Database Management Systems (DBMS) Are The Main Mechanism Of Data Storage And Are Used For Various Purposes.

Protecting Data and securing data warehouses and databases is one of the most critical tasks of security experts and database managers.

Data warehouses are a central repository for data and are a type of database designed specifically for quick queries and analysis. Therefore, all the points related to data warehouses are also associated with databases.

This article will look at the essential things you need to pay attention to ensure the security of databases and data warehouses to implement integrated and secure databases while maintaining their functionality.

What does database protection mean?

Database protection is a set of measures that organizations take to ensure that unauthorized persons do not have access to information and protect databases from internal and external threats. Providing database security includes various items such as protecting the database itself, the data stored in it, the database management system, and applications that can connect to the databases.

In the last few years, alarming statistics have been published regarding information breaches and hackers’ unauthorized access to information. These data breaches damage the reputation of companies. Accordingly, countries have enacted strict data protection laws. For example, EU member states must comply with general data protection laws and regulations(GDPR) and have to pay heavy fines if they ignore these rules.

What threats do databases face?

The most critical cyber threats to databases are:

•  The first threat to databases is hackers’ unauthorized access. Hackers can modify access to databases or tamper with records.
•  The second threat from malware is scripts and malware that allow hackers to gain unauthorized access to database systems.
•  In companies that do not have robust security mechanisms to protect the infrastructure, hacking can lead to additional overhead problems, malfunctions of various programs, and administrator access to the system. So another critical threat to databases is the lack of access to the database manager or the associated people.
•  If the system or server on which the database is hosted is infected with malicious files that have not been removed from the system, the malicious files may cause physical damage to the server. This damage can be to the Raid architecture of the hard disks or cause the system to overheat. In both cases, there is a complete digestive tract.
•  Another threat to databases is internal. For example, an employee may be on the verge of being fired from the company, so they try to manipulate information or disable the operation of security mechanisms. In such situations, databases are exposed to cyber threats.

Hackers use a variety of methods to infiltrate databases and bypass security mechanisms. To ensure that databases are relatively secure, you must use various techniques and instruments to secure them. To ensure the security of databases, you need to be familiar with the essential concepts around them.

Privacy about databases

Confidentiality is an essential principle that you must pay attention to, and it is possible by encrypting the information stored in the database.

In the world of databases, encryption is done so that only authorized users can read the data and unauthorized users are not able to view sensitive data. Today, various cryptographic algorithms such as DES, AES, and Triple DES are used to maintain the principle of confidentiality in databases.

Integration with databases

The integrity of the database is implemented through the User Access Control (UAC) settings. According to the above principle, users must have appropriate access to information. For example, an employee may be allowed to view records and change pieces of information, such as contact number details. Still, another employee may have more access, such as deleting information records. To achieve the principle of integrity, pay attention to the following essential points:

•  After installing the database, change its default password. Also, do periodic checks to make sure your password is not compromised.
•  Lock that group of unused accounts. If another account is not being used, delete it.
• Adopt special password rules. For example, the access password for user or admin accounts must change monthly.
•  It is essential to review maps and set accesses. Make sure users only have access to items authorized to use. The above process is time-consuming, but irresponsible people will have high-level access to the database if keys are not set up correctly.
•  In small companies, only one person is responsible for managing the database, but in large organizations, several managers do the process of monitoring the database. Therefore, in such environments, tasks should share among database administrators.

Database accessibility

Database performance should not be interrupted in an efficient environment, and the availability rate should be acceptable. For the availability rate to be at a desirable level, it is recommended that you do the following:

•  Limit the amount of storage space for users in the database.
•  Limit the number of parallel sessions applicable to each database user.
•  Backing up data at various intervals in line with the post-disaster recovery plan.
•  Implement security mechanisms in the database to deal with security breaches.
•  Use clustered databases that improve accessibility.

Access control and encryption

Access control is one of the essential principles of database security. In access control, any data entering/leaving the database is encrypted and unreadable; Unless the database server is located on secure networks and has no connection to external networks, only a small number of known users have access to it. While some organizations disagree and consider this model of cryptography to be too strict, it is one of the most critical steps to be taken to increase database security.

Authentication

Authentication is another crucial step that should use to ensure database security. Database administrators can use a variety of methods to implement authentication. One of these methods is Multi-Factor authentication. This process focuses on the authentication of a particular user and how they log into the system. In the authentication process, the requestor conversation sent by the users is checked.

Gain access. Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities to log in to the organization’s network, bypass the security mechanism barrier, and access the databases. Suppose the authentication mechanism is not used to identify the user when logging in to the database. Of course, to give the user proper access and authentication, you can use methods such as two-factor authentication and username and password authentication.

issuing permit

Authorization is another crucial step to consider. This security layer specifies what parts of the database. For example, you can set restrictions for users and restrict their access to only one system overview.

Licensing helps database administrators assign each user only the permissions they need to get things done. One level assigned to a specific user for a particular organization or application can be configured or customized.

Protect Using the licensing process, and no unauthorized person can access or view essential sections of the database.t data at rest.

Once the data is shared or made available by the user, the data remains in the server-based databases. Network administrators use the term “data at rest” to describe this data model. Data that is supposed to stay intact for a long time. Therefore, it is essential to use cryptographic algorithms for this data. Unfortunately, this perspective often causes us to become overwhelmed when it’s time to start a project.

Database audit and auditing

There is an essential principle in the cybersecurity industry that says security is a relative concept. If the level of infrastructure security is at 99%, the same 1% insecurity should be considered a severe threat. Hence, database administrators use auditing and auditing.

An audit helps us to obtain accurate information about the database. For example, reviewing log records can help identify any suspicious signs that may become a potential threat. Database managers should study audit reports and ensure that descriptions of all transactions are recorded in the database.

The concept of recovery in database security

Recovery can not be considered a security principle, but it plays an essential role in the sustainability and continuity of business activities. Making backup copies of the data stored in the database is necessary. If a hacker attack is successful, the system or information will destroy. It would help ensure that tensureackup files were encrypted and that at least two copies were available in different locations.

What tools are available to secure databases?

Hackers can use various methods to gain unauthorized access to an organization’s customer information. For example, major companies such as Yahoo, Slack, and Equifax have faced data breaches over the past few years. It has led to increased demand for cybersecurity software and the testing of web-based applications. These tools are designed to protect the data that people share with online businesses.

Essential tools for database security include MSSQLMask, IBM Guardium, Scuba, Hexatier, Always Encrypted, AppDetectivePro, Gemalto SafeNet ProtectDB, Zenmap, BSQL Hacker, Imperva SecureSphere, SQLRecon, MQ Cited.

What security problems do databases face?

Databases face various vulnerabilities. Therefore, database managers need to be sufficiently aware of these vulnerabilities. Here are some of these critical vulnerabilities.

Failure to perform security testing before deployment

One of the main reasons why hackers succeed in hacking databases in such a short time is the lack of attention to the Deployment stage in the development process. Although Functional Testing is performed to ensure final performance, this type of testing does not provide specific information if the database performs an unauthorized operation. Therefore, before deployment, various tests should serve on the website to identify vulnerabilities.

Poor encryption and data fusion

Some development teams and experts in application and web-based application design consider the database as part of the BackEnd and focus more on the threats posed to databases by the Internet; This view has a fundamental problem.

There are various protocols and relationships with databases that hackers can exploit if there is a security vulnerability. Encrypted communication platforms such as SSL and TLS should use to prevent such complexities.

Stealing database backups

There are two severe threats to databases that pose an extreme challenge to database security. These threats are external and internal. In most cases, a company faces various internal threats that outnumber external ones. There are multiple tools available to protect databases from external threats, but you need to focus on intelligence and ongoing monitoring of employee performance when it comes to internal threats.

If you have responsible employees and use robust security software, you can not be 100% sure of employee loyalty. Anyone who has access to sensitive data can steal the information and sell it to competitors for their benefit.

To increase the security f databases and troubleshooting should include solutions such as archiving encryption, implementing strict security standards for accessing database files, and imposing penalties for violations.

Weakness in database design

Statistics show that poor design is the cause of database hacking. Hackers can break user information and related credentials and force the system to execute its code. It’s complicated, but it’s not impossible.

Hackers gain access to databases by testing the security of the database through fundamental design flaws. The data can protect from third-party access, and security can be increased. Also, the simpler the database, the easier it is to identify problems.

Complex and weak database infrastructure

In general, hackers attack databases based on a multi-step program, trying to identify weaknesses in the database infrastructure and thereby raise the level of access to eventually obtain a management license and be able to do anything. Note that security software may not be able to protect the system and detect such tampering fully. Hence, it is part of the database administrator’s job to review reports and see suspicious items logged in log files.

As mentioned, the overall database infrastructure should not be too complex, as it prevents vulnerabilities from being identified and, unfortunately, vulnerabilities are either ignored or forgotten.

Unrestricted access for executive users

Division of tasks among executive users ensures that only those responsible will have unrestricted access. Data theft will be difficult for people not involved in the database management process. Of course, if it is possible to limit the number of managerial user accounts, the situation will be better because it makes it harder for hackers to penetrate databases. So, if you are planning to implement or manage databases in finance, pay attention to this point.

Incompatibility

Another issue that shakes database security is incompatibility. The solution to this problem is to conduct periodic tests of websites and applications that have access to the database. If a discrepancy is detected in the system, it should be resolved as soon as possible. The above approach reduces incompatibility.