Environment
MiWorkspace, Platform as a Service, Campus Computing Sites, DSW
Issue
BIOS passwords being set for MiWorkspace certified models
Resolution
BIOS passwords are now set as part of the on-campus build process (OSD), "BIOS and Driver Update Task Sequence" (TS), and any Windows OS in-place upgrade (IPU) process for all MiWorkspace supported Dell, HP, and Lenovo hardware models. Microsoft devices are not currently receiving BIOS passwords. BIOS passwords will not be pushed to existing machines, but will only be set in the methods listed above.
BIOS passwords provide a security measure to protect system configuration and security settings. They are also needed because HP will no longer reset BIOS passwords, so computers with unknown passwords are a risk as this could cause them to be unmanageable, and could prevent them from ever being rebuilt.
Affected Models
BIOS passwords are set automatically during OSD and IPU for the following models:
HP
All supported models
Dell
All supported models
Lenovo
All supported models
Questions and Answers
Q: Will BIOS passwords be set on systems that are already in use?
A: BIOS passwords may be added at the time that systems are rebuilt using the OSD task sequence, during a Windows in-place upgrades, or when running the "BIOS and Driver Update Task Sequence".
Q: Why is it important that a BIOS password be set?
A: BIOS passwords provide a security measure to protect system configuration and security settings. They are also needed because HP will no longer reset BIOS passwords, so computers with unknown passwords are a risk as this could cause them to be unmanageable, and could prevent them from ever being rebuilt.