sys.symmetric_keys (Transact-SQL)

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

Returns one row for every symmetric key created with the CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY statement.

Column name Data type Description
name sysname Name of the key. Unique within the database.
principal_id int ID of the database principal who owns the key.
symmetric_key_id int ID of the key. Unique within the database.
key_length int Length of the key in bits.
key_algorithm char(2) Algorithm used with the key:

R2 = RC2

R4 = RC4

D = DES

D3 = Triple DES

DT = TRIPLE_DES_3KEY

DX = DESX

A1 = AES 128

A2 = AES 192

A3 = AES 256

NA = EKM Key
algorithm_desc nvarchar(60) Description of the algorithm used with the key:

RC2

RC4

DES

Triple_DES

TRIPLE_DES_3KEY

DESX

AES_128

AES_192

AES_256

NULL (Extensible Key Management algorithms only)
create_date datetime Date the key was created.
modify_date datetime Date the key was modified.
key_guid uniqueidentifier Globally unique identifier (GUID) associated with the key. It is auto-generated for persisted keys. GUIDs for temporary keys are derived from the user-supplied pass phrase.
key_thumbprint sql_variant SHA-1 hash of the key. The hash is globally unique. For non-Extensible Key Management keys this value will be NULL.
provider_type nvarchar(120) Type of cryptographic provider:

CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER = Extensible Key Management keys

NULL = Non-Extensible Key Management keys
cryptographic_provider_guid uniqueidentifier GUID for the cryptographic provider. For non-Extensible Key Management keys this value will be NULL.
cryptographic_provider_algid sql_variant Algorithm ID for the cryptographic provider. For non-Extensible Key Management keys this value will be NULL.

Permissions

The visibility of the metadata in catalog views is limited to securables that a user either owns, or on which the user was granted some permission. For more information, see Metadata Visibility Configuration.

Remarks

The RC4 algorithm is deprecated. This feature will be removed in a future version of SQL Server. Avoid using this feature in new development work, and plan to modify applications that currently use this feature.

Note

The RC4 algorithm is only supported for backward compatibility. New material can only be encrypted using RC4 or RC4_128 when the database is in compatibility level 90 or 100. (Not recommended.) Use a newer algorithm such as one of the AES algorithms instead. In SQL Server 2012 (11.x) material encrypted using RC4 or RC4_128 can be decrypted in any compatibility level.

Clarification regarding DES algorithms:

  • DESX was incorrectly named. Symmetric keys created with ALGORITHM = DESX actually use the TRIPLE DES cipher with a 192-bit key. The DESX algorithm is not provided. This feature will be removed in a future version of SQL Server. Avoid using this feature in new development work, and plan to modify applications that currently use this feature.

  • Symmetric keys created with ALGORITHM = TRIPLE_DES_3KEY use TRIPLE DES with a 192-bit key.

  • Symmetric keys created with ALGORITHM = TRIPLE_DES use TRIPLE DES with a 128-bit key.

See Also

Catalog Views (Transact-SQL)
Extensible Key Management (EKM)
Security Catalog Views (Transact-SQL)
Encryption Hierarchy
CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY (Transact-SQL)