoft have put out the following: 
 Microsoft announcement: Microsoft is actively recommending Windows 10 for Skylake support and offers only limited support for Skylake and Windows 7 until July 2018. Unfortunately Windows 7 cannot take advantage of any of the technological advances in Skylake including Power Management, the integrated USB Controller, Virtualization and security improvements. Longer term, Microsoft will provide zero support for the next generation of Intel and AMD technology after Skylake and Carrizo on Windows 7. This will only be offered from Windows 10. For more information please refer to Microsoft&rsquo;s Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsitpro/archive/2016/03/18/updates-to-support-policy-for-skylake-devices-running-windows-7-and-windows-8-1.aspx 
 AMD Carrizo Architecture 
 
 Devices using this architecture will fail to boot correctly. 
 Please refer to this knowledge base article for more details: https://www.sophos.com/support/knowledgebase/123748.aspx 
 
 The described issue is due to a fundamental change in the hardware architecture of these new devices to use eXtensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI), which the Sophos pre-boot software does not currently support. Review of the development work required to support xHCI indicates the required software redesign efforts would be substantial. 
 Sophos customers are able to successfully use new devices, powered by Intel&rsquo;s &ldquo;Skylake&rdquo; microarchitecture or AMD&rsquo;s &ldquo;Carrizo&rdquo; Architecture, by using SafeGuard Enterprise&rsquo;s capability to manage Microsoft BitLocker for Full Disk Encryption. SafeGuard Enterprise will also still support Full Disk Encryption for these new devices when running Windows 7, by managing BitLocker in Windows 7. This is the recommended resolution for customers who need to downgrade to Windows 7. Managing Microsoft BitLocker is Sophos&rsquo;s strategy for Full Disk Encryption on Windows 8 and above. 
 Sophos understands that some customers would prefer to use Sophos&rsquo;s Full Disk Encryption product rather than BitLocker on new devices, powered by Intel&rsquo;s &ldquo;Skylake&rdquo; microarchitecture or AMD&rsquo;s &ldquo;Carrizo&rdquo; Architecture and Sophos will continue to investigate the redesign efforts required to support xHCI. Sophos encourages customers to move to using BitLocker as described above.