Database security is the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks that can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. With data breaches costing an average of $4.88 million globally, securing your data has never been more important.
Of course, maintaining secure databases is a tall order: Your data is not just stored in databases; sensitive information moves through the database topology. Because of that, attack vectors are usually distributed across all the components within that topology. The primary aim of data security posture management (DSPM) is to continuously oversee an organization's data security policies and procedures to identify vulnerabilities and potential risks.
In this article, we’ll take a look at database security best practices and give you actionable steps to harden your systems. We’ll also discuss common attack vectors in database management systems and how to increase visibility, movement, and protection for your data. Let’s dive in.
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Compliance and regulatory considerations
Making sure your databases are protected in accordance with compliance and regulatory requirements is an essential part of keeping users’ trust. Database compliance measures, procedures, and organizational standards are defined in legislation such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
For example, the PCI DSS, developed by the PCI Security Standards Council, mandates security requirements for companies processing, storing, or transmitting credit card information. A critical aspect of PCI DSS is database security, which involves protecting cardholder data through encryption, access control measures, and regular monitoring to prevent unauthorized users and data breaches.
Failure to comply with data security regulations can lead to substantial fines and penalties. But adherence is not always easy: Navigating database compliance is complex due to the wide variety of regulations and the intricate nature of cloud environments. While many standards overlap, tracking both common and unique compliance elements is too challenging and time-consuming to do manually. That’s why proper tooling is a must. To check your posture against compliance frameworks, you can use popular tools like Wiz, IBM Guardium, and Chef Compliance.
Database security best practices
While compliance and regulatory frameworks work as guardrails, database security lays the groundwork for operational integrity and data protection, much like a strong foundation of a building. Here are some practical tips for enhancing your database security—and the overall security posture of your organization.
Database hardening
Database hardening includes the configurations that establish robust security baselines. The steps you take can differ depending on the database you are using, but there is common hardening guidance that cuts across all systems. To fortify your databases:
Prioritize physical security measures: This includes the security of physical servers from unauthorized access and theft, as well as the isolation of database servers from web servers.
Configure a database firewall: Implement firewall rules for the database server to restrict client access directly to the database engine, preventing unauthorized data exposure.
Secure core components: Ensure that database software, application/web servers, and client workstations are fully secured against unauthorized access and potential vulnerabilities.
Manage protected data / personally identifiable information (PII): Develop and enforce strict protocols for the handling and storage of protected data and PII.
Implement database backup and recovery: Establish regular and systematic backup schedules, and test recovery processes for quick restoration and minimal data loss in any disaster scenario.
Enforce change management: Implement a rigorous change management protocol that requires all database changes to undergo a thorough review and approval process, ensuring that only authorized alterations are made and everything is properly documented.
Follow tried-and-true guides: Database-specific hardening guides, such as Oracle’s Database Security Guide, Redis’s security guide, Microsoft’s SQL Server Database Engine and Azure SQL Database guidelines, and MySQL Security Guide, provide granular security measures and best practices for database administrators.
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Comprehensive data encryption
Another crucial best practice is encrypting all data using strong cryptographic methods. PCI DSS recommends using algorithms such as Triple DES (3DES) or Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) that offer a minimum key strength of 112 bits. (Remember that it’s best practice not to retain authentication data once authorization is complete, even when encrypted.)
Once the data is encrypted, turn your attention to effective key management. NIST advises organizations to implement robust key lifecycle management processes, which include the secure generation, storage, distribution, use, and destruction of cryptographic keys. These processes help ensure that keys are available when needed but also remain protected from unauthorized access or misuse throughout their lifecycle.
Advanced threat protection
Advanced threat protection utilizes log analysis to detect unusual behaviors and potential security threats. It produces alerts for suspicious activities such as SQL injection attacks, attempts to extract data, brute force attacks, and anomalies that may cause privilege escalations or breach credentials leading to sensitive data. Azure Advanced Threat Protection, IBM Guardium, Splunk, and Wiz offer comprehensive solutions for implementing advanced threat protection measures, ensuring robust security for database environments.
Administrative and network access controls
Aside from the administrative controls we’ve already discussed (including securing the backend database server through isolation from other servers and defining firewall rules to restrict access to the network port), there are similar practices that help strengthen the security of databases by leveraging network access control effectively:
Implement network segmentation and isolation: Apply network segmentation to separate database environments from public-facing systems in order to tighten security and control access.
Control access with network devices: Utilize configured firewalls and routers to establish secure entry points and barriers, preventing unauthorized network traffic from reaching database servers.
Enforce strong authentication and authorization: Implement multi-factor authentication and fine-grained access controls that define user roles and permissions tailored to your organization’s security policies.
Encrypt data in transit: Use industry-standard encryption protocols like TLS to protect data as it moves between clients and databases, maintaining data integrity and confidentiality.
Manage network device updates: Conduct scheduled updates and patches for routers, switches, and firewalls to close security gaps and defend against the latest threats.
Principle of least privilege
To access and manage sensitive data, administrative users of database applications need authorization. One problem? Sometimes, users end up having access beyond what they need to perform their job functions due to an inadequate privilege-revocation process after access is initially granted. When employees stack up privileges over time, it’s known as privilege creep.
The principle of least privilege reduces your attack surface by making sure users are granted access to data only when required. Providing temporary/just-in-time access to users when needed and auditing database applications periodically to revoke overprivileged users are essential steps.
Zero-trust security model
The zero-trust security model operates based on the principle of least privilege and the principle of explicit verification. Because the zero-trust security model always assumes a breach (and always assumes attackers are present both outside and inside the network), it continuously authenticates and authorizes each access request to prevent data breaches and limit lateral movement.
In the zero-trust model, the policy decision point / policy enforcement point (PDP/PEP) is responsible for authenticating and authorizing the subject device. Additionally, it checks other factors about the subject device, such as the request location, time, and the subject’s security posture.
Auditing
Auditing is essential for detecting unauthorized activities and complying with regulatory standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. By systematically logging who accessed the database, what changes were made, and when, auditing helps maintain data integrity and security. Widely used tools like Oracle Audit Vault and Database Firewall (AVDF), IBM Guardium, Wiz, and Microsoft SQL Server Audit automate the collection and analysis of audit logs. Take advantage of these solutions to automatically detect unauthorized or suspicious activities.
Secure your databases with Wiz
In this article, we’ve discussed tools that are highly specialized for protecting database environments, like IBM Guardium and Oracle Advanced Security. However, there are compelling reasons to consider broader solutions like Wiz, especially in cloud environments.
Wiz is an all-in-one platform that enhances database security through robust data security posture management (DSPM) capabilities, which continuously assess and optimize the security posture of data assets across the cloud. Wiz integrates seamlessly with your overall cloud infrastructure, providing a unified security solution that covers all elements of the cloud stack, from the network layer to application interfaces. Want to see for yourself how Wiz can protect everything you build and run in the cloud? Schedule a free demo today.
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