The company database is the storehouse of all the important information and data pertaining to the functioning of the company. Therefore, it is quite essential to keep company database absolutely confidential and protected from the attack of cyber criminal. The possibilities of a database being hacked and misused by cyber criminal are quite high, as it is accessible to the user from anywhere. Hence, it is the foremost duty of an administrator to protect the company database by constantly monitoring the functions and look for those loopholes that will benefit the hacker.
Security of company database is done periodically by the administrator of the company’s website. They should closely monitor the activities of the users who have access to the company database. It is done mainly to prevent any tampering of the database by anyone who has permission to reach the data of the database. It is also done to make sure that without the proper authorization no person is allowed to enter into the database. The database auditing and security are done in many methods such as:
- Monitoring the connections to the database
- Securing the server
- Access control
- Enforcing restrictions on the access to the database
Restrictions to database access: When company database is controlled via the internet, then this measure is at its best use. When it is applied, the user will be able to attempt logging only three times and if the user fails to provide the correct password, his/her account is disabled and he will not have the privilege of accessing the database again. If somebody is trying to access the company database from any unknown destination, then this attempt can also be thwarted with the help of this tool.
Access control: It is known as one of the toughest and hardest network security audits on the database. This method requires the combination of efforts of both the developer for the database and the administrator. When this procedure is brought into the effect, all the systems that have access to that particular database are checked thoroughly and a list of all the people who will have the authority to gain access of that database is prepared. It makes the task quite easier to monitor the activities of all people closely. If anything suspicious is found, his/her access is cancelled.
Connection to database: No unauthorized updates are permitted by the system administrator to be done on the company database. The administrator needs to thoroughly examine any update that has to be made to the company database and found to be safe and genuine. There could be many others who have the permission to update the data on the database. Therefore, it is the duty of administrator to frequently check that the privilege is not misused and all the important information remain safe. Administrator must be constantly watching the people for not crossing the security measures and mishandling the important data.
Security of the server: With this method, the people who will have the authority to access the company database can be restricted. It is done to keep in view the probability of anyone accessing the important data on the database and tampering it. Further, no unauthorized person can login to the company database. Only those computers which have a genuine IP address are permitted by the server of the company to access database. The database server, in turn, is programmed in such a way that it will allow only those connections which are made from any particular web server and no outsider will be able to gain access to the database.
These measures should be meticulously followed for ensuring the safety of the company database. Further, there are various companies that are providing application security assessment service in UAE. You can take help from these companies to make your task easy.
Neha is an Info-sec expert with an experience of over a half decade; she is working with one of the leading information security company in Dubai. She likes to write about various updates in the industry and share her experience through articles and blogs.