VB.NET / MS SQL 2016 - How To Encrypt A Database - Table Column

How to encrypt a databases tables column in Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Developer Edition.

If you have any question, post them below :)

INFO
Always Encrypted is a feature designed to protect sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or national identification numbers (e.g. U.S. social security numbers), stored in Azure SQL Database or SQL Server databases.

Always Encrypted allows clients to encrypt sensitive data inside client applications and never reveal the encryption keys to the Database Engine (SQL Database or SQL Server).
As a result, Always Encrypted provides a separation between those who own the data (and can view it) and those who manage the data (but should have no access).

By ensuring on-premises database administrators, cloud database operators, or other high-privileged, but unauthorized users, cannot access the encrypted data, Always Encrypted enables customers to confidently store sensitive data outside of their direct control.

This allows organizations to encrypt data at rest and in use for storage in Azure, to enable delegation of on-premises database administration to third parties, or to reduce security clearance requirements for their own DBA staff.

[jeffr]

Sorry if I don't understand, but how is the data secure if someone just needs to add "Column Encryption setting = "Enabled"" to the end of the connection string and then read all the "encrypted" data?

[ElPierniko]

Hi, I have created SQL database. Now I want to encrypt some of the columns. Unfortuntely I can't see the option "encrypt column" when i right-click. Any idea why?

[jonathandeguzman]

Hi Andrew, I'm getting an error in runtime. My code looks for a certificate which I dont know how and where to get. Can you help me on this?