Database security involves all elements of information security. As such, it is complex and challenging, and it’s often in conflict with database usability.
Anderson’s rule explains it best: the more usable and accessible the database, the more vulnerable it is to cyberattacks. Therefore, the more robust the database is against intrusion, the harder it is to access and use.
Database administrators are responsible for designing and maintaining database security. They must put measures in place to keep the confidentiality of the information in a database.
So how can you lower the chances of a data breach? It would be best if you avoided the following database security mistakes:
Poor Access Management
Human errors are the primary catalyst for data breaches. So, businesses must use strict access management processes. And access management demands efficient methods for deciding who can access the database.
A firewall is crucial to database security. Its function is to control what IP addresses can access the database. This restriction will delay software updates and issue resolution. But it reduces the harm a data breach inflicts on your business.
Other access management best practices include:
Insufficient Security Controls
Implementation of controls can enforce security measures. There are various security mechanisms you can choose from. The most common confidentiality control is encryption.
But many organizations don’t set strong passwords to control database security and confidentiality. An employee must have the necessary key or password to access the database. Without that password, the information remains encrypted.
But cybercriminals can use password crackers to gain unauthorized access to your systems. You can derail them by using passwords that take years to break.
A strong passphrase is at least twenty characters long. It combines lower and upper case letters, numbers, and symbols. But, your employees can’t remember such a complex combination. So, you must use password protection software to generate and save unbreakable keyphrases. Password managers use encryption protocols like E2EE and hashing to keep data safe.
Unencrypted Data Backups
Backing up devices, servers, and workstations is a data availability best practice. But backups do not guarantee data protection and business continuity.
Creating a backup is imperative in a disaster recovery plant. But it does not guarantee recovery if you don’t protect the backup against damage. Of utmost concern is the possibility of stolen or compromised data backups.
Today’s hackers are far more cunning and unethical than in the past. Experts can detect cyberattacks in the early 2000s within days of data theft or damage. In contrast, attackers can steal data today without your knowledge.
Unencrypted backups get compromised, allowing attackers to read the data or inject malware. When this happens, the backup will re-infect your system whenever you use it. Therefore, it’s best to have an encrypted data backup that won’t cause further damage.
Poor Physical Security
Physical security becomes an afterthought as cloud data servers become more popular. But 54% of data breaches in 2019 included a physical attack as the primary method. Your database server must be in a secure location, on-premise, or in the cloud.
Are your servers safe from natural disasters, theft, and damage? Are your IT and security teams coordinated? Physical security is essential because data breaches can cost you lots of money.
Crooks can sneak into your server room if you lack physical security. You should restrict access to the room to only those who need it to perform their jobs. Ensure that thieves have to go through many security layers. This robust physical security can make unauthorized access to your servers near impossible.
Conclusion
Database security procedures must be adequate to protect critical business information. Ensure you have established strategies that enable enough access control. You must keep your data backups secure and be serious about physical security.
