ENCRYPT= Data Set Option

Syntax Description

YES

encrypts the file using SAS Proprietary encryption. This encryption uses passwords that are stored in the data set. At a minimum, you must specify the READ= or the PW= data set option at the same time that you specify ENCRYPT=YES. Because SAS Proprietary encryption uses passwords, you cannot change any password on an encrypted data set without re-creating the data set.

CAUTION:

Record all passwords when using ENCRYPT=YES.

If you forget the passwords, you cannot reset it without assistance from SAS. The process is time-consuming and resource-intensive.  

NO

does not encrypt the file.

When using ENCRYPT=YES, the following list applies:

• To copy a SAS Proprietary encrypted data file, the output engine must support the encryption. Otherwise, the data file is not copied.

• SAS Proprietary encrypted files work only in SAS 6.11 or later.

• You cannot encrypt SAS views, because they contain no data.

• If the data file is encrypted, all associated indexes are also encrypted.

• Encryption requires roughly the same amount of CPU resources as compression.

• You cannot use PROC CPORT on SAS Proprietary encrypted data files.

This example creates an encrypted SAS data set using SAS Proprietary encryption:

data salary(encrypt=yes read=green);
   input name $ yrsal bonuspct;
   datalines;
Muriel    34567  3.2
Bjorn     74644  2.5
Freda     38755  4.1
Benny     29855  3.5
Agnetha   70998  4.1
;

To use this data set, specify the read password:

proc contents data=salary(read=green);
run;

Copyright © 2007 by SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. All rights reserved.