# Disk Encryption

Check if a VM's disk is encrypted in VMware. If not you can make a clone of the VM, without affecting the current running state, and then download the `.vmdk` to harvest any interesting data within. 

It is also possible to extract disks from snapshots, if there are any.

1. Verify encryption in vSphere Web Client. In the VM's Summary tab, look for Encryption status.

<figure><img src="https://2314265932-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLZ9hPT4FtAP57VrTApYv%2Fuploads%2Fw07cenzJvoqHBSlQ9mDI%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ce65c2b8-2146-42a0-b1e6-7b666dfc10fb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Verify encryption through the CLI.

```bash
## Use vim-cmd, look for "encryption"
$ vim-cmd vmsvc/get.summary <VMID>

## Check VM's configuration file (.vmx)
cat /vmfs/volumes/<datastore>/<vm_folder>/<vm_name>.vmx | grep "encryption"
```