---
title: "Create a Database Master Key | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "01/02/2019"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: "database-engine, sql-database, sql-data-warehouse, pdw"
ms.reviewer: vanto
ms.technology: security
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "database master key [SQL Server], creating"
ms.assetid: 8cb24263-e97d-4e4d-9429-6cf494a4d5eb
author: aliceku
ms.author: aliceku
manager: craigg
monikerRange: ">=aps-pdw-2016||=azuresqldb-current||=azure-sqldw-latest||>=sql-server-2016||=sqlallproducts-allversions||>=sql-server-linux-2017||=azuresqldb-mi-current"
---
# Create a Database Master Key
[!INCLUDE[appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md](../../../includes/appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md.md)]
  This topic describes how to create a database master key in [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)] by using [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../../includes/tsql-md.md)].
  
## Security  
  
### Permissions  
Requires CONTROL permission on the database.  
  
## Using Transact-SQL  
  
### To create a database master key  
  
1. Choose a password for encrypting the copy of the master key that will be stored in the database.  
  
2. In **Object Explorer**, connect to an instance of [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../../includes/ssde-md.md)].  
  
3. On the Standard bar, click **New Query**.  
  
4. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click **Execute**.  
  
    ```sql
    -- Creates a database master key for the "AdventureWorks2012" database.   
    -- The key is encrypted using the password "23987hxJ#KL95234nl0zBe."  
    USE AdventureWorks2012;  
    GO  
    CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = '23987hxJ#KL95234nl0zBe';  
    GO  
    ```  
  
 For more information, see [CREATE MASTER KEY (Transact-SQL)](../../../t-sql/statements/create-master-key-transact-sql.md).