This editorial was originally published on April 10, 2009. It is being re-run as Steve is on vacation.
I recently engaged in a discussion with someone that was building an application on SQL Server. This person had a bunch of SQL code that was being put in stored procedures and then being sent to client sites. The developers were worried about clients modifying their code and wanted to send "secure updates" to the client by encrypting the stored procedures and giving the clients the encrypted text.
Apart from the hassles of getting this to work, I asked by would they bother. There are decryption routines available and this isn't meant to be a secure way to hide your code. Heck, even application code can be decompiled, and if they're likely to mess with the code, they likely have the skills to get the source.
So for this Friday's poll, I'm wondering about how you feel about encrypting code in SQL Server. I want to know what you think.
Is there a point?
Is there a reason to encrypt stored procedure code? After all, there are many, many vendors that sell applications built on SQL Server, with stored procedures. Most of that code isn't encrypted and it's usually not a problem. Most customers don't mess with the code and there are usually prohibitions written into support agreements.
Personally I don't think there are many great ideas, and likely very, very few in the database space, that are worth securing. Someone doesn't buy a software package so the can learn how you wrote it. Most of them buy software because it solves a problem and saves them time. If you can deliver a well performing, and good looking application, no one cares about the code.
But I'm curious what the rest of you think, both end users and software developers. Is there really a good reason to worry about encrypting your code?
Steve Jones
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