How-To

How To Automate Microsoft EFS Encryption for Windows 7 XP or Vista

By Steve Krause

Updated November 13, 2023

A few days ago, I needed to create a script that would encrypt folders for my end-users at work. I wrote the code below and then threw it into a login script, which would then run as my users logged onto their systems. The purpose of encryption is to protect sensitive company data stored on desktops and laptops. Although the process worked for me, I recommend you test it thoroughly before deploying!

The code below is a simple process that does a few things:

1. Encrypts all data in the logged-in user’s “My Documents” folder.
2. Encrypts all data in the logged-in user’s “Outlook” folder. This is the default location of Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2003 store .ost and .pst files.
3. Pipes all output from the script into a file for later collection. The file can be located under the logged-in user’s “My documents.” The file will be called %computername%.efs.

Windows XP

REM @echo off
REM EFS MyDoc & Outlook EFS Encryption Script Version 1.1
REM https://www.groovypost.com
REM
REM Script Created by MrGroove (groovyPost.com)
REM
REM This program is free software; not to be redistributed
REM without permission of groovyPost.com
REM
echo ***** >> "%userprofile%\my documents\%computername%.efs"
REM EFS Encryption Script Version 1.1
REM ======================================================
REM First, let's create a file to store all the work were doing and for history
echo ****** >> "%userprofile%\my documents\%computername%.efs"
echo ****** >> "%userprofile%\my documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ======================================================
echo %date% %time% >> "%userprofile%\My documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ===================================================
REM Now were going to update all files to ensure no files are encrypted with old keys
cipher /u >> "%userprofile%\My documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ===================================================
REM Begin encryption of the "My Documents" folder
cipher /a /e /h /i /q /s:"%userprofile%\My Documents"
>> "%userprofile%\My documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ======================================================
REM Begin encrption of the "Outlook" folder where the OST and PST files are stored
cipher /a /e /h /i /q /s:"%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook" 
>> "%userprofile%\My documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ==================================================
REM More House Keeping
echo %date% %time% >> "%userprofile%\My documents\%computername%.efs"
echo ****** >> "%userprofile%\My documents\%computername%.efs"
echo ****** >> "%userprofile%\My documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ==================================================
REM ==================================================
REM All Done!

Windows 7

REM @echo off
REM EFS MyDoc & Outlook EFS Encryption Script Version 1.1
REM https://www.groovypost.com
REM
REM Script Created by MrGroove (groovyPost.com)
REM
REM This program is free software; not to be redistributed
REM without permission of groovyPost.com
REM
echo ***** >> "%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
REM EFS Encryption Script Version 1.1
REM ======================================================
REM First, let's create a file to store all the work were doing and for history
echo ****** >> "%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
echo ****** >> "%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ======================================================
echo %date% %time% >> "%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ===================================================
REM Now were going to update all files to ensure no files are encrypted with old keys
cipher /u >> "%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ===================================================
REM Begin encryption of the "Documents" folder
cipher /a /e /h /i /q /s:"%userprofile%\Documents" >> 
"%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ======================================================
REM Begin encrption of the "Outlook" folder where the OST and PST files are stored
cipher /a /e /h /i /q /s:"%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook" >> 
"%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ==================================================
REM More House Keeping
echo %date% %time% >> "%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
echo ****** >> "%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
echo ****** >> "%userprofile%\documents\%computername%.efs"
REM ==================================================
REM ==================================================
REM All Done!