Easier Encryption and Key Management for SQL Server Standard & Web Editions

Your IT environment is ever changing. As technologies evolve, you constantly have to upgrade systems and migrate to new platforms to accommodate these changes. This often results in complex IT environments that are comprised of multiple platforms and operating systems, and data located in disparate locations. Protecting sensitive data in a multi-platform environment that’s made up of both old and new technologies can be one of the most frustrating aspects of data security.

One of Townsend Security’s core missions is to help customers protect sensitive data, regardless of where that data resides, in a cohesive way. One area where we’ve seen the need to improve upon this is around encrypting data in Standard versions of Microsoft SQL Server. Because Microsoft does not provide transparent data encryption (TDE) capability on SQL Server Standard and Web editions, Microsoft customers using these older editions struggle with implementing easy and fast transparent encryption.

In order to simplify the encryption process for Standard and Web Edition users, we have partnered with NetLib, a database encryption solution provider that supports easy and automatic folder, file, and application encryption in Windows as well as database and column level encryption for all Microsoft SQL Server editions. NetLib Encryptionizer easily protects data in SQL Server (2000-2014), Standard, Web, Workgroup and Express Editions. NetLib provides column level encryption as well using triggers and views without the need to write SQL statements or any other development.  

NetLib’s customers choose NetLib Encryptionizer for their FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption solution, for which they require FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption key management as well. As a critical step in our partnership, Townsend Security built Key Connection for Encryptionizer, a no-cost plug-in module that allows Encryptionizer customers to easily secure encryption keys using Townsend Security’s Alliance Key Manager.  

System audits and logging are critical to detecting and alerting you to malicious activity in your systems. Key Connection for Encryptionizer allows users to fully audit the encryption and key management process. Encryptionizer audit logging of user-file interaction as well as audit logging of the key life cycle in Alliance Key Manager provides a comprehensive logging service. Additionally, encrypting data on SQL Server Standard and Web editions typically involves some level of development. With NetLib Encryptionizer, users can encrypt data using a simple point-and-click configuration.

Townsend Security is proud to partner with NetLib to provide an easier method to encrypting data in Microsoft SQL Server Standard and Web editions. To learn more about managing encryption keys for data encryption in complex environments, download the white paper, Key Management in the Multi-Platform Environment.