Connecting to a non-local SQL Server database in VB.NET - sql-server

Question

I'm trying to connect to a SQL Server database that is not local. I have the Data Source and Initial Catalog - no issues. But need to change Integrated Security to False and insert SQL Server credentials.
Does anyone have any idea how put that in the connection string?
Also, does anyone know how to handle SecureStrings?
Here is my code so far:
Dim pwd As New SecureString("Password")
Dim cred As New SqlCredential("Username", pwd)
Dim sql As New SqlConnection("Data Source=OnlineServer;Initial Catalog=DatabaseName;Integrated Security=False")

Answer 1

Have a look at here: SQL Connection Strings to hopefully find which one you need. This will give you the basics.
To make the SQL account credentials confidential, you should encrypt the <connection strings> section in the web.config. to do so:
aspnet_regiis -pe "connectionStrings" -app "OnlineServer" -prov "DataProtectionConfigurationProvider"
Retrieving your connection string using ConfigurationManager will automatically decrypt the string
Dim connectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("MyConnectionString").ConnectionString
Here is a Microsoft Link that explains it further.

Answer 2

I worked out what I needed to do and how to handle secure strings.
Here is a code snippet for anyone who struggles in the future:
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.Net.Mail
Imports System.Security
Public Module secure
Public Function sql()
Dim pass As String = "Password"
Dim pwd As SecureString = New SecureString()
For Each ch As Char In pass
pwd.AppendChar(ch)
Next
pwd.MakeReadOnly()
Dim cred As New SqlCredential("SQL_Login", pwd)
Dim conn As New SqlConnection("Server=Database_Name;Initial Catalog=Database_Address;Integrated Security=False", cred)
Return conn
End Function
End Module
Public Class sqlCommunications
Dim sql As New SqlConnection
Dim sqlcom As New SqlCommand
Public Sub start()
sql = secure.sql
sqlcom.Connection = sql
sql.Open()
sql.Close()
End Sub
End Class