Oracle Database Security Best Practices

Introduction

The modern technical infrastructure is incomplete without Oracle databases, the foundation for many businesses’ data storage and online transaction processing. As databases house much of an organization’s sensitive or critical information, they become good targets for hacking and cyberattacks. Organizations must take all reasonable measures to guarantee the security of their data, given the rising costs of data breaches and cyberattacks.

Security risks are associated with all database management systems, but you can configure and manage your systems to decrease these risks significantly.  This article covers detailed knowledge of Oracle Database Security Best Practices.

Oracle Database

An Oracle database is a group of data that is handled as a whole. A database is used to store and retrieve information that is connected. The solution to the issues with information management is a database server. In a multiuser scenario, a server typically successfully maintains a huge volume of data so that numerous users can access the same data at once. All of this is completed while maintaining a high level of performance. Additionally, a database server guards against unauthorized access and offers effective ways to recover from failures.

As the most adaptable and economical method of managing data and applications, Oracle Database was the first database created for corporate grid computing. Large pools of modular, industry-standard storage and servers are produced via business grid computing. With this design, it is possible to provision each new system from the pool of components quickly. Peak workloads are unnecessary because capacity may simply be added or reassigned from the resource pools as needed.

What is Oracle Database Security

With security options for encryption and key management, extensive access controls, adaptable data masking, thorough activity monitoring, and advanced auditing tools, Oracle Database lowers the risk of a data breach and makes regulatory compliance more manageable.

Oracle Database Security Best Practices

The below section covers Oracle Database Security Best Practices:

• Stop Using Default Passwords

Eliminating all default passwords is a simple Oracle security procedure to implement. Your database security is compromised by passwords that are simple to crack or those that hackers can decode using brute-force assault.  Weak or default passwords must be changed to more complex ones since misconfigured MySQL databases are vulnerable to assaults. Any passwords that are kept on file must be encrypted. Oracle Secure External Password Store simplifies producing a wallet file for protected credential storage.

You should ensure they are enabled for robust security because Oracle Database includes capabilities to help preserve password security. Some are deactivated by default. The built-in checked password cracker is one of them. Checkpwd detects accounts with weak passwords by scanning users’ local password hashes and comparing them against a dictionary file. Additionally, you can check whether any user accounts that access your database still use default passwords using SQL scripts.

The Oracle Database also has an account lockout functionality that can stop cyberattacks by locking a user’s login information after a predetermined number of unsuccessful tries. As a result, there are fewer opportunities for hackers to access your database through brute force attacks.

• Patch Early, Patch Often

Updating your software and applications is crucial to upholding high Oracle database security standards. You must be diligent about patching in addition to installing the most recent version of the database management system and maintaining an updated host operating system.

• Limit User Privileges

Instead of trying to repair or undo the damage a breach might have caused, it is preferable to avoid and head off security concerns before they arise. One way to achieve this is to restrict the permissions granted to each user account, allowing just the permissions required for the user to perform the tasks required by their position. This stops users from accessing tools or apps they do not require and from altering or deleting data stored in the database without authorization.

Given that defending against internal threats is one of the trickier components of Oracle security procedures, it is better for a user to need an administrator’s help than to provide them excessive access and have them act maliciously, whether or not on purpose. Regularly reviewing user rights and updating them as needed is also innovative because it will help stop users from accessing confidential company data.

• Regularly Audit Your Database

Conducting routine database audits is another best practice for ensuring your sensitive information is effectively protected. The Oracle audit trail can assist with identifying and eradicating security issues by monitoring and auditing any changes made to your database, including those made to objects, roles, or permissions.

• Implement Strong Authentication Methods

Maintaining security best practices in distributed settings like Oracle Database requires a robust user authentication system. Third-party authentication protocols are supported by and can be integrated into Oracle Database. For database access and network connection security, options like Kerberos, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) are available.

• Use Additional Security Tools to Manage Sensitive Data

Data breaches can be expensive for a company’s brand and financial health and for everyone whose information is in the hacked database. Personal information about people’s health, intellectual property, or financial information must be handled with extraordinary care to protect this priceless information.

Due to Oracle Database’s visible sensitive data protection, you can categorize data table columns holding sensitive data such as Social Security or credit card numbers and perform speedy searches for these fields. You may also establish policies to be applied to particular data table columns to secure sensitive data, thanks to transparent sensitive data protection.

Why Database Security is Critical

• Mitigate Risks from Misconfigured Databases

Databases are intricate systems with countless parameters, profile choices, and configuration directives—almost endless setting combinations. A misconfigured database makes it more likely that an exploit may allow unauthorized access.

Oracle security solutions evaluate the risks posed by users’ security configurations and practices and pinpoint places where such risks might be reduced or completely removed.

• Render Stolen Data Useless

Clear-text database data can be taken by hackers directly from the database, storage, exports, or backups. Most data privacy laws demand or promote data masking or encrypting data in storage or transit. Oracle Database provides extensive key management, masking, and encryption features that scale to enterprise-level applications.

• Monitor Access and Demonstrate Compliance

A breach can be prevented or lessened if improper access attempts are discovered early. Real-time SQL query monitoring and database auditing. To fulfill compliance requirements, use built-in and customized reports.

Future of Oracle Database Security

According to the National Bureau of Data Science, the demand for Oracle database jobs is set to rise 11% through 2026. Database Administrators (DBAs) have high demand in the market. Also, they can expect high salaries.

Conclusion

With security options for encryption and key management, extensive access controls, adaptable data masking, thorough activity monitoring, and advanced auditing tools, Oracle Database lowers the risk of a data breach and makes regulatory compliance more manageable.