DecryptByAsymKey (Transact-SQL)
Decrypts data with an asymmetric key.
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Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions
Syntax
DecryptByAsymKey (
Asym_Key_ID ,
{ 'ciphertext' | @ciphertext }
[ , 'Asym_Key_Password' ]
)
Arguments
- Asym_Key_ID
Is the ID of an asymmetric key in the database. int.
- ciphertext
Is a string of data that has been encrypted with the asymmetric key.
- @ciphertext
Is a variable of type varbinary that contains data that has been encrypted with the asymmetric key.
- Asym_Key_Password
Is the password that was used to encrypt the asymmetric key in the database.
Return Types
varbinary with a maximum size of 8,000 bytes.
Remarks
Encryption/decryption with an asymmetric key is very costly compared to encryption/decryption with a symmetric key. We do not recommend using an asymmetric key when you work with large datasets, such as user data in tables.
Examples
The following example decrypts ciphertext that was encrypted with asymmetric key JanainaAsymKey02, which was stored in AdventureWorks.ProtectedData04. The returned data is decrypted using asymmetric key JanainaAsymKey02, which has been decrypted with password pGFD4bb925DGvbd2439587y. The plaintext is converted to type nvarchar.
SELECT CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
DecryptByAsymKey( AsymKey_Id('JanainaAsymKey02'),
ProtectedData, N'pGFD4bb925DGvbd2439587y' ))
AS DecryptedData
FROM [AdventureWorks].[Sales].[ProtectedData04]
WHERE Description = N'encrypted by asym key''JanainaAsymKey02''';
GO
See Also
Reference
EncryptByAsymKey (Transact-SQL)
CREATE ASYMMETRIC KEY (Transact-SQL)
ALTER ASYMMETRIC KEY (Transact-SQL)
DROP ASYMMETRIC KEY (Transact-SQL)
Other Resources
Choosing an Encryption Algorithm
Encryption Hierarchy