What is FileVault Disk Encryption & How to Enable it on Mac?

In 2023, businesses worldwide lost an average of $4.45 million to data breaches, a sharp 15% jump since 2020.^[1] Data loss is a serious concern for small businesses or large enterprises, and protecting sensitive data is no longer optional.

Backing up data to encrypted hard drives or flash drives adds an extra layer of safety. It ensures you have a recovery option if your system is ever compromised. Encryption also keeps your backup drives secure by blocking unauthorized access if they’re lost or stolen.

This is where FileVault disk encryption comes into play. It secures your Mac devices by encrypting the entire drive. While encryption is important, managing FileVault effectively to match your business needs is also essential. That’s where a UEM solution like Scalefusion makes the difference.

This is more than just a how-to guide; it’s a security resource designed for IT teams that want to enforce compliance at scale with FileVault disk encryption. You’ll also learn how to enable and manage FileVault on macOS devices using Scalefusion UEM.

What is FileVault Disk Encryption on Mac?

FileVault disk encryption for Mac devices is Apple’s built-in data security feature, available on macOS version 10.3 and above. This feature operates in the background, automating the disk encryption. FileVault prevents unauthorized access to data and documents stored on the disk by encrypting the disk and requires a recovery key for accessing encrypted data.

FileVault Disk Encryption Pros and Cons

FileVault ensures that only authorized users with the correct password or recovery key can access the data. It’s a powerful security tool, especially for safeguarding sensitive information on lost or stolen devices. However, like any security feature, FileVault comes with both benefits and potential drawbacks that users and businesses should consider.

Pros of Using FileVault Encryption on Mac

1. Strong Security

• Encrypts your entire disk using XTS-AES-128 encryption with a 256-bit key.
• Protects your data if unauthorized users lose, steal, or access your Mac.

2. Built-in & Free

• It comes pre-installed with macOS, so no extra software or cost is needed.
• Seamlessly integrated with macOS features like iCloud and recovery options.

3. Compliance with Regulations

• Helps businesses comply with data protection laws like HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001, which require encryption at rest.

4. Supports Secure Recovery Options

• Offers recovery through iCloud or a recovery key, so you can regain access if you forget your password.

5. Essential for BYOD & Remote Work

• Ensures sensitive company data is protected even on employee-owned devices or remote devices.

Cons of Using FileVault Encryption on Mac

1. Risk of Data Loss if Keys Are Lost

• If you forget your password and lose your recovery key, your data is permanently inaccessible. There’s no way to decrypt without one of these.

2. Initial Encryption Time

• The first time you enable FileVault, it needs to encrypt your entire disk, which can take several hours (though you can still use the Mac during this).

3. Slight Performance Impact on Older Macs

• On older Macs with spinning hard drives (HDDs), users may notice slower boot times and file access.

4. Complications in Multi-User Setups

• Each user account needs to be enabled separately for FileVault access, which can cause confusion in shared device environments.

5. Recovery Key Management Challenge

• In personal setups, securely storing the recovery key is tricky. In business setups, it’s best handled by UEM like Scalefusion to avoid key loss.

How to Enable FileVault on Mac?

Securing your Mac with FileVault is not rocket science. Follow these steps to encrypt your disk and protect your data:

1. Open System Settings

• Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
• Choose System Settings from the dropdown.
  (If you’re using an older version of macOS, this may be called “System Preferences.”)

2. Go to Privacy & Security

• In the left sidebar, scroll down and select Privacy & Security.
• On the right side, you’ll see various security options.

3. Turn On FileVault

• Scroll down until you find FileVault.
• Click the “Turn On…” button to start the process.

4. Choose Your Recovery Option

• macOS will prompt you to select a recovery method. This is important in case you forget your password.
  
  • Use your iCloud account: You can unlock your disk using your Apple ID.
  • Create a recovery key: macOS will generate a unique key. Make sure to write this down and store it somewhere safe. If lost, you won’t be able to recover your data.

5. Restart to Begin Encryption

• You can continue using your Mac while it encrypts, though the process may take several hours depending on the size of your disk.
• Once you confirm your recovery option, your Mac will prompt you to restart.
• After restarting, FileVault encryption will begin automatically in the background.

Note: If you have a Mac with Apple silicon or an Apple T2 Security Chip, your data is encrypted automatically.[2]

Tips for Using FileVault Safely

• Always store your recovery key securely. Consider using a password manager or a physical safe. Never leave it in plain text on your computer.
• FileVault is highly recommended for laptops and portable devices that are at greater risk of being lost or stolen.
• If you’re managing multiple Macs in a business, consider using a UEM solution like Scalefusion to enable FileVault in bulk and manage recovery keys centrally.
• Check your encryption status anytime by returning to System Settings > Privacy & Security > FileVault.

Also read: Mac Security for Enterprises: Expert Strategies That Work

How to Enable FileVault Disk Encryption on macOS Devices with Scalefusion UEM

Administrators can configure and push the FileVault Policy to all Scalefusion-managed macOS devices by following the steps below: 

Step 1. Click ‘Device Profiles’ under the ‘Device Profiles and Policies‘ tab on the Scalefusion dashboard.

Step 2. Click the ‘Create New Profile‘ button at the top-right corner to create a new macOS device profile or edit an existing one. 

Step 3.  Click the FileVault section and toggle the ‘Enable FileVault‘ option to turn on FileVault on the managed devices. Configure the following settings as per requirement:

1. Enable FileVault: This setting turns on FileVault, and the hard disk will be encrypted in the background. 

2. Recovery key type: IT admins can choose the key type that will be used to encrypt or decrypt the disk. Three recovery key types can be enforced: 

• Personal recovery key (PRK): Select this to enforce only PRK
• Institutional recovery key (IRK): Select this to enforce only IRK
• Institutional recovery key and Personal recovery key (IRK AND PRK): Select this to enforce both PRK and IRK 

3. Upload institutional recovery key: IT admins must upload a .cer, .p12, or .pem file that will be used as the recovery key if they choose IRK, PRK, or IRK and PRK as their recovery key type. Additionally, admins must enter the password if the file is password-protected. 
   
4. Prompt user to enable FileVault: Administrators can select when to show end users the prompt containing the password to enable FileVault on the managed devices. The options are: 

• Login & Logout: A Prompt will be shown at login & logout
• Login: The Prompt will be shown only at login
• Logout: The Prompt will be shown only at logout

5. Max bypass attempt: IT teams can choose the number of times a user can bypass the prompt to enable FileVault before logging into the device.   

6. Allow users to turn off FileVault: Enable this option to allow users to turn off FileVault once the disk is encrypted. The user cannot turn off FileVault if this setting is disabled. 

Step 5. Verify FileVault status

1. On the Scalefusion dashboard 

• Navigate to the ‘Devices’ section and select the view to ‘macOS Devices’ for viewing the encryption status. 

• Click on the device name and navigate to the settings icon on the top right and click on ‘Full Device Information’ to view device details. 

2. On a Mac device 

• Once the FileVault policy has been applied to a device, a prompt is displayed for the user to enable FileVault when logging in or out. 

• Once FileVault is enabled, the following is displayed when the user navigates to the FileVault tab under ‘System Preferences’ in the ‘Security and Privacy’ section. 

Learn More: Full Disk Encryption with FileVault

Manual FileVault Setup vs FileVault Management with Scalefusion UEM

Feature	Manual Setup (macOS Settings)	With Scalefusion UEM
Enablement Process	Must be enabled manually on each device by the user	Centrally pushed to all devices via policy
Bulk Deployment	❌ Not supported	✅ Enable FileVault on hundreds or thousands of Macs in one go
User Involvement	Requires user input on each Mac	Silent deployment or admin-controlled prompt timing
Recovery Key Management	User must store the recovery key manually (high risk of loss)	Keys stored securely in Scalefusion dashboard
Compliance Enforcement	No centralized control; users can disable FileVault	Admins can enforce FileVault and prevent tampering
Visibility & Monitoring	No centralized view of which devices are encrypted	Real-time encryption status in Scalefusion dashboard
Zero-Touch Setup	❌ Not available	✅ Supported as part of initial device onboarding
Multi-User Configuration	Each user must be added individually	Admins can configure access for all users via policy
Audit Readiness	Manual verification required	Automated reporting for audits and compliance checks
Best For	Individuals, freelancers	Businesses, IT teams, regulated industries

Why It’s Better to Use Scalefusion UEM to Enable FileVault on Mac Devices

While FileVault is a powerful native encryption tool on Mac, managing it manually across multiple devices can become complex and time-consuming, especially in business environments. This is where Scalefusion UEM adds real value. By centrally managing FileVault settings through Scalefusion, IT teams can streamline encryption enforcement, securely manage recovery keys, and ensure company-wide compliance, all without manual effort on each device. It offers a scalable, secure, and efficient way to protect data across your entire Mac fleet.

1. Bulk Enablement Across All Devices

• Enable FileVault encryption on hundreds or even thousands of Macs in bulk — all at once.
• Ideal for organizations rolling out security policies company-wide or onboarding large teams quickly.
• No need for manual setup or user intervention; encryption is applied silently as part of the device policy.

2. Centralized & Remote Management

• Control and monitor FileVault status remotely through the Scalefusion dashboard.
• Admins can enforce encryption policies without touching the device, even for remote or hybrid employees.

3. Policy Enforcement & Compliance

• Ensure FileVault stays enabled and tamper-proof, and end users cannot disable it.
• Helps businesses meet security standards and privacy regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, and more.

4. Secure Recovery Key Management

• Automatically save recovery keys securely in the Scalefusion console.
• Admins can easily retrieve keys during lockouts or device recovery, eliminating the risk of lost keys.

5. Zero-Touch Deployment

• Activate FileVault automatically during the initial device setup (zero-touch deployment for Mac).
• Ensures every Mac is encrypted from Day 1, before any sensitive data is stored.

6. Compliance Reporting & Audits

• Access real-time reports showing FileVault status across all managed Macs.
• Quickly demonstrate compliance through automated monitoring during internal checks or external security audits.
• Adheres to the security triad’s confidentiality principle and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines

7. Reduced Risk in BYOD & Hybrid Work

• Ensure that even employee-owned or remote Macs accessing company data are encrypted and secured.
• Protects against data breaches in modern BYOD and work-from-anywhere models.

Simplify FileVault Management with Scalefusion UEM

Protecting data on your Mac devices gets easier and stronger with Scalefusion. By combining FileVault’s powerful encryption with Scalefusion’s Mac MDM easy-to-use management tools, your IT team can secure company data, prevent unauthorized access, and stay compliant with security standards, all without the manual hassle.

Contact our experts to book a free demo and opt for a 14-day free trial today. 

Reference:

1. SecureData

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