Column-Level Encryption in SQL Server

Beginning with SQL Server 2005, column-level encryption and decryption capabilities were made available within the database, providing a solution for situations where one-off types of data need to be secured beyond your existing authorization, authentication or firewall settings. This article provides an overview and example of securing a column using native SQL Server cryptography functions.

Encryption

TDE, EKM and the Asymmetric Key

A look at how you might recover from a disaster using encryption and an HSM module in SQL Server 2008.

SQL Server Encryption Symmetric vs. Asymmetric Keys

I need to encrypt my data within SQL Server and I plan on using the built-in encryption functionality in SQL Server 2005 and 2008. However, I'm looking at symmetric and asymmetric key algorithms and while I see information saying to use symmetric keys, I don't understand why. What's the difference between the two and why is a symmetric key algorithm preferred over the asymmetric key ones?

Encryption

Using authenticators with SQL Server encryption

Authenticators are additional data that gets encrypted along with the data to be stored in an encrypted manner. When it comes to decrypt the data, if the right authenticator isn't specified, SQL Server doesn't return the data in the decrypted form. Rather, a NULL value is returned, just as if the wrong key was used.

Cryptography

Is not encrypting personal info worth the risk?

Learn why choosing against the encryption of personal info in your SQL Server database can leave your organization vulnerable to certain compliance issues.

SQL Server 2005 - Hacking password Encryption

Part 2 of this article discusses how to hack/de-cipher the data that has been encrypted by passphrase.