> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.futurex.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuring EKM on the Microsoft SQL Server

> Procedural instructions to enable and register the EKM provider on Microsoft SQL Server.

Perform the following tasks to configure EKM:

1. Enable the EKM provider option.
2. Register the FXCL EKM provider.

## Enable the provider option

To use the FXCL EKM provider, perform the following instructions to enable the EKM provider option on the SQL Server:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Open the SQL Server Management Studio application.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Connect to the SQL Server.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Open a Query window and execute the following commands:

    ```text expandable lines wrap title="Text" theme={null}
    sp_configure 'show advanced', 1
    GO
    RECONFIGURE
    GO
    sp_configure 'EKM provider enabled', 1
    GO
    RECONFIGURE
    GO
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Register the provider

To register the FXCL EKM provider open a new Query window in SQL Server Management Studio and execute the following commands:

```text expandable lines wrap title="Text" theme={null}
CREATE CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROVIDER FxclEkmProvider
    FROM FILE = 'C:\Program Files\Futurex\fxcl\kmes\ekm\libfxcl-ekm.dll';
GO
```

If you encounter the error, *Cannot initialize cryptographic provider. Provider error code: 1. (Failure - Consult EKM provider for details)*, perform the following steps:

1. Switch the **Server Authentication** type to **Windows Authentication**.
2. Right-click the DB server, select **Properties**, and go to the **Security** tab.
3. Change the **Server Authentication** type from **SQL & Windows Authentication** to **Windows Authentication**.