What is Database Security?
Undoubtedly, the most valuable assets of institutions are their data. Nowadays, organizations generate value by processing their valuable data. The majority of this data is stored in database systems today. Database security aims to maintain real-time access logs of data stored in databases, prevent unauthorized access and alterations, identify vulnerabilities in database systems, and classify and protect sensitive data.
Databases hold critical importance for the operational activities of a business and usually contain sensitive and important data such as customer information, financial data, business processes, and product information. Therefore, ensuring the security of this data is important to maintain the organization’s reputation, comply with legal requirements, and sustain customer trust.
Database security encompasses various security measures and technologies. The fundamental steps in database security include:
- Access Control: Determining user permissions on database systems and restricting assigned permissions beyond their intended purposes. Recording instant logs of authorized/unauthorized accesses.
- Data Encryption and Masking: In modern security approaches, data stored in databases should only be accessible and readable by authorized personnel or applications. Unauthorized users accessing sensitive data should view encrypted/masked data.
- Firewalls and Network Security: Security firewalls and network security solutions are commonly used methods to control access to database servers and protect against external attacks. Additionally, security firewall solutions positioned at the database level aim to block unwanted accesses, risky database commands, and access details specific to database systems like attempted access to sensitive objects.
- Real-Time Monitoring: The most basic step in database security processes is real-time monitoring and secure storage of accesses to databases and executed SQL statements. From a regulatory standpoint, real-time monitoring of database systems and storing logs in accordance with the principle of segregation of duties is one of the fundamental requirements.
- Vulnerability Scanning: Regular security scans and tests are required to identify security vulnerabilities in database systems. Specifically, the aim is to detect and report configuration, authorization, authentication, and version-based vulnerabilities of database systems. These tests should follow principles established by common security authorities (STIG, CIS, CVE, etc.).
- Data Classification: Effective data classification processes should be implemented on database systems to eliminate confusion and determine how each piece of data should be protected within the framework of policies. Through these processes, critical and sensitive data is identified at all points, and an inventory of organizational assets is created. Data indicated by regulations such as PCI, KVKK, GDPR, BDDK is identified, thereby enabling more effective policy and reporting processes.
Database security must be kept up-to-date considering constantly evolving cyber threats and attack methods. Organizations should maximize database security by utilizing expert individuals and security technologies, aiming to continuously enhance the security of databases and remain vigilant against potential security risks.
With over 15 years of experience in the field, Mernus Information Technologies addresses all your database security needs effectively with IBM Security Guardium solutions.
The Importance of Database Security: Many organizations attempt to protect their data against external and internal cyber threats using a variety of cybersecurity solutions like Firewalls, IPS, IDS, email security, EDR, DLP. However, in most cases, they do not monitor real-time internal and external threats to the databases where data is stored.
Recent studies show that a large portion of data breaches occurs through database systems. Additionally, database systems are vulnerable to privileged access by employees within the organization. Database administrators, developers, business analysts, and external consultants working within the organization can easily access data on database systems in an uncontrolled manner. Corporate database security solutions are a fundamental requirement against such threats.
Assisting in the real-time monitoring and visibility of end-to-end database accesses, the detection of risky users, identification of sensitive data stored in database systems, the discovery and reporting of vulnerabilities in database systems, and easing compliance processes are what we aim to provide.
Modern Approach to Database Security: Most database systems today have internal monitoring mechanisms, but there is a need for a modern approach due to limitations such as being vendor-dependent, requiring control by database administrators, causing performance problems, and not meeting compliance requirements.
The IBM Security Guardium solution family offers a centralized, vendor-independent, non-performance-impacting, and compliance-meeting approach to modern database security. It embraces the principle of segregation of duties. Our strong references include numerous successful projects both in Turkey and worldwide.