Databases are a prime target for hackers today, and database security is critical to any business! How do we cope with the ever-growing threats to database security?
Large organizations have massive amounts of sensitive data stored and managed in databases. As a result, databases are a prime target for hackers. Today, major data breaches occur by exploiting database security. One attack can interfere with compromise users’ personal information, hamper the operations of a website or app, and create lasting reputation damage. Database security assaults are becoming increasingly complex with each passing year, but so are the prevention techniques. Setting up a secure database is easier today. Various tools are now available to counter any type of attack.
This article will walk you through what is database security, its importance, and major database security threats.
What is Database Security?
Database security refers to techniques intended to protect database management systems against hostile cyber-attacks and unauthorized use. Database security measures are designed to safeguard the data contained within the database, the data management system, and any applications that access it, against misuse and intrusion. Database security refers to the tools, methods, and methodologies used to establish security for the overall database setting.
Importance of Database Security
Database security is a critical component of any company with various interconnected databases and database management systems that work with the operational arena of the company’s applications. The security measures in place for a database system can aid in the prevention of many potentially devastating repercussions of a breach.
In recent years, we know many incidents where major businesses failed to keep critical information secure.
As the amount of remote work and data access grows, the corporate and organizational security risk is jeopardized.
Databases can be protected against security breaches and hacking activities. It aids in the protection of the company’s sensitive information. Database security provides guaranteed protection for server systems against any significant harm from a failure in data processing or data retrieval. The apps are free of the possibility of being screwed up, which may secure the corporation while also being cost-effective. Adding security features to an existing database will cost the company money, ensuring that the charges are an investment rather than a loss.
Database security threats
The primary responsibility of database security is to deal with data layer risks. It is critical to understand the hazards associated with data storage, transport, and processing. Understanding which patterns may threaten your safety allows you to address vulnerabilities before they cause an accident.
- Malware
Malware is malicious software meant to harm or destroy computers and their database systems. Malware can infiltrate your network through any endpoint device that connects to it.
- Human error
The most common cause of commercial data loss is human error. Employee errors in their work, and not just sophisticated security breaches, hardware faults, or data corruption, are the cause of the majority of breaches. Accidents, password sharing, weak passwords, and other irresponsible user activity continue to be the leading causes of all reported data breaches.
- The exploitation of database software vulnerabilities
Database software is a popular target for cybercriminals because of its sensitivity. Database software providers and open source database management platforms release security patches regularly to fix these vulnerabilities; however, failure to implement these patches on time might raise your susceptibility.
- Insider threats
An insider threat is a potential threat that originates within the organization being targeted. It usually involves a present or former employee or business associate who has access to confidential information or restricted accounts on an organization’s network and makes harmful use of that access.
- SQL/NoSQL injection attacks
It is the most common approach hackers use to obtain sensitive data from any database. A malicious code is inserted in applications that are linked to databases. As a result, fraudsters have unrestricted access to sensitive data contained within databases. Organizations that do not adhere to secure web application coding principles and regular vulnerability testing are vulnerable to these attacks.
- Denial of service (DoS/DDoS) attacks
A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack is used by hackers and cybercriminals to shut down a computer or network, rendering it inaccessible to its users by overloading the database with traffic. As a result, database users are unable to get any information from databases, leaving them inoperable for an extended period.
Wrapping Up
Today, database security is one of the most critical concerns throughout the data management landscape. Users and businesses are finally becoming aware of having robust protective algorithms and a professional safety team. Organizations can decrease the ever-growing threats to database security by using comprehensive solutions that reinforce database security.
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