Quick Security Tips for your SQL Server implementation

As incidents of data theft and hacking attacks keep making the headlines across the business pages, companies are becoming paranoid about securing their systems against myriad threats. While network security is critical, hardening your database is a key step for protecting your data repository. An important aspect of database security involves securing it from both internal and external threats. It also involves looking at issues like authorization, dealing with privileges and virus attacks. So if you are looking to secure your SQL Server implementation then just follow the tips given below.

Start with Physical Security

In a typical discussion on IT security, physical security rarely comes into the picture as we seem to be more bothered about network security, software vulnerabilities etc. However in case of a corporate database, maintaining a physical security posture is essential. In case a malicious individual, which can even be a dissatisfied employee, gains access to a terminal with an administrator account, he can play havoc with your data repository. Hence you need to ensure that central database administration terminals should be located in rooms which can be accessed only with privileged access cards. 

Build a complete need based hierarchy of Rights and Access Roles

Not all employees should have access to your entire database and most department personnel should ideally only deal with data belonging to their department only. Again “sysadmin” accounts should be rare and clear thought should be applied before giving access to each user. Ideally permissions from respective managers need to be approved before the same are allocated. 

Give a thought to System security

The SQL Sever database application typically runs on a Windows Server OS and it is extremely critical that the OS is properly patched and protected with a powerful antivirus application. In case you are using a virtualization solution, appropriate security measures need to be put in place. 

Network Connectivity – Harden it against threats

Use the SQL Configuration tool to change the ports that are normally associated with network communications. Leaving them open allows hackers to target known ports and compromise your system. If specific database instance has critical data, you may choose to even block it from broadcasting data. 

Secure your SQL Server Database against data loss

Now that you have a fairly good idea about the how you can go about securing your database against a plethora of threats, its time you eliminate the other major bugbear associated with a SQL Server database – the chance of data loss due to a system crash. Well the best way to get back your data after a crash involves the use of a

recover sql tool like DataNumen SQL recovery which comes loaded with a state of the art recovery engine. The application is capable of negotiating even the largest of SQL backup files that you may have, irrespective of whether they are stored in a flash drive or a DVD set. Last but not the least the recovery process is completed in a remarkably quick span of time while maintaining complete data integrity.

Author Introduction:

 Alan Chen is President & Chairman of DataNumen, Inc., which is the world leader in data recovery technologies, including access recovery and sql recovery software products. For more information visit http://www.datanumen.com/