Encrypting mdb/ldf files with SQL Server Express

  • I am running an local application against a local install of SQL Server Express on a laptop (VISTA BASIC).

    Have to be able to Encrypt all the data and objects within the databases.

    Also, want to keep anyone from using SQL Tools to access the databases at all (to view schema, etc.), or be able to detach and copy the mdb/ldf files to another machine.

    Anyone know if either SQL Server Express 2005 or SQL Server Express 2008 have built-in features to accomplish this or even a third party tool that could be used to Encrypt the SQL folders at an OS level but would still make them accessible to the application?

    Thanks in advance for any ideas.

  • Hi RockStar,

    I am wondering around trying to find answer to a similair question. I found this for you interesting article at: http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1514 about how to encrypt a database. Ther e is also an article about Windows file encryption of the Mdb en Ldf files, I tried it and seems to be linked to the Windows user account, an other user can not open the files (and probably not on an other computer).

    I am looking for a solution to do an unattended install of SQl server Express 2008. I have to distribute 100+ copies of a VB.net application with an Express database. Security is important so I do not want users to seen user names and passwords.

    Links and tips are welcome.

    Gerard

  • If you use windows file encrpytion then ALL file access especially writes become sequential. I'm not saying not to do it, but there are performance consequences.

    Also, to be honest with you there is one application in 10,0000 that has to have ALL the data encrypted, there are usually just a few fields in a 2-3 tables that fall into that category. You would be wise to look into encrypting only those fields. Why don't you go into greater detail about why you feel the need to encrypt everything.

    CEWII

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