Is Your Business Data Safe? Insider Tips for Fortifying Your Application Data

 

You work hard to grow your business, but what if someone tries to sabotage it? Cyberattacks are on the rise, and they can cost you time, money, and reputation.
Data breach are common issues now, especially for big corporations that make the headlines. However, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are also affected by this problem, even if they don't get much media attention.

Here are some best practices to enhance security and protect sensitive information:

Access Control:

·     User Privileges: Assign minimal privileges to database users. Only grant necessary permissions (e.g., SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) based on their roles.

·     Strong Passwords: Set strong passwords for database users. Avoid using default or easily guessable passwords.

·     Database Encryption: Consider encrypting sensitive data at the application level before storing it in the database.

 

Backup Security:

·     Secure Backups: Ensure that backups are stored securely. Limit access to backup files and encrypt them if possible.

 

Database Configuration:

·     Database Hardening: Follow best practices for securing the database server configuration. Disable unnecessary features and services.

·     Audit Logging: Enable audit logging to track database activity. Monitor logs for suspicious behavior.

 

Application Security:

·    Parameterized Queries: Use parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks.

·    Input Validation: Validate user input to prevent malicious data from being inserted into the database.

·    Escape User Input: Escape special characters to avoid unintended SQL execution.

 

Data Encryption:

·    Field-Level Encryption: Consider encrypting sensitive fields (e.g., credit card numbers, passwords) within the database.

Remember that security is an ongoing process, and staying informed about the latest security practices is essential.