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TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

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    #1

    TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

    I just wanted to share a new find for us in the area of developing small apps where encryption is needed with our SQL databases. In our case, we have leveraged the recent addition of .Net web services within Alpha to pull information from a third party vendor. Since we are using their data within our application, our need for an SQL back-end is very limited, and purchasing SQL Server Enterprise Edition just to get the Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) would be like purchasing a Greyhound bus for a family of four. While it would work great, it sure would be expensive to operate. For me, price is only an issue in the absence of value. However, I struggled with the value-to-price ratio for SQL Enterprise within this application. While it may be true that the 1GB of memory may limit SQL Express, we can still upgrade to SQL Standard for less than half of Enterprise and use one of the following add-on encryption modules.

    I have found two reliable TDE options that I believe are worth consideration. First, with a simple change to any connection string, you could enjoy very cost effective 128bit AES encryption using DBDefence from ActiveCrypt. It is free up to a 77MG database. It is $369 for databases up to 2GB and $598 unlimited database size. To use this simply add
    "A5InitialCommand='OPEN SYMMETRIC KEY DBDX DECRYPTION BY PASSWORD='yourpassword'" to your connection string. I did not know about this undocumented connection string property. Thanks go to Kurt Rayner for informing me of this.

    The above is a simple install and literally took me 5 minutes to learn how to use and place in a productive test model. This includes the one change in my Alpha DAO connection string. So far all of my tests have passed with all of my stored procedures and queries. I do not know how this will work with Triggers, and I will not be testing this functionality at this time. If anyone has Triggers to test under this configuration please let me know.

    Secondly, I have found Encryptionizer from NetLib. This is a completely transparent encryption option and is another very easy installation. It requires absolutely no application modification. Proper configuration from our server is a total cost of $7400, which is still almost half of the cost of most competitive SQL Server Enterprise quotes I have received. My initial quote for the SQL Server Enterprise edition was $27,840. At $7400 this encryption option is still a great value in my opinion.

    I hope one or both of these options can help some of you needing encryption for your data without the huge cost.
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

    Thanks for the comment. I do want to point out that the feature is actually documented.
    If you open the Documentation view and do a full text search on 'A5InitialCommand' (for example), you will actually find 3 matching topics.
    The feature was added in v10.5 and is in the Doc under this path: AlphaDAO, SQL,

    Comment

      #3
      Re: TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

      Max, Did you start using one of these options? And would you please share your lessons learned?

      Comment

        #4
        Re: TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

        Yes, I m using DBDefence in a couple of production environments. It is very simple to use and very simple to set up. The support is awesome too. You can make backups encrypted or un-encrypted . . . your choice.

        I am happy to help if you have further questions.

        Comment

          #5
          Re: TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

          Hi Max -

          I've started using DBDefence and I agree, it seems like the perfect solution. One little problem... I can't quite get the connection string configured correctly. I've checked out your detail above, as well as Selwyn's reference to the Wiki docs, but still not working for me. Following the standard first part of the connection string (represented by the x;s below)I have...
          {xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,A5InitialCommand='OPEN SYMMETRIC KEY DBDX DECRYPTION BY PASSWORD="passwordhere"'}

          The error message I get is: 102- '[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]Incorrect syntax near 'passwordhere'.


          Any idea why this wouldn't work?

          Thanks!
          Last edited by Scott B; February 02, 2014, 02:45 PM.

          Comment

            #6
            Re: TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

            Hi Scott,

            I think (said think, just doing a first glance) you have the quotes around -> password here <- reversed. I think it should be ='password here' "
            Dan

            Dan Blank builds Databases
            Skype: danblank

            Comment

              #7
              Re: TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

              You're right! It worked! Thanks, Dan.

              Comment

                #8
                Re: TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

                Originally posted by mhammond View Post
                I do not know how this will work with Triggers, and I will not be testing this functionality at this time. If anyone has Triggers to test under this configuration please let me know.
                Just tested and wanted to report that this works very well with all triggers in my SQL Server db.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: TDE Encryption Option for SQL Server Express and Standard

                  I may be beating this one to death, but it is an important topic so I want to provide as much helpful information as possible.

                  An important (perhaps obvious) note on the connection string: if you decrypt the backend database and attempt to open your application you will get TONS of grid errors. Basically, the connection string is looking for something to decrypt and cannot find it. So, the lesson here is that you shouldn't attempt to use the front end of your system when the database is decrypted. Personally, I like that, as its a reminder that if I'm working the SQL Server side, I need to re-encrypt as a final step.

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