Secure Databases: Information Security concerns the Confidentiality, Integrity, And Availability Of Data. Security in Computer Information Technology Focuses On Ensuring The Availability And Proper Operation Of Computers. 

Information security is a complex process involving computer software and hardware. Organizations must use security equipment and tools based on strict and calculated policies to implement communication infrastructure and databases properly and not challenge sensitive organizational data.

Information security and the security of computer networks are among the responsibilities that require recruiting skilled personnel. Addressing the issue of information security and computer network security involves the attention of all users, regardless of job status and age, to the position of information security and computer network security.

The existence of security weaknesses in computer and information networks, lack of proper training and justification of all users regardless of their job responsibility for the position and importance of information security, lack of necessary instructions to prevent security defects, lack of clear and codified policies And promptly, security issues will lead to problems that harm an organization and the people associated with that organization.

Achieving the three key principles of the security world

In triple security, confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility are the keys to solving all security problems. Adequately covered, it will withstand a lot of adverse conditions. The definition of each of these three principles is as follows.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality means that unauthorized persons do not have access to information. For example, to buy credit cards online, you must send the buyer’s credit card number to the seller and then to the transaction processing center. In this case, the card number and other information about the buyer and his credit card should not be given to unauthorized persons and should be kept confidential.

In this case, the card number is encrypted to keep the information confidential. It remains encrypted during the transfer, where it may be stored (in databases, system event logs, backup, print receipts, etc.).
Access to information and systems is also restricted. If the unauthorized person obtains the card number in any way, a breach of confidentiality has occurred.

Violations of confidentiality can take many forms. For example, if someone reads confidential information displayed on your computer screen from your shoulder or sells or steals a laptop containing sensitive information, giving confidential information over the phone violates all confidentiality.

Integrity

Integration means preventing the unauthorized change of data and detecting the change in the event of the unauthorized manipulation of information.
Integrity is violated when unauthorized information is altered during transmission, use, storage, or destruction. Information security systems typically ensure information integrity and confidentiality.

Availability

The information must be available when authorized persons require it. This means ensuring that the information storage and processing systems and communication channels used to access information are correctly operated and prevented from malfunctioning. High-access systems remain available during power outages, hardware failures, and system upgrades.

One way to make information and the information system inaccessible is to make many requests through services from the information system. In this case, because the system does not have the ability and capacity for such a large volume of services, it is entirely or partially unable to provide services.

What Are Security Databases?

Database security uses various information security control methods to protect databases (including data, applications or stored functions, database systems, and database servers) against confidentiality, comprehensiveness, and accessibility agreements. Database. This includes various control methods, such as technical, procedural, and physical.

Database security is specialized in computer security, information security, and risk management. For example, security risks associated with database systems include:

Malware problems can cause unauthorized access, disclosure of personal or proprietary information, deletion or damage to data or applications, interruption or denial of authorized access to the database, attack on other systems, and unexpected failure of database services.

Design flaws or programming bugs in databases and related programs and systems that cause various security vulnerabilities, such as data loss, corruption, reduced performance, etc.

Unauthorized or unwanted activity or misuse by authorized database users, database administrators, system/network administrators, or by unauthorized users and hackers (for example, improper access to sensitive data, metadata, or functions within the database, or improper changes to Database applications, structures or security settings);

Overload, performance constraints, and capacity issues result in the inability of authorized users to use the database.

Physical damage to the database server may occur due to server room fires, floods, overheating, lightning, etc.

Data corruption or loss due to invalid data entry or command, errors in database or system management processes, intentional sabotage or criminal damage, etc.

The most critical layers and methods of controlling information security concerning databases should be access control, database auditing, authentication, encryption, data integrity, backup, and application security.

Traditionally, databases have been significantly secured against hackers through networked security mechanisms such as firewalls and network-based intrusion detection systems.

While network security controls are still valuable in this regard, securing database systems and their applications/functions and data has become much more critical as networks open up for broader access, especially over the Internet.

In addition, data access systems, applications, functions, controls, and related user identification, authentication, and rights management functions are always crucial for limiting and, in some cases, tracking the activities of authorized administrators and users.

Many organizations have developed a baseline of security standards and detailed basic security control measures for their database systems.

Vulnerability assessment

One way to assess database security is to perform a vulnerability assessment or database intrusion test. Testers are always looking for security vulnerabilities that can be used to eliminate or circumvent security controls. Database or information security administrators may use automated vulnerability scans, for example, to find configuration errors.

The results of such scans make the database more robust (improve security controls) and close specifically identified vulnerabilities, but unfortunately, other vulnerabilities remain largely unknown.

Another essential task in the database environment is a continuous monitoring program to comply with database security standards. Two critical aspects of database security compliance are patch management and checking and managing permissions (especially public) given to objects within the database.

Abstraction

Application-level access and authentication mechanisms should be considered an effective means of providing abstractions at the database layer level.

Monitor database activity

Another more complex layer of security involves monitoring database activity, using network traffic protocol analysis (SQL), or viewing local database activity on each server using agents. It can be software or both. Agents are required to record activities performed on the database server, which usually includes the activities of database administrators.

The analysis can identify known abuses, solicitations, or baselines that can be recorded over time to build a natural pattern for detecting abnormal activity that may indicate an intrusion.

This system can provide a comprehensive sequence of database inspections in addition to intrusion detection mechanisms. Some systems can protect by terminating user sessions or quarantining users who engage in suspicious behavior.

Local inspection

In addition to monitoring or inspection tools, many database platforms offer local database inspection capabilities. A sequence of local inspections can extract data regularly and transfer it to a designed security system that database administrators cannot access.

Processes and procedures

A database security program should include regular visits to permissions to personal user accounts and accounts granted by automated processes. An account used by a computerized process should have appropriate controls over password storage, such as encryption and adequate access controls to reduce the risk of compromises.

A type of authentication for personal accounts should be considered in a database environment where the risk is commensurate with the costs associated with authentication systems.