provider_name

Is the name of the Extensible Key Management provider.

path_of_DLL

Is the path of the .dll file that implements the SQL Server Extensible Key Management interface.

All keys created by a provider will reference the provider by its GUID. The GUID is retained across all versions of the DLL.

The DLL that implements SQLEKM interface must be digitally signed using any certificate. SQL Server will verify the signature. This includes its certificate chain, which must have its root installed at the Trusted Root Cert Authorities location on a Windows system. If the signature is not verified correctly, the CREATE CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER statement will fail. For more information about certificates and certificate chains, see SQL Server Certificates and Asymmetric Keys.

Requires CONTROL permission on the symmetric key.

The following example creates a cryptographic provider called SecurityProvider in SQL Server from a .dll file. The .dll file is named c:\SecurityProvider\SecurityProvider_v1.dll and it is installed on the server. The provider's certificate must first be installed on the server.

-- Install the provider
CREATE CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER SecurityProvider
    FROM FILE = 'c:\SecurityProvider\SecurityProvider_v1.dll'

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