Explanation of Pre-Boot Authentication Commands for Dell Security Server

Affected Products:

• Dell Security Management Server
• Dell Data Protection | Enterprise Edition
• Dell Security Management Server Virtual
• Dell Data Protection | Virtual Edition

Not Applicable

Pre-Boot Authentication (PBA) commands are at the bottom of Endpoints > Details & Actions tab.

Figure 1: (English Only) Details & Actions tab

Each command for the Pre-Boot Authentication has a priority ranking. A command with a higher priority rank cancels commands of lower priorities in the enforcement queue, with 1 being the "highest" priority.

Priority rankings:

1. Wipe
2. Lock
3. Remove Users
4. Unlock
5. Bypass Login

Wipe - The Wipe command functions as a "restore to factory state" for the drive, by performing a cryptographic erase. The Wipe command can be used in an emergency situation making the data permanently unrecoverable. When the client consumes the wipe command, all history and details about this endpoint are removed from the Security Management Server or Security Management Server Virtual.

Lock - Device locks the PBA screen and prevents any user from accessing the data on the endpoint.

Remove Users - Removes all cached users from the PBA. This in-effect reverts any locked users on a device.

Unlock - Unlocks the PBA screen after it has been device-locked on the endpoint.

Bypass Login - Bypasses the PBA screen one time to allow access to the endpoint without authentication.

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