HP security researchers and technology analysts have warned that the shift toward hybrid work environments has exposed corporate organizations to a rising wave of physical cyber threats, particularly in modern public workplace spaces. The experts emphasized that hybrid work has permanently altered corporate security dynamics, with devices routinely moving through environments that organizations cannot fully control while handling growing volumes of sensitive information.
Physical Access Attacks as Mainstream Risks
The technology analysts also warned that physical access attacks should no longer be treated as isolated incidents but as mainstream cybersecurity risks requiring deliberate planning and investment. According to the experts, default device encryption systems such as BitLocker may no longer be sufficient to protect sensitive corporate information from increasingly sophisticated attackers.
Experts stated that the future of endpoint protection will increasingly depend on hardware-first security strategies capable of enabling devices to defend themselves even outside traditional office environments.
HP Report Highlights BitLocker Vulnerabilities
In a recent HP report titled “Default BitLocker Configuration Isn’t Enough: Defending Endpoints Against Physical Attacks,” the technology company said that as remote work becomes the norm in cafés, airports, hotels, and other public spaces, laptops have emerged as central repositories of sensitive business data. This includes confidential documents, employee records, customer information, credentials, and access to internal enterprise systems. Cybersecurity analysts stressed that this evolution has significantly increased the risks associated with lost or stolen devices.
Industry experts further noted that modern laptops are now processing larger volumes of sensitive data locally, a trend accelerated by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence-powered applications capable of analyzing documents, voice recordings, and images directly on endpoints. They explained that even cloud-based data is often cached locally on devices for performance purposes, making laptops increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals.
BitLocker Default Configuration Concerns
Security researchers also raised concerns that many organizations still rely heavily on Microsoft’s BitLocker disk encryption in its default configuration as the primary safeguard against unauthorized access to stolen devices. While BitLocker is widely deployed across enterprises to secure information on lost or stolen laptops, experts warn that it can be bypassed if attackers gain physical access to the hardware.
Experts identified “Trusted Platform Module (TPM) bus snooping” as one of the most concerning attack methods. This technique allows cybercriminals to intercept communications between a device’s TPM and the central processing unit during system startup. The TPM, a dedicated security chip embedded in modern devices, is responsible for storing cryptographic keys, supporting authentication systems, and enabling secure boot processes. The TPM also works alongside encryption technologies such as BitLocker to secure data stored on laptops.
How TPM Bus Attacks Work
Researchers explained that in the default TPM-only configuration of BitLocker, the system automatically unlocks encrypted drives during startup once the device verifies that the boot environment is trusted. While this configuration simplifies deployment for organizations and users, experts said it also creates an opening for attackers. According to HP’s cybersecurity findings, an individual with physical access to a device can intercept communication between the TPM and CPU during startup and retrieve the disk encryption key. The findings further showed that in some documented demonstrations, the process reportedly takes less than one minute using hardware components costing as little as $20.
Technology experts warned that TPM bus attacks are becoming increasingly accessible as research, tools, and practical demonstrations continue to spread within the cybersecurity community. “What was once limited to specialized laboratories can now reportedly be replicated with relatively inexpensive hardware and publicly available information,” the report stated.
Hardware Vulnerabilities and Compliance Issues
Analysts further stressed that the issue cannot simply be resolved through software patches because the vulnerability stems from the way hardware components communicate during the boot process. “Once an attacker gains physical access to a device, they are effectively operating outside the assumptions upon which many software-based protections depend,” HP stated.
The HP experts noted that the development has also raised compliance concerns for companies handling personally identifiable information (PII), particularly regarding whether standard BitLocker encryption can still be considered an adequate mitigating control when assessing obligations to report device losses to national data protection authorities.
Hardware-First Security as the Solution
HP’s cybersecurity professionals argue that the evolving threat landscape is pushing companies toward hardware-rooted security models that integrate protection directly into device architecture rather than relying solely on software-based defenses such as endpoint protection platforms, operating system hardening, and network monitoring.
Among the emerging solutions highlighted by industry players is HP’s TPM Guard architecture, which introduces an encrypted communication channel between the TPM and CPU to prevent interception and probing attacks during startup. According to the company, the TPM is cryptographically tied to the device itself, preventing it from being transferred into another system to reveal encryption keys. The approach, the HP researchers said, is designed to close what experts describe as a long-standing security gap without introducing additional complexity for IT administrators.
