Encrypting Laptops falls into 2 primary categories: institution-owned systems and personal systems.
For HCR or HCH owned PC laptops, we use Windows 7 or Windows 8 "Bitlocker" encryption.
For HCR or HCH owned Mac laptops, we use the FileVault full disk encryption included in the Lion and Mountain Lion versions of OSX.
For personal systems, there are a couple of different options:
1. For personal PC laptops, upgrading the system to Windows 8 Professional enables using BitLocker.
2. For personal Mac laptops, the Lion & Mountain Lion Mac operating systems provide excellent encryption via FileVault.
For more information on FileVault, see: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4790
3. For personal PC or Mac laptops where upgrading to Windows 8 or Lion / Mountain Lion is not feasible, it's possible to fully encrypt the hard disk using some free-ware encryption tools called "TrueCrypt"
Here are some online resources for TrueCrypt that have useful information:
http://www.truecrypt.org/faq
http://infosec.it.siu.edu/ir/ir/ir-infection?id=143
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/20150/getting-started-with-truecrypt-on-mac-os-x/
http://www.ahnrit.vt.edu/OnlineTutorials/TrueCrypt/tipsheet-installing_truecrypt_Mac.html
