Purpose: Maintaining a Critical Digital Shield Against Online Threats

To protect your computer from unauthorized access and network-based attacks, it has a built-in digital shield called the Windows Firewall. This health check verifies that this essential shield is active and protecting you at all times, no matter where you are connected to the internet.

Think of the firewall as a dedicated security guard for your computer’s internet connection. Its job is to inspect all incoming and outgoing network traffic, blocking anything suspicious before it can harm your device or steal data.

How it Works: A Security Guard with Different Alert Levels

Your computer is smart enough to know that not all networks are equally safe. The firewall acts like a security guard that adjusts its rules based on your location:

• The Office (Domain Network): When you are connected at the office, the guard knows it’s a trusted network. It keeps a watchful eye but allows normal business traffic to flow smoothly.
• Your Home (Private Network): When you’re on your home Wi-Fi, the guard is a bit more cautious, as it’s a less controlled environment.
• A Coffee Shop or Airport (Public Network): On a public network, the guard is on high alert. It enforces the strictest rules, blocking most unsolicited connections to protect you in an untrusted environment.

Our health check simply verifies that this security guard is on duty and active for all three of these scenarios.

What Your Results Mean

This is a critical security check. An inactive firewall is a major vulnerability.

Status	What It Means	What To Do
Fully Protected(Pass)	Your firewall is active on all fronts.Your digital shield is up and running correctly, protecting you in the office, at home, and on public networks.	No action is required. Your system is secure.
Partially Exposed(Warning)	Your firewall is down for at least one location. For example, it might be active for the office but disabled for public Wi-Fi, leaving you vulnerable at a coffee shop.	This is a security risk. Please contact the IT Help Desk immediately so we can ensure your protection is fully restored.
Exposed(Fail)	Your firewall is completely disabled.This is a critical security failure, leaving your computer’s “front door” unlocked on the internet.	This is a top priority security risk. Please contact the IT Help Desk IMMEDIATELY to report the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a firewall different from my anti-virus software?

• They have two different but equally important jobs. The firewall is the traffic cop that controls what data can enter or leave your computer over the network. The anti-virus is the inspector that examines files already on your computer to see if they are malicious. You need both to be fully protected.

Why would my firewall be turned off?

• It’s rarely intentional. Sometimes, installing other software or a system update can accidentally change the firewall settings. This check is designed to catch these accidental changes.

Will the firewall stop me from browsing the internet?

• No. A properly working firewall is designed to run silently in the background, blocking only malicious or unauthorized traffic without interrupting your legitimate work.

Purpose: Preventing Conflicts with Business Applications

To ensure your work computer remains stable and secure, our health checks scan for certain types of specialized software. This check looks for educational and exam proctoring software, which is commonly used for online courses, professional certifications, and remote testing.

While necessary for academic integrity, these programs are designed to be highly restrictive—often taking control of your screen, camera, and other applications. This can cause significant conflicts with our company’s security tools, VPN, and other business software. This check is purely to prevent technical issues, not to monitor personal activities.

How the Check Works

Our system performs a scan to identify common exam and proctoring applications, such as:

• Respondus LockDown Browser
• ProctorU or Proctorio
• Safe Exam Browser
• Software for Pearson VUE or PSI certification exams

Because these tools are designed to lock down a computer, outdated versions are a frequent source of performance problems or application conflicts. The check identifies this software and flags versions that are known to cause issues.

What Your Results Mean

The check will result in one of two outcomes. Below is a simple guide to understand your result and the recommended action.

Status	What It Means	What To Do
PASS	No Conflicting Software Found Your device does not have any of the typically problematic exam software installed, or the version you have is up-to-date.	No action is required. Your system is clear.
WARNING	Potentially Incompatible Software Detected We found exam or proctoring software on your device. This is common for employees pursuing continuing education or certifications. The warning usually means the software is out of date.	Action is recommended: 1. Update the software:Visit the official website for the software or your course provider to download the latest version. This resolves most conflicts.2. Uninstall after use: For best performance, we recommend uninstalling the proctoring software after you have completed your exam or course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why check for educational software on a work device?

• These programs are unique in how they control a computer. They can prevent security software from running, block access to our network, and interfere with business applications like Microsoft Teams. This check is a proactive measure to prevent those technical problems.

Am I in trouble for using my work computer for a course?

• Not at all. We support professional development. This check is about ensuring system stability, not employee activity. As long as the software does not disrupt your work, its temporary presence is not an issue.

What if I need this software for an upcoming exam?

• We understand! The best thing you can do is follow the recommendation to update it to the very latest version before your exam. This will give you the best chance of having a smooth, trouble-free testing experience without technical glitches.

Purpose: Enabling Modern Security Features

To ensure every company computer is as secure as possible, we perform routine health checks. The “Disk Partition Style” check verifies that your computer’s main storage drive is organized using a modern and secure format.

This is a foundational check that is essential for enabling advanced security features, like a secure startup process, and is a mandatory requirement for Windows 11.

How it Works: The Table of Contents for Your Data

Think of the “partition style” as the table of contents for your computer’s hard drive. It tells the computer where to find the operating system and how all your files are organized. There are two types:

• MBR (Master Boot Record): This is the old, traditional table of contents, like one found in a short pamphlet. It’s a technology from the 1980s that has known limitations and is not compatible with modern security features.
• GPT (GUID Partition Table): This is the modern table of contents, like a detailed, multi-page index for a massive encyclopedia. It is more robust, more secure, and is the current industry standard.

Our health check simply identifies which “table of contents” your computer’s main drive is using.

What Your Results Mean

The check determines if your system drive is using the modern GPT format.

Status	What It Means	What To Do
PASS	Modern Drive Format (GPT) Your computer’s main drive is organized using the modern, secure GPT format. It is correctly configured to support advanced security.	No action is required. Your system is properly configured.
ACTION REQUIRED(Fail)	Outdated Drive Format (MBR) Your drive is using the older MBR format. This prevents your computer from using the secure UEFI boot method, which is a critical line of defense against startup viruses and a requirement for Windows 11.	This requires a technical adjustment. Please contact the IT Help Desk. A technician will need to run a process to convert the drive to the modern GPT format. This is not something that can be fixed with a simple update.

Frequently Asked Questions

My computer works fine. Why does this need to be changed?

• While your computer functions today, the older MBR format is a roadblock to enabling critical, “under-the-hood” security features. The modern UEFI boot method, which protects your computer before Windows even starts, requires the GPT format to work. This change is essential for your device’s security.

Does this mean my hard drive is old or broken?

• No, not at all. This is not an indication of hardware failure. It is simply an older way of formatting the drive that needs to be updated to the current standard.

How is this related to the “Boot Method” check?

• They are two parts of the same puzzle. The “Boot Method” check ensures your computer is set to use the modern UEFI startup process. This “Disk Partition Style” check ensures your hard drive is formatted in a way that is compatible with UEFI. You need both to be correct for a fully secure system.

Purpose: Helping You Manage Your Digital Footprint & Protect Your Privacy

As you use your computer, it naturally keeps a record of your activity to make your experience faster and more convenient. This includes things like your web browsing history, lists of recently opened files, and search queries. This trail of activity is your “digital footprint.”

This health check is a privacy wellness tool designed to help you see and manage this digital footprint. It is an automated scan that looks at the traces and histories that your computer saves.

IMPORTANT: This check does NOT read the content of your files, emails, or messages. It only looks at metadata, like file names in history lists, the size of temporary file caches, and the status of your Windows privacy settings. The goal is to empower you to clean up this data to enhance your privacy and improve system performance.

How it Works: Looking for Digital Breadcrumbs

Think of this scan as an automated tool that checks for “digital breadcrumbs” left behind in common areas. It assesses:

• File & Application History: Scans lists of recently opened documents and programs (e.g., in Office, Quick Access).
• Web Browser Traces: Checks the size of your browser history and temporary internet files, which can grow very large and contain a detailed record of your browsing.
• Search & Command History: Looks at saved history from the Windows search bar and the “Run” command box.
• Temporary & Leftover Files: Identifies large collections of temporary files that applications create but often fail to clean up.
• Saved Passwords & Credentials: Checks the Windows Credential Manager for any stored passwords, which can be a security risk if a device is compromised.
• Windows Privacy Settings: Reviews your main Windows privacy settings (e.g., for location, advertising ID, and data sharing with Microsoft) to see if they are configured in a privacy-conscious way.

What Your Results Mean

This check provides a summary of your device’s privacy hygiene.

Status	What It Means	What To Do
Good Privacy Hygiene(Pass)	Your digital footprint is minimal. Your history lists are small, temporary file caches are clean, and your privacy settings are well-configured.	No action is required. You are doing a great job managing your digital traces.
Action Recommended(Warning)	Your digital footprint is visible. The scan found one or more areas with significant history, large data caches, or privacy settings that you may want to review.	Our report will provide you with specific, actionable recommendations. You are in full control of this data and can choose what to clear. See the tips below.

Actionable Recommendations: You are in Control

If the scan finds areas for improvement, it will give you specific, easy-to-follow suggestions. Common actions include:

• Clearing Browser History & Cache: Deleting the history, cookies, and cached files from your web browsers.
• Managing Windows Privacy Settings: Going to Settings > Privacy & security to adjust what data is shared.
• Running Disk Cleanup: Using the built-in Windows “Disk Cleanup” tool to safely remove temporary files and other system clutter.
• Clearing Application “Recent Files” Lists: A good practice for managing file history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IT reading my personal files or browser history?

• No. This is an automated scan that checks for the presence and size of history files and settings. It does not collect or report the content of those files to IT. The goal is to inform you about your data so you can manage it.

Why does the company care about my temporary files or browser history?

• There are two reasons: security (outdated temporary files can sometimes be a vector for malware) and performance (large history caches and thousands of temp files can slow down your computer).

Will I be in trouble if my report shows a lot of issues?

• Absolutely not. This is a wellness tool, not a disciplinary one. Its purpose is to help you maintain good digital hygiene, just like we recommend keeping your desk organized.

Purpose: Ensuring Compatibility with Future Operating System Updates

To ensure every company computer remains secure and can run the latest software, we perform routine health checks. This specific check, “CPU Instruction Sets,” verifies that your computer’s processor (its “brain”) understands the specific commands required by upcoming versions of Windows 11.

This is a technical but crucial step to confirm that your device will continue to function correctly after future mandatory system updates.

How it Works: A Processor’s Vocabulary

The best way to understand “instruction sets” is to think of them as the vocabulary a processor knows.

• Just like a person, a processor understands a specific set of commands or “words.”
• As software gets more advanced, it starts using new, more efficient words.
• The next major version of Windows 11 (version 24H2) will rely on a few of these specific, modern “words” to perform its most fundamental tasks.

Our health check is very simple: it asks your computer’s processor if it knows these mandatory new words. If the processor doesn’t understand them, it won’t be able to follow critical instructions from the new operating system.

What Your Results Mean

The check confirms your processor supports the required vocabulary for future Windows versions.

Status	What It Means	What To Do
PASS	Modern Vocabulary Supported Your computer’s processor understands all the necessary commands required by the latest and upcoming versions of Windows.	No action is required. Your device is fully compatible and ready for future updates.
ACTION REQUIRED(Fail)	Outdated Vocabulary Detected  Your computer’s processor is missing one or more of the “words” that are essential for the next version of Windows 11 to operate.	This cannot be fixed with a software update. A processor’s vocabulary is built-in. Please contact the IT Help Desk immediately to schedule a device replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this a problem now? My computer is working perfectly today.

• Your computer is fine for the current version of Windows. However, this check is looking ahead to the next mandatory update. Because your processor lacks support for specific commands that this future update requires, it will not be able to run it. We are identifying this now to ensure a smooth transition.

Can you just “teach” my processor the new commands?

• Unfortunately, no. The instruction sets a processor knows are physically built into the chip when it is manufactured. They cannot be added or updated later with software. The only solution is a hardware replacement.

Did I do something wrong?

• Not at all. This is purely a hardware compatibility issue based on the processor’s design and age. Our goal is to proactively identify these devices before a mandatory update causes them to stop working correctly.

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