Protect data and other organizational data: Data administration refers to a wide-ranging function within an organization that is responsible for developing data standards and creating data policies. Database administration refers only to the function that applies to a specific database.
- Data policies
- Data rights & responsibilities
- Passwords authenticate user accounts and enforce the rights
- Data encryption
- Backup and recovery procedures
- Physical security
What does Database Security mean?
Protect data and other organizational data security refers to the many measures that organizations take to ensure their database are safe from internal and outside threats. Database security encompasses the protection of the database itself, all the data contained within it, as well as its database management system and access to it by the various applications. Organizations need to secure their databases from cyber security threats as well as misuse and unauthorized access.
In recent years, data breaches have been on the rise. Data breaches can have a devastating impact on a company’s reputation and customer base. There are also increasing penalties and regulations that companies must follow. These include the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR– which can be extremely costly. Effective database security is crucial for maintaining compliance, protecting reputations, and keeping customers.
What are the Security Challenges for Database Security?
One of the biggest challenges to database security is internet-based attack security. Hackers invent new ways to steal data and infiltrate databases almost every day. Organizations must ensure that their database security measures can withstand such attacks.
Cyber security threats such as phishing scams, in which user credentials have been compromised and then used without permission, can be hard to detect. Malware, ransomware, and other cyber security threats are common.
The security of databases is also a challenge. Employees, partners, and contractors who have database access must ensure that they don’t misuse their credentials. These exfiltration vulnerabilities can be hard to defend against since users with legitimate access may take data for their use. Edward Snowden’s compromise on the NSA illustrates this problem. Also, organizations must ensure that users who have legitimate access to data systems and applications only have the information they need to do their jobs. There is a greater risk that they will compromise Protect data and other organizational data security.
How do I set up database security?
There are three levels to database security: the access level at the database level, the perimeter level at the access level, as well as the database level. Security at the database level is located within the database. This is where the data lives. Access layer security controls who is permitted to access data or systems that contain it. At the perimeter level, Protect data and other organizational data security controls who can and cannot access databases. Each level has its security requirements.
| Security Level | Database Security Solutions |
| Database Level | Masking
Tokenization Encryption |
| Access Level | Access Control Listes
Permissions |
| Perimeter Level | Firewalls
Virtual Private Networks |
Database Security Best practices
There are many approaches to database security. But there are some best practices that every organization can follow to keep their databases safe. These best practices in database security allow organizations cut their vulnerabilities and maximize their protection. Although each approach can be used, these best practices work together to protect against various circumstances that could affect database security.
Physical database security. It is crucial to protect the hardware where the data is stored, maintained, and manipulated, and it should not be overlooked. Physical database security includes locking the rooms where databases are located and the servers they store in, regardless of whether they’re on-premise assets or accessible via the cloud. This includes having security teams monitoring physical access to such equipment. The most important aspect of database security best practices is to have backups of data and disaster recovery procedures in place in case there is a physical emergency. It is also important not to have web servers and other applications on the same server as your database.
Web applications and firewalls – The perimeter layer of database security is best served by web applications. Firewalls Protect data and other organizational data IT networks from intruders via the internet. They’re essential prerequisites for cyber security concerns. Application access management software protects web applications that connect to databases. This database security measure is very like access control lists. It controls who can access what web applications and how. You can also get firewalls for individual web apps that offer the same benefits and protections as traditional firewalls.
Database encryption: Database encryption is one the most powerful database security measures because it is implemented wherever the data are. It is possible to encrypt data both in motion and at rest. This ensures that data flows between IT systems. Without the correct keys, encrypted data appear gibberish and is transformed into gibberish. This means that even though someone can access encrypted data it is meaningless. Database encryption is important for protecting data privacy. It can also be useful for Internet of Things security.
Management of passwords & permissions: It is crucial to maintain database security. This task usually falls under the control of IT teams or security employees. Sometimes, access control lists are used as a best practice in database security. Many options exist for managing passwords. Organizations could use many authentication methods or give users a time limit to input their credentials. But, this practice involves constant updating access and permissions tables. It is time-consuming but it pays off in the end.
You should isolate sensitive databases. It is difficult for hackers to gain access to sensitive databases if they are not isolated. The way the isolation techniques were implemented can make it difficult for unauthorized users to know that sensitive databases exist. Software-defined perimeters are a useful way to isolate sensitive data so that they don’t appear to exist on a specific user’s network. This prevents hackers from gaining access to databases through lateral movement attacks. The same applies to zero-day attacks. Isolation strategies are one way to strengthen database security at the access level. This combination is known as competitive isolation. It also includes database layer security like encryption and public keys.
Change management: You need to know what procedures are required to safeguard your databases during a change. You can think of mergers, acquisitions, and different users having access to IT resources as examples of changes. You must document all changes that will be made to secure your database and its applications. It is also crucial to identify all applications or IT systems that will use this database.
Auditing database: Reading log files is a common need for database auditing. This information provides details about who accessed what repository or app, how they accessed it, what they did, and when. By notifying database administrators immediately if there is unauthorized access to data, audits can help cut the impact of breaches. Organizations must respond to data breaches so that customers are notified and damage can be minimized. Database auditing serves as an important final step in protecting your database.
Modern Security Solutions
Database security is a key concern in today’s data management landscape. These are a few of the many ways that organizations can reduce the threats to their database security. Many of these techniques are combined into a comprehensive solution to improve and Protect data and other organizational data security.
Read Also: Best way to learn networking and security.
Many companies allow users to see real-time information about their databases and apps and also deploy cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence methods that increase protection. Many companies provide more capabilities to troubleshoot and check the system, making it an ideal platform for Protect data and other organizational data security.
