Learn about the common risks and problems that your backed up data is facing, and how to deal with them.
Backing up data in SQL Server is surely something that you should do unfailingly, but that is not all that you need to do to keep data safe. Ensuring the safety of data in the backup is also an important point to consider. For all the different backup options that are available to you in SQL Server, you also need to keep in mind that they are being stored in clear text format, which can easily be hacked. Another factor that puts the safety of your database at risk is the easy migration that SQL allows between different servers.
There are several other risks that your backed up data is exposed to. To learn what they are, and how to avoid them, continue reading.
Plain Text
As mentioned earlier, the backed up data is stored in clear text, hacking it and making sense of it is not a challenge. There might be a few characters that one may not be able to decipher, but a larger part of the data can be understood using simple formatting. This is true for all types of backup options available. For anyone with no access to SQL Server, making sense of your data, they somehow got hold of, will not be difficult.
Easy Restore
If the clear text format was not insecure enough, SQL also allows for easy restores of backup on different servers as well. So if someone is able to get access to your database, they can easily restore it on another server and get access to all its contents.
Attaching Databases
One of the not so commonly used practices is of attaching databases, and also detaching them for copying MDF and LDF files. Once someone is able to get access to a copy of these files, they can easily attach it to another server to get full access to the contents of your database.
Floating Backups
SQL DBAs might be putting their heart and soul into assuring the safety of the database, mainly by applying multiple layers of security for accessing backups. However, at times complete databases or backups get restored on development or test servers, these have comparatively relaxed security. If these backups are copied to different servers, across a network, and then restored on secondary servers, your security has been compromised.
Tips
Certain tips to keep in mind for ensuring the safety of backed up data are:
- Keep backup files and folders safe.
- Set proper permission levels for server and database.
- Restrict from copying backup files to folders that are not safe.
- Do not give a lot of people the permission for performing backups.
- Always monitor the process of backups in SQL Server.
- Try and keep your backup files encrypted.
- Make sure that your backup files are protected with tough to make out security passwords. Also invest in a fix sql
Compromising your database is not a challenge for those with evil intentions; it can be done even without access to SQL Server. So make sure you follow these tips and secure your data
Author Introduction:
Victor Simon is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, Inc., which is the world leader in data recovery technologies, including accdb recovery and sql recovery software products. For more information visit https://www.datanumen.com/
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