Database privacy refers to protecting information and databases from unauthorized access. It is important for both organizations and individuals. Organizations have a responsibility to protect customer information. Computer data storage methods present unique challenges. Organizations can safeguard databases by verifying server configurations, assigning appropriate authentication levels, preventing credential theft, and securing the database from software designed to compromise it. Prevention is the best way to protect database privacy, including regularly evaluating databases for exploits and indications of compromise. Encryption methods could be employed to protect sensitive data.
When we talk about database privacy, we usually refer to the protection of information contained in digital databases and the databases themselves. It can include security issues related to the database and the classification of its information. Database privacy is an important concept for both organizations and private citizens. However, organizations have a responsibility to protect customer information, because their customers entrust them with this task.
The fact that many people lack control over how their information is stored and handled once it is digitally aggregated can be cause for concern. The old database storage systems were physical and had their own database privacy issues. Computer data storage methods have presented their own unique hurdles. Computer privacy is intrinsically tied to the idea of database privacy because many companies and organizations now use some sort of digital record.
Sensitive, confidential and critical information is often held in databases. To protect this information from access by unauthorized third parties, companies and organizations need to be diligent about data protection. Some of their efforts must focus on protecting against threats to application servers, database servers and storage systems.
There are a number of steps organizations can take to safeguard databases and the data they contain. Some of these steps include verifying that the servers are configured correctly, assigning appropriate authentication levels to database operators, providing unique authentication credentials for each application, preventing authentication credential theft, and securing the database from software designed to compromise it or the information it contains. Privacy professionals can also protect storage systems from theft involving servers, hard drives, desktops and laptops. Organizations should ensure that storage management interfaces and all database backups, both on and off site, maintain their integrity.
If attacks on a database occur, it is the responsibility of the organization to take defensive measures. This could involve immediately ranking data based on importance in the first place. Hence, encryption methods could be employed to protect applications and data based on their levels of sensitivity.
Of course, the best way to protect database privacy is prevention. One method of protecting database privacy might include regularly evaluating a database for exploits and signs that it has been compromised. If an organization can detect database exploits or indications of compromise before the threat becomes real and unmanageable, the database could be fixed with minimal, non-recoverable damage.
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