Question

I have database A in this database there is a certificate and a table. I want to insert an encrypted value into a table which is in database A. The stored procedure is in database B and would ideally make a call like this:

EncryptByCert(Cert_ID('CertifiacteName'), 'SecretData')

This will always fail, because database B cannot find the certificate in database A

Without moving the stored procedure or the certificate, how can I create an encrypted value in database B using a certificate in database A?

Answer 1

You could wrap the EncryptByCert call in a function that lives in database A like this:

CREATE FUNCTION dbo.MyEncrypt(@Data VARCHAR(4000))
RETURNS TABLE
AS
RETURN
SELECT ENCRYPTBYCERT(CERT_ID('MyCert'),@Data) EncryptedData;

To insert data into your table in database A while connected to database B use something like this:

INSERT INTO DatabaseA.dbo.MyTable(id,EncryptedData)
VALUES(42, (SELECT EncryptedData FROM DatabaseA.dbo.MyEncrypt('testvalue')) );