The error "The SAS/SECURE Client for Windows must be installed to use strong encryption algorithms" might occur even if SAS/SECURE™ is installed


All SAS® Integration Technologies clients, including SAS® Enterprise Guide® and SAS® Add-In for Microsoft Office, might fail with the error message "The SAS/SECURE Client for Windows must be installed to use strong encryption algorithms." This error might occur even if the SAS/SECURE client is installed on the system.

The issue occurs because the user that is logged in to the current Windows session does not have appropriate ownership or permissions to the Microsoft Cryptographic RSA Machine Keys.

Workaround

To resolve this problem, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA.
  2. Right-click the MachineKeys folder and select Properties.
  3. In the MachineKeys dialog box, click the Security tab. Validate that the permissions for your user ID or the group that you belong to is shown as Full control.
  4. If the user's permission is not Full control, make the changes (or ask your Administrator to make the changes), and then save them.

Note: You might need to make this change at the Group Policy level if an Active Directory infrastructure is implemented at your company.