What are the options available to encrypt a SQL Server Express database?

We have 开发者_Python百科a team of sales persons who travel often carrying a laptop loaded with Sales data in a SQL Server Express database. What are the options available to encrypt a SQL Server Express database?

What's your threat model? Are you trying to stop a casual thief who's stolen a laptop, or a determined hacker? Are you trying to protect just the data, or also the schema?

If you're using SQL Server Express 2005 or higher, then it supports native asymmetric encryption. But if you're trying to stop a determined hacker, then I think the best option would be to encrypt the whole disk using something like TrueCrypt, or BitLocker for Vista/Windows7.

You may also consider using transparent encryption solution for SQL Server called DbDefence. It is free for databases less than 77MB

I see that others have mentioned a third party product. If you are open to that, you can also consider Encryptionizer for SQL Server, which supports all versions and editions of SQL Server from Express to Enterprise. Disclaimer: I am with NetLib Security.