Yes, we are able to encrypt & decrypt new data without any issue. Just the existing encrypted values we are unable to decrypt and it returns NULL.

I just tried backup master key of the prod db:

USE prod

BACKUP MASTER KEY TO FILE = 'c:\bkup'

ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = ''

After dropping the certificates and symmetric keys, restored the master key on the test db:

USE test

RESTORE MASTER KEY FROM FILE = 'c:\bkup'

DECRYPTION BY PASSWORD = ''

ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = ''

when I run SELECT * FROM sys.symmetric_keys WHERE symmetric_key_id = 101 on both db's I get the same key_GUID.

But the decrypt still returns NULL. I tried bouncing the db too.

Please help thanks a lot