Encypted Backup File

Question

Hello

I am using SQL Server 2005 to backup a database. The backup file is then sent to another machine that is running SQL Server 2008 R2 which then restores the database.

I have now been informed by our security guys that the backup file needs to be encypted.

Can SQL Server 2005 be used to prepare an ecrypted backup and SQL Server 2008 R2 to decrypt and restore the backup? If the answer is no, can Integration Services help?

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Amir

Answer 1

No .. you will not be able to restore 2008 backup on 2005..

VT

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Answer 2

Hi,

It is not possible what you want. Backup created on a newer version cannot be restored on an older version. Backup can be encrypted if you are using TDE which is available on SQL 2008 and later.

I hope it helps.

Janos

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There are 10 type of people. Those who understand binary and those who do not.
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Answer 3

Sorry! I meant backup using SQL Server 2005 and restore to 2008 R2.

I have corrected the original post.

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Amir

Answer 4

SQL 2005 does not support TDE, you cannot encrypt your backup, however you can use VPN or IPsec to encrypt the network where the backup will travel through.

Janos

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There are 10 type of people. Those who understand binary and those who do not.
My Blog

Answer 5

I don't think backup encryption is available on 2005

vt

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Answer 6

Hello,

As others have already stated, there is nothing native to SQL Server 2005 for encrypted backups.

There are 3rd party vendors that supply encryped backups, but what I like to do is use an open source encryption program to encrypt the file once the backup has completed. I'm sure others have similar scenarios.

There are no encryption add-ins to SSIS as far as I know (I don't use SSIS that much if ever so they may very well be!), but you could make a task to run commands as stated above with 3rd party applications to encrypt the backups.

-Sean

Answer 7

There is no (direct) backup encryption in 2008 either. There is, however TDE, which encrypts the whole database, not only the backup file.

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Tibor Karaszi, SQL Server MVP | web | blog

Answer 8

Thanks everyone for your help.

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Amir