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Possible to encrypt or password a backup in SQL2012?

  • September 13, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    #281534

    So I'm working on putting together some backup plans for my work, and I'm planning ahead for SQL2012. One thing that will be needed is for the backups to be encrypted or password protected.

    Unfortunately, BOL states that the options "PASSWORD" and "MEDIAPASSWORD" are discontinued for creating backups. Testing shows this to be so, backup fails with these options ("One or more of the options (mediapassword) are not supported for this statement") While it goes on to say to "review the documentation for supported options," BOL does not indicate that there is any replacement for these options.

    Worst case, I can kludge around this by running the backup from a batch file, then using PKZIP to zip and password the backup file. I'd rather avoid this, as it does make it more work to restore (first unzip, then fire up SQL and restore,) and I'd likely have to do this to all the TLog backups...

    That's a LOT of unzipping (unless I dump all the TLogs to a single file, appending them)

    Any suggestions, help?

    TDE, while nice, isn't going to be an option (I have to plan for lowest common denominator, in this case Express edition)

    Thanks,

    Jason A.

    (22 days until SQL in the City, Chicago!)

  • September 13, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    #1537453

    Well, I found something on the MSDN forums that seems to indicate the only option would be a 3rd party backup utility...

    Database encryption functionality retired in SQL 2012?[/url]

    Obviously, not the answer I hoped to find...

    Jason

  • September 13, 2012 at 1:55 pm

    #1537458

    Third party backup tools that can accomplish the compression/encryption for you.

  • September 13, 2012 at 2:00 pm

    #1537462

    Otherwise, if the database has transparent database encryption enabled, its backups will be encrypted.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

  • September 14, 2012 at 9:12 am

    #1537935

    Yeah, TDE gets you encrypted backups. Other than that, you need to look at something like Red Gate SQL Backup[/url]. We do encryption and password protection. The tool also provides a lot of other functionality in & around backups including automating backup testing. You can try it for free.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

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