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Create a Database Master Key

  • Article
  • 02/28/2023

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

This topic describes how to create a database master key in SQL Server by using Transact-SQL.

Security

Permissions

Requires CONTROL permission on the database.

Using Transact-SQL

To create a database master key

  1. Choose a password for encrypting the copy of the master key that will be stored in the database.

  2. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

  3. Expand System Databases, right-click master and then click New Query.

  4. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click Execute.

      -- Creates the master key.
  -- The key is encrypted using the password "23987hxJ#KL95234nl0zBe".  
  CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = '23987hxJ#KL95234nl0zBe';

For more information, see CREATE MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL).