Some Office documents need to be secured to prevent the contents from being used in a ransomware attack.  One example might be an Office document that contained a list of passwords for other documents or systems.  This KB will show how to set up a password for Work, Excel and other Office documents that will protect the document and also encrypt it to prevent others from reading it (without the password).

Adding a Password to an Office Document

To get started, open the document you want to add a password to.  Then go to the File menu and select Info.

Then select Protect Document from the right side.

From the pull down menu select Encrypt with Password.

Enter the password you wish to use.  Make sure to record what the password was and then click on OK. 

You will be prompted to repeat the password as a safely measure.

Later, the next time you open the document you will be prompted for the password in order to open it.