Today, business is about data. Database systems and the elements they store are the most valuable assets in any enterprise. Not only are business executives and Information Technology leaders responsible for doing what is right to protect the best interest of the organization, they must comply with the endless list of industry and government-imposed regulations.
As we have seen for more than a decade, one cannot take database-related security breaches lightly. One of the greatest threats to databases is insiders with ill intent. Computer networks have become so complex that it is easy for database administrators and Information Technology managers to overlook database security gaps that are exploited with no one ever knowing about it. Security weaknesses that would have been obvious and simple to fix not that long ago are now the foundation of modern organizations.
These challenges have created an environment where not only can a lot go wrong, but there is also so much to lose. This is especially true when you do not have the proper culture combined with the proper organizational and technical controls and tools to ensure that one keeps database security and compliance in check. All it takes is one oversight, misstep, or terrible choice by a malicious insider and you have got a database security breach in your hands that you and your business executives may not want to undertake.
Read the 13-page whitepaper “The SQL Server Security Threat – It Is Closer Than You Think” by Kevin Beaver to learn more about what your organization is up against. Also, explore the role of the database administrator in compliance, the database security threat, what you can do to minimize database risks, whether to comply, how to move forward, regulations affecting database security, and common SQL Server security questions.