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What Is Database Security?
Database Security refers to a set of controls implemented within organizations to prevent the authorization of accessing or breaching database files or breaches in management systems (DBMSs) connected with database files.
Security controls typically include architectural techniques, application designs, procedures, and process tools that make data harder for unauthorized parties to gain entry or use.
Unsecure databases will negatively impact applications' performance, user experiences, and operational efficiencies.
A balance must be struck between security and operations efficiency so as to reduce risks while simultaneously keeping usability high.
Best practices and controls for database security vary significantly among organizations. Databases do not exist in isolation, and organizations must ensure the broader ecosystem is also safeguarded with adequate measures; successful database protection demands that best security practices be applied across various systems as well.
Top Data Security Practices
Gaining Knowledge About Data Technologies and Databases
Over the last decade, databases have advanced considerably, becoming ever more sophisticated and user-friendly. Relational databases allow users to view data dynamically according to their individual needs, while Structured Query Language has emerged as a popular means for communicating directly with databases using queries such as SQL.
However, when not implemented securely, this flexibility could create serious security risk vulnerabilities; keep in mind, however, that the Microsoft SQL Server database still uses Structured Query Language, unlike most other databases.
Early database systems enabled direct user access through an application; physical security usually suffices in protecting this type of networked environment, but to improve both performance and security, companies have adopted one or more of the following models for database systems:
- Single-tier Model: In a single-tier model, both database and application reside on one system; desktop computers typically run standalone databases, while early Unix implementations allowed users to log in remotely and run dedicated programs designed specifically to access data.
- Two-Tier Model: In general, two-tier systems involve running programs from client computers that communicate with an application running on another server - this approach works well in many applications and environments.
- Three-Tier Model: By placing a server at the middle tier, three-tier systems isolate users from databases. This server receives requests from clients and evaluates and forwards them to a database server; from here, the database server sends data back out again via another middle-tier server for delivery back out again to clients - this approach has become very common as its effectiveness for controlling database access as well as providing extra security measures is proven.
NoSQL
Not Only SQL is a relatively novel concept in database systems, used most widely by relational database systems like Oracle, MSSQL Server and MySQL.
NoSQL databases do not use SQL but have some key differences compared to relational ones.
Big Data
Organizations often store massive quantities of data - often hundreds or even thousands of terabytes - which cannot all fit on one server in an organization's main network.
Instead, this "big data" must be placed onto what's called a Storage Area Network (SAN), an extra network set up as though it were one big server on its main network.
File Systems
File systems allow for controlled retrieval of unstructured information stored on storage media. Without file systems in place, all that data would simply exist as one large mass without any way to identify each piece individually or isolate and identify what the information represents.
By breaking up and labeling each segment separately, information can be easily isolated and identified for retrieval.
Categorize and Identify Sensitive Data
To effectively secure the types of data that you possess, data discovery technologies provide scan results from data repositories for classification through data classification processes; using regular expression search can further assist.
Data discovery and classification enable administrators to manage access to sensitive files by users while protecting them from being stored in potentially hazardous places, thus decreasing risk.
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Create a Policy for Data Usage
Simply classifying data isn't enough - to effectively use data correctly, you must also develop a comprehensive usage policy that details types of access, conditions for using classification-based accessing methods to data sets, who has access, correct usage principles etc.
Infringements on such policies must have clear consequences attached.
Control Access to Sensitive Information
You should utilize appropriate access controls for your sensitive data. These should follow a principle of least privilege; users should only receive privileges necessary to carry out their functions effectively, limiting data access only to appropriate people - whether physical or technical in nature.
Administrative Access Controls
Administrative access controls are policies and procedures that all employees are expected to abide by. A security policy details acceptable actions as well as risks taken on by the company as well as penalties in case a violation occurs.
It should typically be developed with input from an expert familiar with company goals and compliance regulations.
Supervisory Structures
Supervisory structures play an essential part of administrative control. Most organizations hold managers responsible for the actions of their staff; should anyone violate an administrative control policy, their supervisor can also be held liable.
Employee Education and Awareness
Training employees on company policies regarding data usage and security is of vital importance.
Terminating Employment
In order to protect both data and systems, it's vital that departing employees do not gain access to IT infrastructure after leaving your organization.
Technical Controls
It is wise not to store sensitive information on portable systems without proper technical controls in place, including some form of login system and policies, in case suspicious use arises.
Permissions
It is wise to strictly abide by the principle of least privilege when allocating user permissions.
Access Control Lists
An Access Control List, commonly referred to as ACL, enables administrators and application programmers to manage access to specific resources within an operating system or an application.
It shows who has permission and at what level. It could even exist independently. Certain devices and systems can help restrict data access further; the following are some of the more frequently-used ones.
Physical Controls
Physical Security for Data and Network Security While data and network security are often discussed in terms of computer Encryption and systems monitoring, physical security needs to be protected too.
If any workstation can be moved easily, then locks must also be installed so internal components don't become exposed and compromised. To help safeguard against physical compromise, it is vital that workstations be securely locked down with secure locks in place so no data or network can be lost due to poor physical security measures being put into place.
Laptop Security
Laptops present an ever-present risk as they can easily be misplaced or stolen and allow unauthorized parties to gain entry to their hard drive, giving malicious individuals access to sensitive files on them.
Each laptop within an organization should have full-disk encryption in place to safeguard itself against these potential dangers.
Mobile Device Security
Mobile devices pose serious threats to organization networks and servers alike. Due to these potential dangers, it's imperative that all mobile devices connected to the internet undergo scanning while removable media must also be encrypted - NAC provides an effective tool for this.
Network Segregation
A network can be divided into zones that represent functional or logical groups. Each zone can have specific data classification rules assigned and security levels established and monitored accordingly, thus limiting potential damage from compromise attacks to just one zone by segmentation.
Creating multiple segments gives attackers two ways to treat each as its own separate network or try breaching one segment and crossing over, but both options can be costly in terms of work required as they increase exposure while making it harder to be discovered by law enforcement authorities.
Video Surveillance
Video surveillance with night vision and motion sensors should be an integral component of every business, helping detect unauthorized individuals trying to gain entry and take data by breaking indirectly, as well as those taking photos in restricted areas and making photographs for personal gain.
Locking
Before leaving your workspace alone, double-check all equipment and doors are locked securely - such as your doors, drawers, windows and desks.
Don't leave documents lying around; when no longer required, they should be stored away securely in a cabinet. Also, do not share or duplicate ID cards, access codes, lock codes or any other security items such as IDs.
Implement Database Auditing And Change Management
Logging all database and file server activities is another security measure, with login activities kept for at least one year as part of security audits; those exceeding their maximum failed login attempts should automatically notify an administrator of information security for further investigation.
In order to detect changes to sensitive information or permissions, it's crucially important that they can detect sensitive changes easily using historical data to understand where sensitive information resides, how it's being utilized, by whom, where and so forth; doing this allows accurate predictions as well as potentially uncovering unknown risks.
Employ Data Encryption
Encryption should be treated as an essential practice; all important business data must be encrypted, whether stored locally on portable devices or transmitted over networks, with portable systems equipped with encrypted drives to safeguard key documents.
Encrypting hard drives that contain sensitive or proprietary information on desktop systems that contain critical or proprietary data will protect it in case a breach happens and hard drives are lost or stolen.
Encrypting File System (EFS) technology offers the easiest solution for this on Windows systems - using EFS allows even unauthorized users who access devices with your files to remain protected as EFS will decrypt them when an authorized user opens them and provides unencrypted versions for applications.
Hardware-Based Encryption
Hardware-based cryptography may also be implemented alongside software-based encryption. Some BIOS configuration menus provide options to switch off or enable the Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which acts like an encrypted storage chip that stores cryptographic keys or passwords; it can even store certificates.
A TPM chip may also create values used by BitLocker encryption (as mentioned previously) on whole disk encryption solutions, creating values stored there that could later be used by whole disk encryption solutions like BitLocker; these modules may even be installed onto motherboard motherboards to use TPM chips as storage for cryptographic keys or password storage.
Backup Your Data
Duplicating critical business assets is one way of providing redundancy while serving as backup. Fault tolerance in computer servers provides simple data backup solutions; backups involve regularly archiving files so they can be recovered in case of server failure; there are three major types of backup solutions we should take into consideration from a security point of view:
Full Backups
Full backups may be the ideal way of protecting a server, but this approach comes with its own set of issues.
Differential BackUp
In this scenario, we perform both full and differential backups at 1 am each night before performing one differential backup every two hours thereafter.
Incremental Backup
An incremental backup strategy would require creating one full backup at 1 am and two incremental ones every two hours to restore from both original and incremental backups that have since been made.
While restoring full and incremental backups is a more complex task, incremental backups typically don't consume too much time or resources to create.
Integrate RAID Technology In Your Servers
RAID can serve as an essential safeguard to prevent data loss or system failure by employing multiple independent, redundant disks to keep a system working even if one hard disk fails.
Read More: Integrating Security Practices into Your Software Development Lifecycle
Use Clustering Or Load Balancing
RAID provides excellent data protection on multiple systems at once; however, sometimes, additional systems may be necessary to meet data backup and redundancy demands.
Clustering involves linking several computers together so they function like one server system; parallel processing helps optimize performance, availability and redundancy on clustered servers.
Load balancing provides high availability. By splitting workload across several computers - usually, servers answering HTTP requests in what's known as a "server farm" or by creating multiple copies in different geographical areas known as mirror sites - load balancing adds geographical redundancy that speeds responses and helps prevent downtime.
Harden Your Systems
Any location where sensitive information could be temporarily stored should be secured appropriately according to what type of data they may access; all external systems connected through remote connections that have significant privileges should also be given special care in terms of their protection, remembering that networks are only as safe as their weakest link and usability must still remain important, with the balance found between security and usability in mind.
OS Baseline
To safeguard the security of your system, the first step should be ensuring its configuration is as robust and secure as possible.
Many operating systems are configured with unnecessary services that an attacker could exploit against your system - only enabling programs and services needed by employees to perform their jobs.
Windows
Windows is one of the world's most widely utilized operating systems by both consumers and businesses alike, making it the go-to OS in virtually all situations.
New vulnerabilities for it appear almost weekly; therefore, some configurations listed may not apply across all versions.
Linux
Linux has experienced significant growth over recent years, and many people claim that Linux offers greater security than Windows; however, some steps need to be taken in order to harden its system effectively.
Web Servers
Due to their reach, web servers have long been targeted as targets of attackers. An attacker who gains entry to one and exploits any vulnerabilities could potentially reach thousands - perhaps hundreds of thousands - of visitors that access that website; an attack against any web server will cause irreparable harm that extends far beyond any single machine compromised in an attack.
Filters
Filters and access executable scripts are two areas in which web servers can prove particularly helpful. Filters allow you to control how much traffic comes to your business by restricting it with filters; doing so reduces attacks while increasing productivity by keeping users away from sites not related directly to work-related ones, thus decreasing risk and helping ensure no virus escapes through questionable websites.
Email Servers
Email servers are essential components of many businesses' communications infrastructures. They typically serve as extra services on computers or as dedicated systems, and it is possible to reduce viruses entering your network through your server by installing active virus scans; this also prevents them from being transmitted further via emails.
Some email scanners even attempt to detect phishing using machine learning technology - an efficient means for combating social engineering attacks.
FTP Servers
FTP servers (FTPs) should only be used with applications that do not require high levels of security due to their inherent weaknesses.
Most FTPs allow file creation on any drive in your system; to allow file transfers, you should create an additional drive or subdirectory using Secure Shell (SSH), virtual private networking technology, or another means like SSH for FTP activities; FTP does not have an ideal security level - many systems transmit account and password data across networks in an insecure fashion, making FTP an attractive target for hackers seeking exploitable vulnerabilities in systems.
From an operational security viewpoint, FTP login accounts and passwords should be separated for optimal Data Protection against disclosure to unauthorized individuals.
Also, make sure to scan files uploaded onto an FTP for viruses regularly.
Unauthorized accounts should always be disabled as quickly as possible for security purposes. Most servers allow anonymous FTP access by default for convenience purposes, but from a security point of view, you don't want anonymous users uploading or downloading files without your knowledge and authentication.
In order to disable anonymous FTP accounts completely and prevent copycat users, these must first become known and authenticated users.
Establish An Effective Patch Management Strategy
Although updating all versions of applications may seem cumbersome and time-consuming, its importance for data security cannot be overlooked.
Utilizing automatic antivirus signature updates and system patches is one way of guaranteeing data safety. Critical infrastructure patches must also undergo stringent tests so as to guarantee there are no vulnerabilities or impacts caused by them; both your operating system and applications must also be patched accordingly.
Operating System Patch Management
There are three primary categories of operating systems patches, each having different urgency levels.
- Hotfix - A hotfix is an urgent patch that should be implemented immediately due to security risks.
- Patch - Patch must be addressed without delay or can even be optional in nature.
- Service Pack - The Service Pack provides updates that contain hotfixes and patches; these should be installed and tested before being deployed to prevent any complications or unexpected behavior.
Application Patch Management
As with operating system patches, application patches should also be kept current to fix security flaws within applications or exploits that exploit vulnerabilities within them.
An attacker could leverage such vulnerabilities through application exploits to gain entry or cause harm; regular checks for patches from vendors are recommended since attackers often target client systems that don't adequately patch applications regularly - therefore setting aside one day each week specifically to test and install patches is recommended to maintain secure operations.
Secure Your Data Against Insider Threats
Data leakage due to insider threats has become an increasing problem among organizations worldwide, leading them to invest a great deal in time and resources in safeguarding against external attacks on their networks - with surveys reporting over 60% of attacks coming from internal security threats - but many fail to report these events for fear they might lose business or harm their reputation if reported publicly.
Insider threats come in two varieties: Unauthorized insiders could connect from outside your entire network perimeter defenses and become authorized insiders; authorized ones would typically come through your authorized channels.
Unauthorized intrusion could occur through unprotected wireless access points that connect directly to the network itself; these could include someone plugging into an unsecure conference room jack, unprotected wireless networks that don't feature data protection and directly join with our system; these attacks could potentially result in data loss and system downtime so it is essential that both activities on and within our network are monitored continuously - which should include both outside and inside the perimeters as it might occur at either place - for both risks to avoid.
Internals Utilizing Remote Access
Remote network access has become more widespread over time, and with more users working from home, it has become essential to protect remote connections securely when connecting remotely - strong authentication should always be implemented before connecting remotely, as well as protecting any machines used for remote network access as well as properly recording or videotaping sessions that take place remotely.
Protect Your Data With Endpoint Security Systems
Endpoints are always vulnerable, making it essential to have an endpoint security system in place that can respond swiftly when attacks come - this will help avoid data or security breaches.
Your endpoint strategy must consider both unwelcome programs as well as advanced forms of malware such as rootkits; mobile phones have made endpoints even less predictable over time, and automated tools on an endpoint are key tools against infection; at a minimum, use one or more of the following technologies on each endpoint:
Antivirus Software
All servers and workstations should have antivirus software installed for their protection, with frequent scans to identify any infections, such as ransomware, that might otherwise have gone undetected.
Antispyware
There are various spyware removal and blocking tools, such as anti spyware/adware, available that will assist users in eliminating and blocking spyware installations on their computers without their knowledge or consent, often without them even realizing.
Spyware aims to gather personal data. Many anti spyware functions overlap with those provided by antivirus software; in fact, some come bundled together.
You should ensure all installed spyware is removed regardless of its source - anti spyware programs must always be utilized.
Popup Blockers
Popups can be an inconvenience and also present a security risk to your computer system. Pop Ups (including pop-unders ) are programs that run unknowingly on your system, which could endanger its health, and should therefore be blocked immediately to keep users secure online.
Host-Based Firewalls
Software-based personal firewalls can be found installed on every computer within a network and act much like larger border firewalls - filtering packets so as to stop certain ones from reaching or leaving.
Many individuals question the need for personal firewalls when corporate networks already employ powerful dedicated firewalls to block potentially harmful traffic reaching internal computers. Internal attacks are just as if not more prevalent, often using malware-ridden viruses to penetrate private networks and cause havoc.
Instead of disabling personal firewalls in your organization and exporting the settings across other firewalls, create one standard firewall with settings tailored specifically for the needs of your organization and then export its settings across them all.
IDSs Based On The Host
Individual hosts may also be equipped with intrusion detection systems that monitor only internal systems; host-based IDSs include integrity verification features in many such IDSs.
Integrity verification works on the assumption that malware attempts to change files as it spreads. Integrity verification works to detect system files that have been altered unexpectedly by computing cryptographic hashes of each monitored file in a clean system and monitoring their cryptographic fingerprint.
An alert will be raised if these fingerprints change; unfortunately, this method only detects after the infection has already taken place - rather than prevent further infections in future.
Conduct Penetration Testing And Vulnerability Assessments
A variety of port scanners are commonly employed during vulnerability assessments to conduct scans against environments using external machines to search for open ports, version numbers and any existing services or patches necessary for endpoint security policies to make assessments of vulnerabilities much simpler for administrators to perform.
Penetration testing involves conducting tests on computer systems, networks and web applications in order to locate security flaws that an attacker could exploit.
Penetration tests may be carried out manually or automatically using software applications - with either method serving its main goal - discovering security flaws that exist within organizations' compliance requirements, policy or employee awareness programs; they also assess an organization's response capacity when responding to security incidents if identified - such tests should ideally take place regularly to provide enhanced network and IT management practices.
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Conclusion
Data protection is an intricate topic. As network administrators and security professionals, it's crucial that their tools stay functional while using policy management effectively to maintain data protection for the benefit of network users and professionals alike.
Managing multiple applications and policies efficiently may prove to be challenging.
Data protection presents another significant challenge - minimizing its effects on users. Unfortunately, programs like antivirus software, Physical Security, personal firewalls and cyber threat detection systems can deplete bandwidth and processing power away from essential end-user functions, thus increasing memory consumption by using too many programs that interfere with essential end-user operations.
It is vitally important that when choosing safeguard programs, it takes into consideration what impact each one is likely to have on memory usage as well as space consumption by potential security solutions.
