How to Encrypt and Decrypt in SQL Server with Certificate: While using the sensitive data in applications, we need to encrypt it whenever we are storing in the database tables. For this purpose, we usually use the asymmetric keys with certificate. The process is descriped as below... First, we need to create as master key with a password. Later, we need to create a certificate with Subject Name and Expiry Date. Later, we need to create a symmetric key with a algorithm by making use of the certificate. CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'p@ssw0rd' CREATE CERTIFICATE MyCertCert WITH SUBJECT = 'MyTestCert', EXPIRY_DATE = '10/31/2018' CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY MySymKey WITH ALGORITHM = TRIPLE_DES ENCRYPTION BY CERTIFICATE MyCertCert Once the key is created with the certificate, you can see your certificate by making use of the below query. SELECT * FROM sys.certificates Later you can use the below SQL Statements to encrypt or decrypt the cont