Encryption helps you prevent unauthorized access to information when individuals try to bypass your database security controls. For example, someone with a computer on your network might try to use a packet sniffer to monitor connections made by users to a database. Fortunately, database encryption allows you to protect the data sent over those connections from prying eyes.

This article describes how to encrypt database connections in SQL Server 2012.

 If you are using a different version of Microsoft SQL Server, please read Encrypting Database Connections in Microsoft SQL Server 2014.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 30 minutes

Here's How:

1. Run SQL Server Configuration Manager.
2. Open the SQL Server Network Configuration folder.
3. Right-click on the Protocols folder for the SQL Server database instance and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.
4. Set the Force Encryption value to Yes. This will require all database users have encrypted connections.
5. In the Protocol Properties window, select the encryption tab.
6. Select the appropriate certificate that was installed by your system dministrator.
7. Click the OK button.

Tips:

1. When you complete this process, the server will reject any requests for unencrypted communications. This feature will protect your database contents from eavesdropping while in transit between the client and server.

What You Need:

• Microsoft SQL Server
• SQL Server Configuration Manager