US Patent 7111005 Method and apparatus for automatic database encryption

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for managing encryption within a database system that is managed by a database administrator, and wherein a user administrator not otherwise associated with the database system, manages users of the database system. This system performs encryption automatically and transparently to a user of the database system. The system operates by receiving a request to store data in a column of the database system. If a user has designated the column as an encrypted column, the system automatically encrypts the data using an encryption function. This encryption function uses a key stored in a keyfile managed by the security administrator. After encrypting the data, the system stores the data in the database system using a storage function of the database system.