ExceptionInInitializerError on DriverManager with MS SQL Server

I'm trying to connect to a MS SQL Server DB using JDBC and on this line:

String connectionUrl = "jdbc:" + url + ";user=dummy;password=dummy;";
conn = DriverManager.getConnection(connectionUrl);

I'm getting this massive wall-of-text of an error:

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.ExceptionInInitializerError
    at javax.crypto.JceSecurityManager.<clinit>(JceSecurityManager.java:65)
    at javax.crypto.Cipher.getConfiguredPermission(Cipher.java:2543)
    at javax.crypto.Cipher.getMaxAllowedKeyLength(Cipher.java:2567)
    at sun.security.ssl.CipherSuite$BulkCipher.isAvailable(CipherSuite.java:548)
    at sun.security.ssl.CipherSuite$BulkCipher.isAvailable(CipherSuite.java:527)
    at sun.security.ssl.CipherSuite.isAvailable(CipherSuite.java:194)
    at sun.security.ssl.SSLContextImpl.getApplicableCipherSuiteList(SSLContextImpl.java:350)
    at sun.security.ssl.SSLContextImpl.getDefaultCipherSuiteList(SSLContextImpl.java:308)
    at sun.security.ssl.SSLSocketImpl.init(SSLSocketImpl.java:607)
    at sun.security.ssl.SSLSocketImpl.<init>(SSLSocketImpl.java:549)
    at sun.security.ssl.SSLSocketFactoryImpl.createSocket(SSLSocketFactoryImpl.java:110)
    at com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.TDSChannel.enableSSL(IOBuffer.java:1606)
    at com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerConnection.connectHelper(SQLServerConnection.java:1323)
    at com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerConnection.login(SQLServerConnection.java:991)
    at com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerConnection.connect(SQLServerConnection.java:827)
    at com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerDriver.connect(SQLServerDriver.java:1012)
    at java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(DriverManager.java:664)
    at java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(DriverManager.java:270)
    at BusinessManager.Session.<init>(Session.java:33)
    at BusinessManager.BusinessManager.getSession(BusinessManager.java:172)
    at example.Example.ConfigureEnvironment(Example.java:198)
    at example.Example.main(Example.java:50)
Caused by: java.lang.SecurityException: Can not initialize cryptographic mechanism
    at javax.crypto.JceSecurity.<clinit>(JceSecurity.java:89)
    ... 22 more
Caused by: java.lang.SecurityException: Cannot locate policy or framework files!
    at javax.crypto.JceSecurity.setupJurisdictionPolicies(JceSecurity.java:254)
    at javax.crypto.JceSecurity.access$000(JceSecurity.java:48)
    at javax.crypto.JceSecurity$1.run(JceSecurity.java:81)
    at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
    at javax.crypto.JceSecurity.<clinit>(JceSecurity.java:78)
    ... 22 more

I've followed a couple of links, made sure both server and client are using the same JDK (1.8.0_20). I've also downloaded the "JCE Unlimited Strength Jurisdiction Policy Files" and placed them in the JDK. I've also followed this link but I'm not sure whether I should be meddling with the JDK's "java.policy" files...

Solution

My guess based on the error is that you are attempting to connect to SQL with an SSL encrypted session but are using a self-signed certificate on the SQL Server. Per Connecting with SSL Encryption:

When the encrypt property is set to true and the trustServerCertificate property is set to true, the Microsoft JDBC Driver for SQL Server will not validate the SQL Server SSL certificate. This is usually required for allowing connections in test environments, such as where the SQL Server instance has only a self signed certificate.

Try using:

String connectionUrl = "jdbc:" + url + ";user=dummy;password=dummy;encrypt=true;trustServerCertificate=true;";

Also, your url variable contents should start with sqlserver://.