Create a database master key.
Syntax:
CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'password'
If password complexity is enforced, the password must be > 8 chars and contain upper/lower case and numeric/ Non-alphanumeric characters.
Back up the master key with BACKUP MASTER KEY
Example
USE MyDatabase;
CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = '6464hxJDWHO64H#64n77';
GO
"Technical skill is mastery of complexity while creativity is mastery of simplicity" ~ E. Christopher Zeeman (Catastrophe Theory)
Related Commands:
ALTER MASTER KEY
BACKUP MASTER KEY
DROP MASTER KEY
RESTORE MASTER KEY
sys.symmetric_keys
sys.databases