September 19, 2008 7:37 PM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Admins and Auditors,
Compliance,
Database,
Database security,
Development,
IT audit,
Microsoft Windows,
Security,
SQL Server,
Steps to an Easy Audit,
Tools & Tricks of the Trade,
Tools for Auditing and SecuritySQL "Server" runs on top of MS Windows, and it has groups inside of it that are not seen on the Windows server or even the Windows Domain. That's why we have to check and make sure that inappropriate users don't have complete access to everything inside the database. Not everyone should be...
September 16, 2008 5:58 PM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Admins and Auditors,
Compliance,
Database,
Database security,
free tools,
IT audit,
Microsoft Windows,
PCI DSS,
Security,
SOX,
SQL Server,
Steps to an Easy Audit,
Tools for Auditing and SecurityThere's a lot of really nice application tools to audit SQL databases out there. They have lots of bells and whistles and write out a really nice report with professional formatting. If you've got one of those, LUCKY YOU. But most of us Admins and Auditors have to scrounge for what we can find...
September 12, 2008 2:14 PM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Admins and Auditors,
Compliance,
Database,
Database security,
IT audit,
Security,
SQL Server,
Tools for Auditing and SecurityThe first question to answer is: "Is the SQL system patched?" You or a DBA can confirm this inside Enterprise Manager (the software client that runs on SQL or from a remote installation of it) by right-clicking the primary database icon and selecting Properties. You can also run a query inside...
August 25, 2008 6:33 PM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Data Breaches,
Database,
Database security,
Identity theft,
Security,
Security DevicesVisited Europe in the last year and used a Best Western Hotel? Your credit card, expiration date, the company that employs you, your name, address and future bookings may be in the possession of a Russian Mafia website. An enterprising Scottish newspaper, the Sunday Herald, noticed on Thursday...
August 21, 2008 3:48 PM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Admins and Auditors,
Compliance,
Data Breaches,
Database,
Database security,
DataManagement,
Identity theft,
IT audit,
Oracle,
PCI DSS,
SAP,
SAS 70,
Security,
SOX,
SQL ServerDatabases are enormous, powerful repositories of data. They can hold payroll, HR personnel data (think social security numbers) stock prices, Accounts Receivable, Client Relationship Management, and customer information. Banks can't live without them. Most medium and many small sized businesses...
August 19, 2008 1:20 PM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Admins and Auditors,
Compliance,
Data Breaches,
Database,
Database security,
DataManagement,
Identity theft,
IT audit,
Oracle,
PCI DSS,
SAP,
SAS 70,
Security,
SOX,
SQL ServerSo many financial auditors, CEOs, CFOs and others rely on electronic data to understand the complexities of General Ledger, Accounts Payable, etc. In this era of SAP, ADP, electronic time clocks, etc., the one common denominator is the database underlying each application.
Applications...
August 13, 2008 1:53 AM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Admins and Auditors,
Data Breaches,
Database,
Database security,
DataManagement,
SecurityThe recent report on the Countrywide data theft got me thinking again about how to monitor insider access to databases.
The story is that the thief had access to the...
July 1, 2008 3:08 PM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Admins and Auditors,
Compliance,
Data Breaches,
Database,
Database security,
Development,
IT audit,
Security,
Tools & Tricks of the TradeIn the course of many audits and pentests, I can't tell you how many times I have found flaws and openings based on bad development practices. It's downright painful. And yet software keeps coming out with the same problems. I know WHY this is happening, but I can't stop it. YOU can.
Have...
May 13, 2008 4:38 PM
Posted by: Arian Eigen Heald
Compliance,
Database,
Database security,
IT audit,
PCI DSS,
Security,
SQL Server,
Steps to an Easy AuditRemember that commercial (I'm dating myself, I know) where the little old lady lifts the top of the burger bun and says, "Where's the beef?" All things considered, we have to ask the same sorts of questions about data.
Usually we're...
