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From updating information to unveiling new technology services, NoSQL databases have replaced relational databases or SQL. The main reason for this move was that SQL did not have the capability and speed to store and process the information of large companies, and this was the beginning of the story of NoSQL!

Before starting the article, if you are still unfamiliar with the concept of a database, be sure to read the article “What is a database?” This article fully discusses the concept of a database and storing information in the database.

Now, what is NoSQL? Where did it come from? What are its uses and benefits, and what are the differences with SQL? We will answer these questions in this article, so stay with us until the end.

How To Secure Databases?

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 properly implement communication infrastructure and databases 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 requires the attention of all users, regardless of job status and age, to the position of information security and computer network security.

Existence of security weakness 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 issues 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. Properly 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, sells, steals, or uses a laptop containing sensitive information, or gives confidential information over the phone, they violate confidentiality.

Integrity

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

Availability

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 properly operated and prevented from malfunctioning. High-access systems remain always available, even 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 completely or partially unable to provide services.

What is database security?

Database security involves using various information security control methods to protect databases (including data, applications, or stored functions, database systems, and database servers) against confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility threats. These methods include technical, procedural, and physical.

Database security is a specialized field of 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 important layers and methods of controlling information security concerning databases should be access control, database auditing, authentication, encryption, data integrity, backup, and application security.

A brief look at the history of NoSQL

A NoSQL (non-relational) database stands for Not Only SQL or No SQL. You might also be interested to know that some businesses in the 1960s used non-relational databases to store their information. But in 1998, a person named “Carlo Strozzi” introduced a broader concept of this database.

From 2000 to 2008, some companies used non-relational databases in a limited way, but 2009 saw SQL’s underperformance and the full emergence of NoSQL.

The emergence of this database made this concept work like a miracle for large companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, etc., which deal with a huge amount of information.

NoSQL or SQL is the issue!

It is not bad to familiarize yourself with SQL to understand its structure and then explain the differences between non-relational databases.

SQL stands for Structured Query Language, a fully standardized programming language for organizing structured data. In today’s world, millions of data points are generated every minute, and we are faced with raw data with no story to tell. SQL is used to extract and analyze this data.

The SQL database consists of tables and fixed columns, each designed to store specific information. This framework and SQL tables are the main limitations and problems in storing unstructured data.

What are the differences between SQL and NoSQL?

• A SQL database is primarily relational, and a NoSQL database is non-relational.
• As we said, SQL databases have a predefined schema. At the same time, a non-relational database has up-to-date and dynamic schemas for data.
• SQL databases are vertically scalable, while non-relational databases are horizontally scalable. Therefore, adding more servers to the NoSQL database makes it bigger and more powerful.
• SQL databases are table-based, and non-relational databases that store data based on documents and graphs.
• SQLs are better suited for multi-row and large transactions, while non-relational databases are better for unstructured data.
• Relational databases are usually well-supported, and some companies even have consultants. However, there are limited experts in setting up and deploying NoSQL; most are abroad.
• SQL databases have better security models compared to non-relational databases.

What are the differences between SQL and MySQL?

SQL and MYSQL are two widely used terms in enterprise data management; although MySQL uses the SQL language to search the database, they have many differences, which may seem confusing for some newbies.

As mentioned above, SQL is a standard programming language for building a relational database management system. MySQL is free, open-source software that stores and retrieves data easily.

Note: The most important reason for MySQL’s popularity is its availability and ease of use.

In the following, we have listed some of the differences between SQL and MySQL for you:

• Installing and downloading MySQL is easy, but SQL has complications.
• SQL sets up the database system, and MySQL stores, changes, deletes, and generally manages data.
• SQL is used in systems like RDBMS and DBMS, but MySQL is an an RDBMS database.
• A SQL database does not require much updating, but MySQL is usually updated regularly.

What are the advantages of using a NoSQL database?

Non-relational databases have several advantages over relational databases, the most important of which is the management of large amounts of information. Learn more about the benefits of this database.

• Flexibility: A NoSQL database can store and retrieve structured and unstructured information, while relational databases can only store structured information.
• High scalability: This database can examine all the information with the horizontal scaling method and reduce the complexity.
• Online update: Another interesting feature of this database is the ability to update data online. This feature allows you to make necessary changes to your information without interruption.
• High performance: These databases are designed to store and automatically process information at their best. This feature enables data access through any server anywhere in the world.
• Cost reduction: These databases do not require high costs for deployment and run on cheap hardware.

What are the uses of NoSQL?

• Data Mining: When it comes to data mining, this database takes the lead in retrieving information, especially when faced with large amounts of data.
• Helping software development: Since software development requires extensive research about users and their needs, non-relational databases do part of this research.
• Social media boom: Social media is full of structured and unstructured data, from advertising and marketing posts and stories to user information. Today, many experts behind the scenes of social networks are examining the activities of their users and competitors through databases.

Conclusion

Although we can consider the emergence of non-representational databases as an important and pleasant event in computer science and software development, it is still not the right choice for data classification! The best solution to choose is to pay attention to your upcoming plans and needs.

We tried to make your work easier by examining the differences and presenting the advantages of non-relational databases. Still, if your data is highly related, SQL is the best option if you are faced with a large amount of information.