Introduction?

The basis of the activities of modern companies of any size is the confidential information of various types, so the security of corporate data is essential for the success of the business.

The primary and already well-known ways to protect the information in the corporate network are the establishment of strong passwords, the availability of backups, the safe use of applications, system updates, and changing default settings. In addition, special attention should be paid to the protection of databases when ensuring the security of the corporate network. Because the information they contain is particularly valuable to companies and attractive to attackers, databases require special attention and additional protection. Today we’re going to give you basic tips on how to protect database

How to protect database:

1. Control access to the database. Restrictions on permissions and privileges will help prevent cybercriminal attacks. In addition to the basic system permissions, you should apply:

• Restrictions on access to confidential data for certain users and procedures that can make requests related to confidential information.
• Restrictions on the use of basic procedures only by certain users.
• Prevent the use and access of databases outside of business hours.

Also, to prevent malicious attacks, IT experts recommend disabling all services and procedures that are not used. In addition, the database should be placed on a server that is not directly accessible via the Internet, to prevent remote access of attackers to corporate information.

2. Identify critical data. The first step should be to analyze the importance of protecting specific information. To make it easier to determine where and how to store sensitive data, you should understand the logic and architecture of the database. Not all data is critical or needs to be protected, so there is no point in wasting time and resources on it.

IT specialists also recommend conducting an inventory of the company’s databases, necessarily taking into account all departments. An effective way to prevent information loss can be to commit all copies and databases of the company. Inventory is especially important when backing up information to account for all critical data.

3. Encrypt the information. After identifying critical data, you need to apply strong encryption algorithms for sensitive information. When exploiting a vulnerability or accessing a server or system, attackers will first try to steal databases, which usually contain a lot of valuable information. The best way to protect database is to encrypt it for individuals who try to access it without authorization.

4. Make unproductive databases anonymous. Many companies invest time and resources to protect their performance databases, but when developing a project or creating a test environment, they simply make a copy of the original database and start using it in environments with less strict controls, thereby revealing all confidential information.

Using masking and anonymization, you can create a similar version with the same structure as the original, but with modified confidential data to protect it. With this technology, the values change when the format is saved. Data can be modified by mixing, encrypting, rearranging characters, or replacing words. The specific method, rules, and formats depending on the choice of the administrator, but regardless of the choice, the method should ensure that it is not possible to get the original data using reverse engineering.

This method is recommended for databases that are part of the test and development environment, because it allows you to maintain a logical data structure, ensuring that you do not have access to sensitive information outside of the production environment.

5. Monitor the database activity. Auditing and tracking actions within a database involve knowing what information was processed, when, how, and by whom. Knowing the full transaction history allows you to understand the patterns of data access and modifications, and thus helps you avoid information leaks, monitor dangerous changes, and detect suspicious activity in real-time.
The basis of the activities of modern companies of any size is the confidential information of various types, so the security of corporate data is essential for the success of the business.

We have covered here the basic principles on how to protect database. If you have something to add please feel free to comment.