Apr
1
2012

What is Database Security?

Database security is a series of processes and systems which are put in place to protect the database from any outside source that has a malicious intent or from anyone inadvertently accessing the database, whether they may be authorized or not. There are other security measures in place such as firewalls and routers, and these are some examples of those handling the external security of the database. Likewise, there are also network security systems in place to detect any malicious activity within the network. There are many other database information securities put in place to ensure maximum security, and some of these are access control, auditing, and encryption.

Setting Up Database Security

The security placed in a database can begin by the construction and publication of a set security standard placed in the environment of the database. Included in the database standard are the controls for different platforms as well as set practices for crossing over different platforms and links. Authentication as well as integrity is also part of the security procedures placed in a database.

One of the steps done by the administrators of the database is to check for vulnerability. This is done to see whether there are holes in the system that can allow other sources into the database. Any vulnerability discovered should be patched up to strengthen the security for databases.

Vulnerability Scan and Compliance Program

One major task for those databases that have critical environments is the continual monitoring program for compliance of the database security. This program is almost the same as the vulnerability scan, with the difference being that the vulnerability scan checks for holes which, in turn, lead to the strengthening of the security measure, which is needed for compliance monitoring. The vulnerability scan is only the first part in checking the strength of the database security before it is used, while the compliance program is used continuously to check whether the database security is still working or not.

The compliance program should also check the application dependencies since any changes done in the database level can affect it. The abstraction in the layer of the database is provided by the authentication as well as the authorization at the application layer. One benefit that abstraction provides is the sign-on system that can be used by a single person. This sign-on system gathers the ID and password of the user and stores as well as authenticates it.

Real-Time Monitoring

There is also the real-time monitoring of the database that allows the administrator to monitor the paths usually used to access the database, this is done so as they can gather or have an idea of any unrecognized movement within this path to the database. This will help eliminate possible sources or malicious users to access the database.

Additional Protections

Database security should be able to provide multiple encryption methods as well as authentication codes to make sure that the passwords and IDs given by the users cannot be accessed by anyone else, aside from the database administrator. Aside from the database security, a recovery program should also be put in place in case of emergencies that may disrupt the database administrator from accessing the database. This will help prevent any loss of information whenever such situation arises.

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