How to Protect SQL Server Databases with SQL Server Security

SQL Server Security: How to Protect SQL Server Databases

SQL Server security and knowing how to safeguard SQL Server databases are essential capabilities for firms that use SQL Server databases. There’s no doubting that security is a top priority in today’s information technology (IT) industry. Because data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other forms of cybercrime are increasingly common. Businesses must take every care to protect SQL Server databases.

SQL Server security necessitates a multi-pronged approach that prevents unwanted access and implements a dependable backup and recovery strategy. Despite the best efforts to keep unwelcome visitors away, the risk of compromise systems always exists. In some circumstances, restoring the techniques from a recent backup may be the most effective solution.

The Real and Diverse Risks to SQL Server Databases

Databases store the information that makes up an organization’s most essential resources. The value of the data draws criminals who want to use the assets for the wrong reasons, as it does with many things of value. Cybercriminals may wish to immediately profit from stolen data such as credit card details. The current ransomware epidemic exemplifies the extremes to which criminals would pursue illicit wealth.

​​Recent SQL Server Malware

Some recent examples of targeted SQL Server assaults help to highlight the threats that businesses confront daily:

MrbMiner

This malware strain infects SQL Servers and installs crypto mining software on them. While crypto mining isn’t harmful in and of itself, the malware uses infected servers’ system resources to conduct the complex calculations required to mine money. Meanwhile, it can cause performance issues and issues like overheating, which can damage hardware components.

Hackers employed a brute-force assault to obtain access to the SQL Servers, focusing on the prevalence of weak passwords. Also, weak passwords are a concern in the IT industry, and they frequently supply hackers with the access they need to begin attacks.

Vulgar

This hacking campaign also utilized weak passwords to infect SQL Servers with malware and crypto mining code. After getting access, hackers gained access to the workstations and installed several backdoors capable of running various forms of malicious software, including crypto mining and remote access tools. Due to the lack of root cause analysis to address the vulnerabilities reported by the hackers, some victims reinfect themselves after the program.

The Winnti Organization

Malware used to survive on Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) systems is being blamed on the Winnti Group, a Chinese-backed hacking group. The gang installs the skip-2.0 malicious tool, allowing attackers to log on to any database account using a “Magic Password.”

Meanwhile, the malware tries to hide its traces by obfuscating all evidence of its presence in system security logs. This virus can be unnoticed on a computer and be exploited at any time by hackers to do harm or compromise data. An invasion that distributes any virus can implant ransomware or other hazardous apps. Also, businesses should aim to keep their SQL Server doors secured tight to deter unauthorized visitors.

Defending Enterprise SQL Servers

Controlling access to company databases and ensuring reliable backups are produced regularly are the two primary components necessary to protect against cybercriminals. Preventing unauthorized access to an organization’s SQL Servers is the first security line. Also, it includes preventing external hackers from accessing the networks and retaining tight control over internal actors.

Securing organizational data resources necessitates visibility into who personnel can access and what information they can touch. Unfortunately, malevolent insiders commit many data breaches, making it even more challenging to secure IT resources. There is no perfect defense. In the present climate of pervasive ransomware assaults, even a single instance of illegal access can be disastrous. Having recent backups available to recover all production SQL Server databases is an adequate safeguard against ransomware and other harmful viruses. Backups should not be used in isolation but rather as a well-thought-out disaster recovery strategy. The strategy must include the recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO) needed to keep the business running.

Two Tools for Providing Enhanced Database Protection

SQL Server security is addressed by IDERA’s specific SQL Server database tools. Two technologies, in particular, allow for the establishment of strict access limits and the preservation of backups. They needed to recover systems as soon as possible. SQL Secure provides database administrators to know who has access to what, where, and how on the company’s SQL Server databases. The software is a fully automated solution for assessing, monitoring, and reporting on SQL Server security access permissions.

Teams may examine effective permissions, assess the underlying operating system’s security, and provide security scorecards for all SQL Server instances under their control. Also, identifying and reporting on weak or missing passwords is a feature. It directly addresses the brute-force assaults outlined above.

SQL Safe Backup handles the second portion of SQL Server environment protection. This backup and recovery solution shortens SQL Server backup and recovery times, decreases storage requirements, and allows teams to back up several SQL Servers simultaneously. Multiple recovery mechanisms are available. It includes restoring databases instantly by streaming data from backup files to respond to on-demand user queries while recovering the entire system in the background. This tool can help quickly resolve the effects of a ransomware attack while keeping the organization operational.

About Enteros

IT organizations routinely spend days and weeks troubleshooting production database performance issues across multitudes of critical business systems. Fast and reliable resolution of database performance problems by Enteros enables businesses to generate and save millions of direct revenue, minimize waste of employees’ productivity, reduce the number of licenses, servers, and cloud resources and maximize the productivity of the application, database, and IT operations teams.