sys.certificates (Transact-SQL)

Returns a row for each certificate in the database.

Column name

Data type

Description

name

sysname

Name of the certificate. Is unique within the database.

certificate_id

int

ID of the certificate. Is unique within the database.

principal_id

int

ID of the database principal that owns this certificate.

pvt_key_encryption_type

char(2)

How the private key is encrypted.

NA = There is no private key for the certificate

MK = Private key is encrypted by the master key

PW = Private key is encrypted by a user-defined password

SK = Private key is encrypted by the service master key.

pvt_key_encryption_type_desc

nvarchar(60)

Description of how the private key is encrypted.

NO_PRIVATE_KEY

ENCRYPTED_BY_MASTER_KEY

ENCRYPTED_BY_PASSWORD

ENCRYPTED_BY_SERVICE_MASTER_KEY

is_active_for_begin_dialog

bit

If 1, this certificate is used to initiate encrypted service dialogs.

issuer_name

nvarchar(442)

Name of certificate issuer.

cert_serial_number

nvarchar(64)

Serial number of certificate.

sid

varbinary(85)

Login SID for this certificate.

string_sid

nvarchar(128)

String representation of the login SID for this certificate

subject

nvarchar(4000)

Subject of this certificate.

expiry_date

datetime

When certificate expires.

start_date

datetime

When certificate becomes valid.

thumbprint

varbinary(32)

SHA-1 hash of the certificate. The SHA-1 hash is globally unique.

attested_by

nvarchar(260)

System use only.

pvt_key_last_backup_date

datetime

The date and time the certificate’s private key was last exported.

Permissions

In SQL Server 2005 and later versions, the visibility of the metadata in catalog views is limited to securables that a user either owns or on which the user has been granted some permission. For more information, see Metadata Visibility Configuration.