The Service Master Key must be backed up, stored offline and off-site.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-67387	SQL4-00-024500	SV-81877r2_rule		Medium

Description
Backup and recovery of the Service Master Key may be critical to the complete recovery of the database. Not having this key can lead to loss of data during recovery.

STIG	Date
MS SQL Server 2014 Instance Security Technical Implementation Guide	2017-04-03

Details

Check Text ( C-67965r2_chk )
Review procedures for, and evidence of backup of, the SQL Server Service Master Key in the System Security Plan. If the procedures or evidence do not exist, this is a finding. If the procedures do not indicate offline and off-site storage of the Service Master Key, this is a finding. If procedures do not indicate access restrictions to the Service Master Key backup, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-73499r1_fix)
Document and implement procedures to safely back up and store the Service Master Key. Include in the procedures methods to establish evidence of backup and storage, and careful, restricted access and restoration of the Service Master Key. Also, include provisions to store the key off-site. BACKUP SERVICE MASTER KEY TO FILE = 'path_to_file' ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'password'; As this requires a password, take care to ensure it is not exposed to unauthorized persons or stored as plain text.

Fix Text (F-73499r1_fix)

Document and implement procedures to safely back up and store the Service Master Key. Include in the procedures methods to establish evidence of backup and storage, and careful, restricted access and restoration of the Service Master Key. Also, include provisions to store the key off-site.

BACKUP SERVICE MASTER KEY TO FILE = 'path_to_file'
ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'password';

As this requires a password, take care to ensure it is not exposed to unauthorized persons or stored as plain text.