title: Viewing encrypted database data
body: <p>I'm using SQL Server 2008 to store some encrypted information.  There are about 5 database tables that have fields with encrypted data.
  The encryption is done at the server side using Java.  My problem is that we also need to view/update this encrypted information.  To view/update the encrypted information from database I'm creating a web application that will allow a user to view/update the encrypted information residing in database.</p>
  
  <p>For example lets say a user needs to insert new data into database that contains an encrypted field:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>The user will be able to enter an INSERT SQL query in the web application
  and have the App Server parse the query.</p></li>
  <li><p>If I find a field that needs to be encrypted then I have to extract
  that clear text value, encrypt it using Java and then modify the
  query with the encrypted value.</p></li>
  <li><p>Execute the modified INSERT query against the database.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Now it will be a pain to parse SQL queries and having to modify them.  I'm just wondering if there is an easier way to do this.  Has anyone done this before?  Are there any tools to facilitate this?</p>
  
  <p>Thing is the database will be installed on client sites, therefore we have to encrypt database fields in order to protect intellectual property.  Client has full access to their database, so using SQL Server built in encryption is not a good idea.</p>
  
  <p>Any suggestions appreciated.</p>