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5 Tips for Hardening Your Enterprise SQL Database Security.

Dealing with database security threats should not be a solely reactive process; you need to implement the right tools and…

5 Tips for Hardening Your Enterprise SQL Database Security

22nd March 2022

Dealing with database security threats should not be a solely reactive process; you need to implement the right tools and strategies to ensure that attempted breaches don’t achieve their malicious aims.

To that end, here are some pieces of advice that could transform a lack luster level of protection into a security setup for your SQL resources that you can be proud of.

Harness monitoring tools

If you are serious about managing your database in a way that is both secure and efficient, then you should definitely be using server monitoring tools like SentryOne.

This will allow you to do everything from troubleshooting everyday performance issues, to detecting incursions before they can take root.

It is best to roll out rigorous monitoring processes and platforms as soon as possible, because in order to identify anomalies, you need baseline measurements against which they can be measured and assessed.

Embrace physical security

Getting caught up in the virtual aspects of database security will only get you so far, as there are also physical threats to encompass.

This applies only if you are running an on-premises server setup, over which you have direct control when it comes to access. Locking hardware in rooms and preventing the use of portable media for backup purposes can head off some of the biggest risks in this context.

Of course the alternative is to offload the responsibility of handling physical server security to a third party by migrating your database to a cloud-powered setup. This has other benefits as well, including lower costs and improved scalability.

Don’t neglect network security

An associated aspect of physical database security is that of network security, and again this is relevant for in-house hardware.

You shouldn’t let just anyone have access to your internal networks, so be careful about how you make use of wireless access points, for example.

The proper use of strong passwords, as well as encrypted connectivity, will limit the likelihood of unauthorized network access, and by extension will shield your database from exploitation.

Train employees properly

No matter how much you invest in cyber security, if you fail to train team members in the best practices for the systems and solutions you use, this will leave your data resources dangerously exposed to human error and deliberate subversion.

This obviously applies most stringently to those who are directly responsible for overseeing the database and managing it from day to day. But it is also necessary for a degree of cyber security training to be provided to all employees, as just one weak brick can send the whole structure tumbling down.

Prioritize updates

Software updates are issued frequently for one main reason, which is of course security. As well as fixing bugs and improving performance, by patching database software you will be adding the very latest layers of protection against the ever-evolving threats that stand against it.

The longer you delay in updating, the more vulnerable you will be to an attack. Prioritizing the installation of critical updates is simple common sense, and worth any disruption it causes to your server resources.

Final thoughts

SQL database security can be a tricky thing to get right, which is why you not only need to implement the recommended steps, but also review how your server is holding up over time.

Persistent monitoring is essential, and the prospect of suffering a breach and then having to recover from it should be enough to convince small businesses and large organizations alike that there is merit to making security a more prominent part of their operations and processes.

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