You can encrypt data on the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server by generating new or importing existing encryption keys that you enable on the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance that connects to the database.

If Microsoft Dynamics NAV is configured with multiple service tiers (Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instances), then you must first enable encryption on one server instance, and then export the key so it can be imported to other server instances where you enable encryption.

Important
If you export companies and other data that is secured by data encryption, then remember to also export the encryption key so that you can access the data after you import it into another database, for example when you restore a backup. Creating a backup of encrypted data involves the following high-level steps.

  1. Export the data from one database. For more information, see How to: Export and Import Companies and Other Data in Clients.
  2. Export the data encryption key. For more information, see How to: Export and Import Encryption Keys.
  3. Import the data into another database. For more information, see How to: Export and Import Companies and Other Data in Clients.
  4. Import the data encryption key. For more information, see How to: Export and Import Encryption Keys.

The following table describes a sequence of tasks, with links to the topics that describe them. These tasks are listed in the order in which they are generally performed.

ToSee

Export a configuration key from one Microsoft Dynamics NAV server instance so that it can be imported on another server instance or to make a copy of the key.

How to: Export and Import Encryption Keys

Enable data encryption on a Microsoft Dynamics NAV server instance where an encryption key exists. Disable data encryption, for example to access a database for which you do not have the encryption key.

How to: Enable and Disable Encryption Keys

See Also