Make sure your valuable data is safe

Does a hacker's breach go past your grasp? Database security is a critical issue that will not go away. If anything, it will become more of a factor in the upcoming years.

There are certain practices that can significantly reduce an organization's risk of a security breach, data corruption or loss of mission-critical data. These practices, which can be used when information is stored on an organization’s own computers or with a hosted solution provider, are:

• Backup, backup, backup. The greatest risk is not because of hackers; it's data loss from computer failure, fire or other accident. Complete backups should be performed every day.
• User ID and password security. Some of the most stringent requirements are used by the health care industry under the Health Information and Patient Privacy Act (HIPPA). Included in this act:
• Passwords are at least seven characters, with a nonalphabetical character
• Passwords are not displayed on screen
• Passwords should expire and be changed every 60 days
• No more than three unsuccessful log-in attempts
• Access to data should be limited to certain subsets
• Audit trails. A database system should be able to provide a security audit trail of user logins.
• Physical security. This includes not only computers and servers but also access to printed records.
• User security awareness training. Make users aware of "phishing" schemes.
  

More news