Cloning a SQL Server Virtual Machine with TDE When a virtual machine with a SQL Server database that uses TDE is copied or cloned, will the database be readable on the new instance?
Yes, cloning or copying a VM should not make a database using TDE unreadable or unavailable on the new cloned VM.
If you check the Move a TDE Protected Database to Another SQL Server doc, which by the way is not specifically what you're trying to do, but lists the restrictions that could cause a TDE database unable to be decrypted on a different server, you'll see that none of the Limitations and Restrictions rules are broken when copying or cloning a VM.
Every &quot;piece&quot; needed to decrypt the database is going to be copied along with the VM and everything shall be at the same place within the new VM.