Backup Exec Import Encryption Key

There are two primary scenarios where an administrator must import an encryption key:

In your runbook, create a spreadsheet that maps:

Recap of critical steps:

If you have a previously exported key file (usually a .bek or .pfx file) or the digital certificate file, you can import it directly through the user interface. backup exec import encryption key

Even with the correct passphrase, the process can fail. Here are the most common errors and solutions.

Knowing which type of key you used originally dictates how you recover it. A password-based key can often be recreated if you remember the password, whereas a certificate-based key requires the specific .pfx or .cer file.

– Use if no .bfk exists.

: Without this feature, encrypted backups are unreadable. Importing the key is the only way to decrypt and restore data to a new environment.

Failing to import the key correctly results in the dreaded "Access is denied" or "The encryption key is not available" errors when attempting to catalog or restore data.

When you first access encrypted media, Backup Exec prompts for a key. Instead of manually importing every time, you can: There are two primary scenarios where an administrator

: If you have a backup of your old server's Data folder , locate the file with a .dek extension (it will have a unique hash for a name). Copy this file into the Data folder of your new Backup Exec installation directory (e.g., C:\Program Files\Veritas\Backup Exec\Data ).