title: SQL Server - encrypting data in a database table's column
body: <p>I've got a problem scenario w.r.t data cyphering or encryption/decryption in SQL Server 2005.</p>
  
  <p>Scenario:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>There is a specific table in the database</li>
  <li>The table has a column, let's say "Credit Card"</li>
  <li>The requirements is that the content or data in this column should be encrypted</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Required (plausible) solution:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Data that is inserted in this table's column should be encrypted, i.e., is unreadable to people running direct queries on the database and/or table; or only by using a specific decryption logic, which requires a KEY of some sort</li>
  <li>While reading the data in any application, the method-of-decryption should be easy, maybe KEY based</li>
  <li>The process or methodology should be easy to use</li>
  <li>But difficult to break</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Please give me some suggestions or solution in this regards.</p>
  
  <p>Thank you.</p>