Microsoft promises to nearly double Windows storage performance after forcing slow software-accelerated BitLocker on Windows — new CPU hardware-accelerated crypto will also improve battery life, but requires new CPUs

Microsoft has introduced hardware-accelerated BitLocker encryption in Windows 11 to improve performance and efficiency by offloading encryption tasks to a dedicated cryptography accelerator in future CPUs. This new technology aims to reverse the performance penalties caused by software-based encryption, offering up to twice the storage performance in certain workloads. The company plans to implement this new hardware-accelerated BitLocker on upcoming Intel Core Ultra series 3 "Panther Lake" CPUs, with broader support expected in the future. This update is expected to significantly enhance storage and I/O metrics, reduce CPU cycles by up to 70%, and improve battery life for users.