Databases are an integral part of any organization and they are used to store huge amounts of sensitive and personal data. Every business must ensure that they have adequate technical controls in place to protect the databases and stop their information from being access by non-authorized personnel.
Security for databases refers to the collection of policies, procedures and tools to secure the database or database management program from threats that are malicious to the database. It’s not only on protecting the data in databases, it is protecting the database’s physical or virtual servers as well as the third-party software that access it.
A compromised database could cause data breaches and other information security breaches that can result in devastating consequences for your company. Data breaches can have the potential to cause a shutdown of an organization which is why it is crucial to put safeguards in place to reduce the possibility of it happening. In addition the threat of insiders is the main reason for security breaches in databases. There are three kinds that are insider risks: malicious insider, a negligent or reckless insider and an infiltrator that gained access via compromised credentials. Software vulnerabilities can cause problems for databases management software. A recent study conducted by Qualys has exposed the dangers of failing to patch security vulnerabilities promptly could expose the organization to hackers to carry out cyber-attacks.
To secure the databases you have, we suggest these steps:
Make sure the network you use is secured. The majority of databases are network-accessible so any security flaw or threat to any component of the organization’s infrastructure for network security could also cause harm towards the data. Any device that is connected to the network and that has an access point to the database needs to be protected. For instance Operating systems, programs, and any third-party applications that are connected to the database need to be updated regularly with security patches in the company’s patch management.
Manage access to the database and the network. This is a means of implementing the principle of least privilege that ensures that employees only be able to access the resources needed for their work.
Control access to databases in order to make sure that authorized employees have access to the data that are authorized to access. Tools for monitoring activity in databases will alert you to abuse of user access or intrusions in real-time.
Secure all data that is sent to and stored within the database to safeguard from unauthorized access and leakage of information. It is vital to ensure that your credentials are secure and encrypted, as well as that encryption keys are handled in accordance with best practices.
Conduct review of technical aspects. Security-related misconfigurations are rated as the 5th security flaw in the most recent update of the OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities. It is recommended to review the configurations of your database frequently to ensure that any security vulnerabilities are remedied quickly before they are exploited by an attacker. Testing for vulnerability and penetration can be used to detect and prioritize the vulnerabilities that are discovered.
Click here for information on how to access database without password.
Maintain audit trails. Data entry should be documented and documented, especially those which impact security and access to personal or sensitive information. This is helpful when evaluating access controls as well as demonstrate compliance with regulations.