---
title: "sys.dm_cryptographic_provider_sessions (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs"
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# sys.dm_cryptographic_provider_sessions (Transact-SQL)
[!INCLUDE[tsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md](../../includes/tsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md.md)]

  Returns information about open sessions for a cryptographic provider.  
 
## Syntax  
  
```  
  
sys.dm_cryptographic_provider_sessions(session_identifier)  
```  
  
## Arguments  
 *session_identifier*  
 An integer indicating the sessions to be returned.  
  
 0 = Current connection only  
  
 1 = All cryptographic connections  
  
## Table Returned  
  
|Column name|Data type|Description|  
|-----------------|---------------|-----------------|  
|**provider_id**|**int**|Identification number of the cryptographic provider.|  
|**session_handle**|**varbytes(8)**|Cryptographic session handle.|  
|**identity**|**nvarchar(128)**|Identity used to authenticate with the cryptographic provider.|  
|**spid**|**short**|Session ID SPID of the connection. For more information, see [@@SPID (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/functions/spid-transact-sql.md).|  
  
## Remarks  
 The **sys.dm_cryptographic_provider_sessions** view is visible to the public for the current connection. To view all cryptographic connections, you must have the **CONTROL** server permission.  
  
## See Also  
 [Security Catalog Views (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-catalog-views/security-catalog-views-transact-sql.md)   
 [Extensible Key Management (EKM)](../../relational-databases/security/encryption/extensible-key-management-ekm.md)   
 [CREATE CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/statements/create-cryptographic-provider-transact-sql.md)   
 [Encryption Hierarchy](../../relational-databases/security/encryption/encryption-hierarchy.md)