Sourcing from an encrypted directory

Security concerns may require that you maintain some or all of your content in an encrypted directory. The encryption process encodes the data in a file so that it is unreadable to a computer or account that does not have the appropriate file encryption key. In the Windows operating system, the file encryption key is assigned to an account. Anyone who logs on using that account is then able to decrypt and use the content.

Windows Media Services can decrypt and stream encrypted content if it is logged on to the proper account. By default, Windows Media Services logs on to the Network Service account. To access the encrypted content, you must set Windows Media Services to log on to the same account that encrypted the content. You can change the account Windows Media Services uses to log on to the computer by using Microsoft Management Console. For more information about encryption, accounts, and user privileges, see Windows Help and Support.

Note

• By using the account that originally encrypted the files as the Windows Media Services logon account, you give Windows Media Services administrator rights and permissions for your computer. This can result in reduced network security. Consult your network administrator to assess the risks and benefits of streaming encrypted content.

Related topics

• Sourcing from playlists, files, and encoders