I'm thinking of using application roles in SQL Server I've read the following on the Microsoft MSDN site: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190998.aspx
Connecting with an Application Role The following steps make up the process by which an application role switches security contexts:
A user executes a client application.
The client application connects to an instance of SQL Server as the user.
The application then executes the sp_setapprole stored procedure with a password known only to the application.
If the application role name and password are valid, the application role is enabled.
At this point the connection loses the permissions of the user and assumes the permissions of the application role.
I'm wondering, if the application must know the password, how best to achieve this. I would assume storing the password in source code is a security risk. Is there another secure way to deploy the password with the application (note this is a windows client application that will be deployed to user machines).