Conversion from VARCHAR to VARBINARY in SQL Server 2008

[Corporal Agarn]

Hello, I am looking at encryption in SQL Server 2008. I have the basics down but have a question about sizing the encrypted column. I have two columns of data I want to encrypt. One 9 characters and one 20 characters. Currently VARCHAR(9) and VARCHAR(20). (Yes I know that the VAR means space savings.) What is the minimum VARBINARY needed for these, or a better question how do I calculate the VARBINARY size? Thank you, djj

[Ashfield]

Two suggestions. 1. SQL Server 2008 has built in encryption, why not use that? 2. Why not simply do a few tests to determine what size you need?

Bob Ashfield Consultants Ltd Proud to be a 2009 Code Project MVP

[Corporal Agarn]

The built in encryption is what I am looking at, at least I am using the BOL how to. As to the tests I will do that but it would be nice to have an equation to calculate it. djj