The Certificate used for encryption must be backed up, stored offline and off-site.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-213913	SQL6-D0-001800	SV-213913r879642_rule		Medium

Description
Backup and recovery of the Certificate used for encryption is 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 2016 Database Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-09-18

Details

Check Text ( C-15131r313171_chk )
If the application owner and Authorizing Official have determined that encryption of data at rest is not required, this is not a finding. Review procedures for, and evidence of backup of the Certificate used for encryption in the System Security Plan. If the procedures or evidence does not exist, this is a finding. If the procedures do not indicate offline and off-site storage of the Certificate used for encryption, this is a finding. If procedures do not indicate access restrictions to the Certificate backup, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-15131r313171_chk )

If the application owner and Authorizing Official have determined that encryption of data at rest is not required, this is not a finding.

Review procedures for, and evidence of backup of the Certificate used for encryption in the System Security Plan.

If the procedures or evidence does not exist, this is a finding.

If the procedures do not indicate offline and off-site storage of the Certificate used for encryption, this is a finding.

If procedures do not indicate access restrictions to the Certificate backup, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15129r313172_fix)
Document and implement procedures to safely back up and store the Certificate used for encryption. Include in the procedures methods to establish evidence of backup and storage, and careful, restricted access and restoration of the Certificate. Also, include provisions to store the backup off-site. BACKUP CERTIFICATE 'CertificateName' TO FILE = 'path_to_file' WITH PRIVATE KEY (FILE = 'path_to_pvk', 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-15129r313172_fix)

Document and implement procedures to safely back up and store the Certificate used for encryption. Include in the procedures methods to establish evidence of backup and storage, and careful, restricted access and restoration of the Certificate. Also, include provisions to store the backup off-site.

BACKUP CERTIFICATE 'CertificateName' TO FILE = 'path_to_file'
WITH PRIVATE KEY (FILE = 'path_to_pvk', 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.