Securing Backup Process

  • Hi I would like to know if it is possible to password protect the backup process in SQL Server 2000. Can I ensure that a password is always asked for before a backup or a restore of a database can take place? If so how do you go about doing this? Thank you

  • Use PASSWORD parameter to set the password for the backup set. PASSWORD is a character string. If a password is defined for the backup set, the password must be supplied to perform any restore operation from the backup set.

    Check Backup command in BOL for details.

  • You can always ensure a password is asked for on a restore if the backup has been password protected. However, there is no way to force the password on the backup itself. Also, there is a lot of information that is clearly readible in a backup file, even with a password. The password just stops a SQL Server restore... I don't believe it was intended to encrypt the contents.

    The only product that comes to mind that'll do what you want is SQLLiteSpeed. Click on one of the ads or go here:

    http://www.sqllitespeed.com/

    K. Brian Kelley

    http://www.truthsolutions.com/

    Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring

    http://www.netimpress.com/

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • Stormy1,

    Brian Kelley’s posting is correct. SQL LiteSpeed (www.dbassociatesit.com) has 128 bit encryption capabilities at the backup level that will protect your back on disk and tape. The encryption capabilities have become very important for companies in the US that need to protect backups for auditing and compliance purposes such as HIPAA, SOX, SAS 70, etc. I have a written a few articles on the SQL LiteSpeed that you can find at - http://www.edgewoodsolutions.com/partners/dbassociates.asp. You can also download an evaluation copy at - http://www.edgewoodsolutions.com/litespeedeval.asp to check out the product yourself for 15 days. Besides the encryption capabilities, the inherent compression capabilities can reduce your backup size up to 90% and save an inordinate amount of disk space.

    Let me know if this is helpful and feel free to send me an email at jeremyk@edgewoodsolutions.com if you have some additional questions.

    Thank you,

    Jeremy Kadlec

    jeremyk@edgewoodsolutions.com

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