How can you audit database activity for maximum security and privacy?

To maximize database security and privacy, begin by determining the audit's scope and objectives. Pinpoint sensitive data like Personally Identifiable Information and decide which activities, such as data modifications or access, should be audited. Having a clear direction aids in capturing all vital operations. Continuous monitoring is also vital for real-time detection of suspicious database activities. By setting up automated alerts, organizations can be immediately notified of anomalies or policy breaches. Integrating this with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems enhances overall monitoring, ensuring swift responses to potential threats and maintaining database integrity.

Data level scan for volume and readability of data are key. E.g on Volume audit : if number of rows jumped to double or reduced by 25% in short time something is wrong E.g on readability: Encrypting the data is worst, so scanning for data encryption that is non native is key. Once the same is found as foreign then disabling all ID should be automatic

Auditing Database activity should be must do practice and must be part of data strategy. Its important to keep auditing who can access, what data and what level of access been granted. This keeps your data secured and reduce chances of unauthorised access. Should plan continuous auditing, review results and alerting based on the audit report.

One thing I find very helpful is that auditing database activity enhances security and data protection by monitoring user actions. This is a proactive measure in preventing unauthorized access and data breaches. One aspect I disagree with is that auditing alone doesn't guarantee security. While it's a valuable tool, it should be part of a broader security strategy. For example, even with auditing in place, if weak passwords or poor access controls are not addressed, the database remains vulnerable to attacks.

Database audit activity is a must and basic that we need to do because most modern databases offer auditing features. Enable auditing to capture information on who accessed the database, what operations were performed, and when. help keep track

It depends on - 1. The nature of business, data and applicable laws. 2. The sensitivity of management towards company reputation about security of its systems because this would help define the budget 3. The types of DBMS solutions used by the company and associated auditing modules. 4. The other auditing solutions available in the market 5. Timeframe of auditing and whether we need third party certification for it. The above would essentially define the scope, solution, agency, budget and timelines of the audit which can be processed.

Database auditing is an ongoing process to safeguard your data and maintain it. So, we can presume these steps to ensure the securable and stabilization: -Define clear audit policies. -Use database auditing tools(DBMS). -Third-party audit solutions. -Focus on sensitive operations. -Control access and encrypt data. -Regularly update policies. -Anonymize or pseudonymize sensitive data. -Secure audit data storage. -Have an incident response plan. -Regularly backups -Replications to isolated sources -Monitor and set up alerts. -Regularly review audit logs. -Perform penetration testing. -Document and generate reports.

Flexibility in auditing database activity offers various options to cater to different needs and preferences. However, I have reservation with the notion that creating your own auditing solutions is always advisable. While it provides customization, it can be time-consuming and error-prone, potentially missing critical events or introducing vulnerabilities if not implemented correctly. For instance, I've seen cases where organizations attempted to build their custom auditing solutions and faced challenges in maintaining them as databases and applications evolved. This underscores the importance of considering the complexity and resource requirements when deciding between built-in DBMS auditing, third-party tools, or custom solutions.

Many database provide auditing capabilities that you can use to audit all the operation performed on database.Now when it comes to application level auditing there are application which are present but you can also develop some internal tool which can help in auditing application level info.

In our experience, we balance comprehensive auditing with practicality. For example, prioritizing user authentication and access audits improved database security without data overload. By focusing on these areas, the organization maintained manageable, insightful data, aligning with specific needs for a practical solution.

One low hanging fruit is to look for fields that contain outlier values (i.e. excessively high or low price values). This could be done with a DB trigger. If detected, it could be a sign of security penetration/hacking and would require further investigation. The key is to trigger a proactive alert and flag the issue immediately.

Ideally we should audit database for all DML operation and verify it was done based on business necessity only.Apart from that we should audit database to confirm no user have super privileges and each application user is capable to access there data only and not able to view other application data.Elevated permission which has been provided to any user should be documented properly so that it can be reviewed during auditing.

Using a separate secure system for audit data is crucial for log integrity. I've seen encryption and strict access controls effectively used to secure audit data. Additionally, I found ELK Stack is very useful tool for log management and analysis. Developing good dashboard and reports ans setting up alerts based on predefined criteria is a valuable technique and can provide valuable insights and monitoring database activity effectively.

To enhance database security, it is essential to implement role-based access control and monitor database logs. Most importantly, it is crucial to develop an application that acts as a product, ensuring that no direct database access is allowed. Instead, only authorized access through a defined interface should be permitted for specific database-related administrative tasks within the context of the application

AI can be used in analyzing database activity for anomaly detection. Once detected, it should trigger an alert for intervention.

Audit database activity for maximum security and privacy: - Define your auditing goals and objectives. - Comply with relevant regulations and industry standards. - Use database auditing tools and set the appropriate level of granularity. - Implement strong access controls and real-time monitoring. - Regularly review audit logs and set up alerting and notifications. - Encrypt sensitive data and establish a data retention policy. - Provide training and awareness to your team. - Conduct regular security assessments and have an incident response plan. - Consider third-party audits for an independent perspective. - Maintain documentation and compliance reporting.

Do periodic access reviews to remove any logins no longer required. Review database login logs periodically to see if any unauthorized access or any unwanted logins happening. Implement DAM/DBF solution to monitor activity happening in the database and to see if there are any violations of security policies or any attempts done to access sensitive or critical information.

Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implement 2FA for database access, especially for critical systems. This adds an extra layer of security even if login credentials are compromised. Monitor Privileged User Activity: Pay special attention to activities performed by privileged users. These users have higher-level access and should be closely monitored.

To enhance database security, it is essential to implement role-based access control and monitor database logs. Most importantly, it is crucial to develop an application that acts as a product, ensuring that no direct database access is allowed. Instead, only authorized access through a defined interface should be permitted for specific database-related administrative tasks within the context of the applicatio

Consider the data you are logging and treat it accordingly. For instance, when logging code-changes make sure to scan for accidentally included passwords or tokens and exclude them from your log.