Configure TDE for an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance

Precautions

• We recommend that you update the minor engine version of your RDS instance to the latest version to ensure the stability of the instance. If read-only RDS instances are attached to your RDS instance, we recommend that you update the minor engine versions of your RDS instance and all the read-only RDS instances to the latest version. For more information, see Update the minor engine version of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.
• When you enable TDE, your RDS instance restarts. As a result, a transient connection occurs. Proceed with caution. Before you enable TDE, we recommend that you make appropriate arrangements for your workloads based on your business requirements.
• After you enable TDE, you cannot disable TDE.
• After you enable TDE, you cannot change the key that is used for TDE.
• After you enable TDE, you must decrypt the data on your RDS instance if you want to restore the data to an on-premises database. For more information, see the "Decrypt a table" section of this topic.
• After you enable TDE, the CPU utilization of your RDS instance significantly increases.
• If you use an existing custom key for TDE, take note of the following information:
  • If you disable the key, configure a plan to delete the key, or delete the key material, the key becomes unavailable.
  • If your RDS instance restarts after you revoke the key, your RDS instance becomes unavailable.
  • You must use an Alibaba Cloud account or an account to which the AliyunSTSAssumeRoleAccess policy is attached.
  Note For more information about keys, see What is Key Management Service?

Use an automatically generated key

1. Visit the RDS instance list, select a region above, and click the target instance ID.
2. In the left-side navigation pane, click Data Security.
3. On the TDE tab, turn on TDE Status.
4. In the dialog box that appears, select Use an Automatically Generated Key and click OK.
   

Use an existing custom key

1. Visit the RDS instance list, select a region above, and click the target instance ID.
2. In the left-side navigation pane, click Data Security.
3. On the TDE tab, turn on TDE Status.
4. In the dialog box that appears, select Use an Existing Custom Key and click OK.
   Note If you do not have a custom key, you can click go to the KMS console to go to the KMS console. In the KMS console, you can create a key and import your own key material. For more information, see Create a CMK.

   

Encrypt a table

If you want to encrypt a table on an RDS instance, you must log on to the RDS instance and execute the following statements:

• If the RDS instance runs MySQL 5.6, execute the following statement:

  alter table <tablename> engine=innodb,block_format=encrypted;

• If the RDS instance runs MySQL 5.7 or MySQL 8.0, execute the following statement:

  alter table <tablename> encryption='Y';

Decrypt a table

If you want to decrypt a table on an RDS instance, you must log on to the RDS instance and execute the following statements:

• If the RDS instance runs MySQL 5.6, execute the following statement:

  alter table <tablename> engine=innodb,block_format=default;

• If the RDS instance runs MySQL 5.7 or MySQL 8.0, execute the following statement:

  alter table <tablename> encryption='N';

FAQ

• After I enable TDE, can I use common database tools such as Navicat?

  Yes, after you enable TDE, you can use common database tools such as Navicat.

• After I enable TDE, can I migrate data from my RDS instance to a different RDS instance?

  Yes, after you enable TDE, you can migrate data from your RDS instance to a different RDS instance.

• After I enable TDE, why is my data still in plaintext?

  After you enable TDE, your data is stored in ciphertext. However, when the data is queried, it is decrypted and then loaded in plaintext to the memory. TDE encrypts backup files to prevent data leaks. Before you restore the data of your RDS instance from an encrypted backup file to your computer, you must decrypt the file. For more information, see the "Decrypt a table" section of this topic.

References

Configure TDE for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance

Related operations