Creates an encryption key that is used for transparently encrypting a database. For more information about transparent database encryption, see Understanding Transparent Data Encryption (TDE).
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Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions
CREATE DATABASE ENCRYPTION KEY
WITH ALGORITHM = { AES_128 | AES_192 | AES_256 | TRIPLE_DES_3KEY }
ENCRYPTION BY SERVER
{
CERTIFICATE Encryptor_Name |
ASYMMETRIC KEY Encryptor_Name
}
[ ; ]
- WITH ALGORITHM = { AES_128 | AES_192 | AES_256 | TRIPLE_DES_3KEY }
-
Specifies the encryption algorithm that is used for the encryption key.
- ENCRYPTION BY SERVER CERTIFICATE Encryptor_Name
-
Specifies the name of the encryptor used to encrypt the database encryption key.
- ENCRYPTION BY SERVER ASYMMETRIC KEY Encryptor_Name
-
Specifies the name of the asymmetric key used to encrypt the database encryption key.
A database encryption key is required before a database can be encrypted by using Transparent Database Encryption (TDE). When a database is transparently encrypted, the whole database is encrypted at the file level, without any special code modifications. The certificate or asymmetric key that is used to encrypt the database encryption key must be located in the master system database.
Database encryption statements are allowed only on user databases.
The database encryption key cannot be exported from the database. It is available only to the system, to users who have debugging permissions on the server, and to users who have access to the certificates that encrypt and decrypt the database encryption key.
The database encryption key does not have to be regenerated when a database owner (dbo) is changed.
Requires CONTROL permission on the database and VIEW DEFINITION permission on the certificate or asymmetric key that is used to encrypt the database encryption key.
For additional examples using TDE, see Understanding Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and How to: Enable TDE Using EKM.
A. Creating a Database Encryption Key
The following example creates a database encryption key named PacificSales10 by using the AES_256 algorithm, and protects the private key with a certificate named MyServerCert.
USE AdventureWorks
GO
CREATE DATABASE ENCRYPTION KEY
WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256
ENCRYPTION BY SERVER CERTIFICATE MyServerCert;
GO
Reference
ALTER DATABASE SET Options (Transact-SQL)
ALTER DATABASE ENCRYPTION KEY (Transact-SQL)
DROP DATABASE ENCRYPTION KEY (Transact-SQL)
sys.dm_database_encryption_keys (Transact-SQL)
Other Resources
Understanding Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
SQL Server Encryption
SQL Server and Database Encryption Keys (Database Engine)
Encryption Hierarchy
Help and Information
Getting SQL Server 2008 Assistance