4 Common Causes of Database Security Breaches

Collecting sensitive information is something most business owners are familiar with. When onboarding a new client digitally, you will usually receive information like their email address and possibly their Social Security number. Once you are in possession of this data, your main goal needs to be keeping it secure.

Each year, nearly 55 percent of all small businesses in the United States experience a cyber-attack. One of the best ways to ensure the data on your network is safe is by performing routine audits. Typically, the information from these audits will bring to light problems that need to be addressed. A comprehensive database audit software program will give you a detailed list of what network security issues exist and suggestions on how to fix them.

Read below to find out more about the most common causes of database security breaches and what you can do to fix them.

1. Excessive Database Privileges Can Cause Lots of Problems

As the owner and manager of a small business, it is your job to figure out how to assign privileges to the sensitive information on your network. Often times, business owners get so overwhelmed with this task that they go a bit overboard with the data access they provide employees and third-party vendors. Granting excessive privileges to this sensitive information only increases the risk of data breaches occurring.

The best way to solve this issue is by using query-level access controls. In essence, query-level tools will only provide a user with the information they need to complete the tasks they have been assigned. While you will need to take time to manually assign these capabilities, it will be well worth the effort you invest.

2. Dealing with Platform Vulnerabilities

For most modern businesses, using various pieces of software on a daily basis is normal. Often times, the software a business has is designed to increase both productivity and efficiency levels. While various pieces of software can be helpful, they can also cause problems if they are not being updated regularly.

The longer the manufacturer of a software programs waits to update it, the more security holes there will be for hackers to use. Using IPS tools can help you identify database platform problems before they cause too much damage. If you consistently have problems with the same piece of software, you probably need to replace it with a program that is more secure.

3. Denial of Service Attacks are All Too Common

Hackers and employees with malicious intent can initiate a denial of service (DOS) attack in a number of different ways. Often times, buffer overflows, resource consumption and even data corruption are the most common tools used to carry out a DOS attack.

Most IT professionals recommend using a mixture of connection rate controls and IPS tools to combat these attacks. The connection rate controls allow you to open up a vast amount of connections. This means that one user will not be able to totally consume server resources in an attempt to crash the network.

4. Weak Authentication Practices

The first line of defense you have against cyber-criminals is passwords and usernames. If you are not enforcing password rules, it is only a matter of time before this comes back to haunt you. When network users fail to change their passwords on a regular basis, it makes it easier for hackers to figure them out.

This is why you need to draft and implement an iron-clad password strategy. Making your team change their passwords on a monthly basis is a must. You will also need to ensure these passwords contain a mixture of both upper and lower case letters, as well as numbers and special characters. By setting these guidelines, you can rest assured that the passwords your team uses are complex.

Choosing the right database audit software is something you should view as a priority. If you are unsure about how to choose this software, be sure to reach out to IT professionals for help.