Understanding and Managing Privileged Access to Databases and Other Data Resources

Databases are essential for business operations, storing critical data such as manufacturing parameters, financial transactions, and customer records. With organizations modernizing IT infrastructure and adopting multi-cloud environments, securing databases has become paramount given the increasing risk of data breaches, which average a cost of $4 million per incident. The text outlines various risks associated with unsecured databases, including unauthorized access, malware, unpatched vulnerabilities, and poor data lifecycle management. The text highlights the importance of robust access and authentication processes and the emerging relevance of Zero Trust models in database security, emphasizing the need for Just-in-Time (JIT) access and dynamic security checks.

A comprehensive approach to database security involves understanding different database types, maintaining secure access across deployments, and ensuring compliance with data protection laws such as GDPR and CCPA. Issues related to data governance, identity management, and the impact of privacy laws are also discussed, stressing the importance of data discovery, classification, and ongoing protection. The NETAND HIWARE platform is introduced as a solution focusing on privileged session management for databases, offering a range of authentication protocols and integration with various systems. Recommendations for improving database access management include understanding organizational needs, evaluating vendor capabilities, and ensuring scalability and high availability of security solutions.

• Average cost of a data breach is $4 million.
• High-profile data breaches can cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
• Regulations like GDPR do not distinguish between SQL, NoSQL, or other data storage types.
• Privacy laws such as GDPR, CCPA, and NY DFS Cybersecurity Regulation are driving the need for comprehensive data protection.
• NETAND is based in South Korea and has a strong presence in East Asian financial services.
• HIWARE supports various authentication protocols, including SSH, FTP, and Telnet.
• NETAND HIWARE can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud with a hardware gateway.
• HIWARE logs activity from login to logout and supports HRMS integration.
• Automated blocking of sessions and commands in HIWARE to prevent unauthorized access.
• Video session recording option available in HIWARE.

• "The concept of Zero Trust can be summed up in the phrase Never Trust, Always Verify."
• "Data that is not governed remains at constant risk of being lost or stolen."
• "The average cost of a data breach reaching $4 million, just direct financial losses can be catastrophic for many companies."
• "To manage access to databases for compliance and security, some form of database identity management must be deployed."
• "Identities should be subject to JIT, dynamic security checks for single-use access to any resources before they are allowed access."
• "Organizations today must know where their user data resides, categorize the data's level of vulnerability, impact, and risk."
• "New vendor platforms are emerging to provide secure, low latency access to data."
• "Good data governance is essential to keep data in the right hands and protected from cyber-attacks."
• "In functionality NETAND HIWARE PSM does not break the moulds and presents as a basic but well-ordered, and cleanly designed PSM platform."
• "Many Privileged Access Management (PAM) platforms are not compatible with the principles of Zero Trust."