Learn how to insert into Always Encrypted column in SQL Server. Our SQL Server Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

SQL Server Insert into Always Encrypted column

With Security being important in today’s digital world, it is no surprise that SQL Server offers a feature to help us out. The Always Encrypted feature makes sure that data is encrypted, even when at rest in the database.

However, inserting data into these encrypted columns has to adhere to certain security standards.

Today, our experts will demonstrate the best practices for inserting data into Always Encrypted columns in SQL Server.

Always Encryption secures data at rest within the database. In other words, it is unreadable to unauthorized users, as well as database administrators. This encryption protects sensitive information even if the database itself is compromised.

How to Insert Encrypted Data

There are two approaches we can use:

1. 1. Parameterized Queries:

      In this method, we use parameters in our INSERT statement and provide the actual values separately. Here’s how it works:

      1. The application encrypts the data using the Column Encryption Key (CEK) before assigning it to the parameter.
      2. SQL Server automatically handles the encryption process and stores the encrypted value in the column.

      To implement parameterized queries:

      1. First, make sure the application uses parameterized queries, which are a best practice for security and performance reasons.
      2. For tools like SQL Server Management Studio, we have to enable “Column Encryption Setting=Enabled” in the connection properties. This setting directs the .NET Framework Data Provider to encrypt parameters automatically.
   2. Stored Procedures:

      Alternatively, we can insert encrypted data via stored procedures. This is done with functions like VARBINARY_TO_ENCRYPTED_VALUE to encrypt the data before insertion.

Additionally, our experts would like to point out that enabling “Column Encryption Setting=Enabled” in the connection properties is important for tools like SSMS. This setting ensures that data is encrypted during transmission.

Furthermore, the application needs access to the Column Encryption Key used for encryption. Access to CEK can be managed through certificates or Azure Key Vault.

By following these guidelines and best practices, you can securely insert data into Always Encrypted columns in SQL Server. Let us know in the comments if you need further help.

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Conclusion

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to insert data into the Always Encrypted column in SQL Server.