Cybersecurity And Database

ØWhat is Cybersecurity?

Cyber security is the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks.

 ØWhat is Database Security?

Database security includes a variety of measures used to secure database management systems from malicious cyber-attacks and illegitimate use. Database security programs are designed to protect not only the data within the database, but also the data management system itself, and every application that accesses it, from misuse, damage, and intrusion.

·       Cybersecurity is the act of protecting something digital from cyber attacks.

 Ø Types of Database Security

·       Authentication

·       Database Encryption

·       Backup Database

·       Physical Security

·       Application Security

·       Access Control

·       Web Application Firewall

·       Use Strong Password

·       Database Auditing

 

1.    Authentication :

Database authentication is the types of database security that verify the user’s login credentials which stores in database. If user’s login credentials match in database then user can access the database. That means the user has authentication to login into your database.

If an authentic user has some privilege to access the data then he can’t access the other data which are out of privilege. No unauthorized or malicious user can’t login into your database. So, database authentication plays an important role for ensure database security.

 

2.    Database Encryption :

One of the most basic concepts of data security is encryption which protect your database from unauthorized access during storing and transmission over the internet.

 

 

3.    Backup Database :

Backup is another type of database security which used to restore data in case of data loss, data corruption, hacking, or natural disasters. It copying or archiving the database in real time on a secondary storage.

 

There are different types of database backup such as full backup, differential and incremental backup. You can set your backup plan as per your business need and time.

However, you can consider the following strategy to backup database:

§  Determine the backup schedule and backup types

§  Make ensure database backup regularly

§  Ensure your backup location is physically separate

 

4.    Physical Security :

Physical database security is the protection of database server room in order to protect from unauthorized access. Database server should be located in secured and climate-controlled environment in a building.

Only DBA (Database Administration) and authorized IT (Information Technology) officer can enter into the server room.

 

 

5.    Application security :

You have to secure your application and database in order to protect from web attacks such as SQL injection. SQL injection is the most common web attacks where hacker control application’s database to hack sensitive information or destroy the database.

In this technique, the attacker adds the malicious code in SQL query, via web page input. It is occurring when an application fails to properly sanitize the SQL statements. So, attacker can add their own malicious SQL statements to access your database for malicious purposes.

To protect from SQL injection attacks, you can secure application by applying the following prevention methods:

§  Use of Prepared Statements

§  Use a Web Application Firewall

§  Updating your system

§  Validating user input

§  Limiting privileges

§  Use Stored Procedures.

6. Access Control :

To ensure of database security you have to restrict the access of database by unauthorized users. Only authorized user can get access the database and no unauthorized can’t access the database. Create user accounts by DBA who will access the database and set a role and limit what they can access in your database.

So, access control is types of database security which can secure your database by restricting unauthorized users’ access.

 

7. Web Application Firewall :

 

 

A web application firewall or WAF is an application based cyber security tool which is the database security best practice. WAF has designed to protect applications by filtering, monitoring and blocking HTTP malicious traffic.

 

You can use one of the following Web Application Firewall in your system:

§  Fortinet FortiWeb

§  Citrix NetScaler AppFirewall

§  F5 Advanced WAF

§  Radware AppWall

§  Symantec WAF

§  Barracuda WAF

§  Imperva WAF

§  Sophos XG Firewall

 

8. Use Strong Password :

This is simple but very important tips for ensure database security. As a DBA or IT officer you should use strong password for database login and never share your password with others.

If you use easy password such as your mobile no, employee id, date of birth which is known to hackers and they will try to login using these passwords. As a result, you will lose your database control.

So, create a strong password for database login using combination of letters, numbers, special characters (minimum 10 characters in total) and change the password regularly.

For example: T#$jk67@89m* can be a strong password for your database login.

 

9. Database Auditing :

Auditing is very important types of database security control which can help to detect and identify of unauthorized access to your DBMS (Database Management System).

Database auditing regularly check the log files for who access the database, when they accessed, how long time stay there and what they did in database. You can easily find out if there is unauthorized access to database server.

 

Database auditing is type of database protection which can provides overall monitoring for database security of your organization.

 

Ø The future of data security :

Next-generation technology could also help companies fall in line with other compliance mandates, such as PCI DSS. For companies that have lagged behind on compliance, some security experts suggest considering a zero-trust model as a security strategy. With zero trust, companies would look at the full lifecycle of data management and broaden their focus beyond just payment card data to other forms of personal data, including financial data, intellectual property and customer data. They would make no assumptions on where data is expected to be found or how it is being used -- only that the risk must be mitigated.

Data security will remain a significant challenge well into the future, but creative applications of AI and machine learning and zero-trust models will help IT and infosec teams protect data and ensure consumer privacy.

 

Ø Conclusion :

Database security is one of the most important part of a website and web application. If you properly fail to secure your database then attacker can take access your database. So, database security is essential to protect from cyber-attacks which can lead to financial loss, damage of brand reputation, business continuity and customer confidence. I have explained different types of database security.

Hope the article will be helpful for you.