Does encrypting a S7A "at boot" simply mean to assign a (ie- pin)?

[AC Question]

Hello, just purchased a S7A last week, and AT&T sales rep didn't give us this option, suggested by Phil Nickinson in... https://m.androidcentral.com/author/Phil%20Nickinson ... "The Galaxy S7 Active is encrypted by default. Samsung gives you the option to require a PIN at boot as part of the encryption mechanism. We suggest you take advantage of this. And good on Samsung for pushing this at first boot."
... at initial boot. Is this different than just assigning an (ie - pin) at lockscreen? And can i still set up this part off the "encryption mechanism"?
Thank you so much!
Still waiting for my flattened password to be emailed. -Inta

 

[winmod21]

Hello, just purchased a S7A last week, and AT&T sales rep didn't give us this option, suggested by Phil Nickinson in... https://m.androidcentral.com/author/Phil Nickinson ... "The Galaxy S7 Active is encrypted by default. Samsung gives you the option to require a PIN at boot as part of the encryption mechanism. We suggest you take advantage of this. And good on Samsung for pushing this at first boot."
... at initial boot. Is this different than just assigning an (ie - pin) at lockscreen? And can i still set up this part off the "encryption mechanism"?
Thank you so much!
Still waiting for my flattened password to be emailed. -Inta

Erm, quoting and answering myself here, and I meant [forgotten] password. )

Just found-out yesterday from Samsung that Google removed the 'encryption mechanism' from the S7A -- in their latest android security patch, dated March 1, 2017. The customer service rep I spoke with --somewhat reluctantly admitted, after I pressed the question-- that it was (according to what she's heard) due to the US Gov requesting them to do so (i.e.- during/after Apple's refusal to un-encrypt in 2016, and the big dust-up and row with the US Gov that resulted, etc).