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Restore Encrypted Database in SQL Server Using Best Methods

Andrew Jackson ~ Published: April 29th, 2025 ~ SQL Backup & Restore ~ 5 Minutes Reading

Restoring a SQL Server database is quite a straightforward process. But when it comes to restore encrypted database, the process gets complicated. Encryption in the SQL Database helps users secure their databases from any unauthorized access or activities. 

We are here with this write-up to discuss the same issue regarding the encrypted database restoration process. We will also learn the best ways to carry out the complete process more efficiently. Let’s first learn the situation that demands the encrypted database restoration in SQL Server. 

Why We Need to Restore Encrypted Database SQL Server?

There are multiple situations that require the restoration of an encrypted database in SQL Server. To get a clearer grasp on the issue, we will now learn about these situations and understand how we can restore the database with encryption using the best ways. 

Scenarios that demand the restoration of an encrypted database in SQL Server are explained below:

  • Disaster Recovery: In case of a hardware or software crash, users can restore the database by using the backup files. But, when the database is encrypted with TDE, the users might need to restore the database with encryption certificate as well.
  • During Database Migration: The migration process in the SQL Server also requires the users to restore encrypted database. While migrating the database to the new server, the encryption certificate is also required to be present in the destination server, be it a on-premise server or Cloud Server. 
  • Copying A Database for Testing Purposes: The restoration of encrypted database is also required when the developers need an environment to test any new operations or code. To ensure that the original database is not affected during the testing of the code, the cloned database helps. 
  • Backup After Accidental Data Loss: In case the user has accidentally deleted or lost the data within the database, it can be resolved by restoring the database. But, it is mandatory to restore the encryption certificate with the database so that it can be accessed after restoration. 

All these are the situations that demands the users to restore encrypted database in SQL Server. Now, we will take a look at the methods that will help the users to restore the encrypted database without any hassles. 

Best Ways for Restoring the Database With Encryption in SQL Server

There are different methods that can help users restore the database in an efficient way. These methods are explained here for a better understanding and clearer grasp on how to implement these methods. Proceeding with learning about the first method to restore encrypted database SQL Server. 

Method 1: Restore Database Using Encryption Certificate

This is one of the common methods that helps users to restore the database easily without facing any challenges. For this method, the users must have the following things accessible to them:

  • Encrypted SQL Database Backup File
  • The Certificate file and the private key file.
  • Password used while backing up the private key. 
  • Access to SQL Server 

Now, here are the steps to restore encrypted database SQL Server. 

  1. Create a master key, in case it’s not already present in the database. 
CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'RequiredPassword';
  2. Next, restore the encryption certificate and the private key.

    CREATE CERTIFICATE TDE1
FROM FILE = 'C:\Backup\TDE1.cer'
WITH PRIVATE KEY (
FILE = 'C:\Backup\TDE1.pvk',
DECRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'PrivateKeyPass'
);
  3. Then, restore the encrypted database backup with the following command: 
    RESTORE DATABASE EncryptDatabase
FROM DISK = 'C:\Backup\EncryptDatabase.bak'
WITH MOVE 'EncryptDatabase_Data' TO 'C:\Data\EncryptDatabase.mdf',
MOVE 'EncryptedDB_Log' TO 'C:\Data\EncryptDatabase_log.ldf',
REPLACE;

These steps will help you to restore encrypted database in SQL Server. Moving on to the next method, let’s see how the method will help the users to restore the database easily. The method, we will now be using is the professional solution for decrypting the database for convenience and then restoring it to the required SQL Server. Let’s see how the method will help the users. 

Method 2: Restore Database Using a Professional Solution 

The next method is to use a professional solution like SQL Decryptor Tool to decrypt the encrypted database and then restore it to he desired database.

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The steps for using the professional solution are as follows:

  1. Install and run the software. Click on the Start Button. 
  2. Next, add the Source Server and then select the desired database from the provided list.
  3. Click on the Next Button. Preview the encrypted objects loaded on the screen. 
  4. Click on the Export button and choose the destination. Add the authentication details of the desired destination to efficiently proceed to restore encrypted database.

Once the SQL Server database is decrypted, you can efficiently restore it. The tool efficiently allows you to decrypt the database along with the database objects and lets you access them in a hassle free way. 

Conclusion

With the help of this technical write-up, we have tried to understand the issues during the restore encrypted database process. We have also suggested to the users the best ways to restore the database with encryption to SQL Server in an efficient way.