SQL Server Disaster Recovery: Four Essential Security Measures
Since Microsoft SQL Server databases are critical for many organizations, protecting SQL Server from disasters such as security breaches and data loss isn’t optional—it’s essential. This is especially true for sectors like healthcare, banking, and FinTech.
I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened. -Mark Twain
Mark Twain’s quip may have been an admonition against excessive worrying, but it also speaks to the benefits of preparedness. When you’re prepared, you’re in the best possible position if catastrophe does strike. You’ll also lower your stress levels on all of those days when there isn’t a disaster—a win-win situation.
So, what do we need to do to prepare and protect our SQL Server from disaster?
What are disaster recovery and security maintenance?
Disaster recovery and security maintenance include regular tasks that help to protect your SQL Server from data loss and unauthorized access. These activities can and should include backing up your databases, testing your backups, monitoring for anomalies, and conducting regular security audits.
1. Regular backups and recovery testing
Backups are table stakes disaster recovery. They ensure your organization can recover data in the event of a disaster. Maybe it’s from a hardware failure. Perhaps it’s from a cyberattack. Unfortunately, user error is the cause of many data disasters. This is where backups that meet your Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) come into play.
But backing up data isn’t enough—you need to document and regularly test your recovery process to confirm that backups work as expected. Without this testing, even the best backup strategies can fall short when you need them most.
An untested backup is only the hope of recovery. Unfortunately, hope is not a strategy.
2. Security audits and vulnerability scans
Cyberattacks are a growing threat, so regular security audits are an essential tool to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.
Security audits identify weaknesses in your SQL Server environment, allowing the vulnerabilities to be remediated before they are exploited.
Conducting vulnerability assessments, such as the CIS Benchmark Assessment for SQL Server, and updating your security policies can help strengthen your security posture and protect sensitive data. If you’re not familiar with the CIS Benchmarks, we can work with you to assess your environment and identify any security gaps in your SQL estate.
3. Monitoring and auditing for anomalies
Who has access to your SQL Server? Who has elevated permissions? When were they granted those permissions? And by whom? You’re going to want to know the answer to these questions.
So, keeping a close eye on your SQL Server environment is essential. Monitoring and auditing tools allow you to track unusual behavior, such as spikes in access attempts or unexpected changes in database structure. SQL Server has a built-in feature called SQL Audit that can help.
Catching these red flags early can help you address potential security breaches before they become full-blown incidents.
4. Data encryption and access controls
If you have sensitive data such as Personally Identifiable Information, Personal Health Information, or financial information, you should consider encrypting your data and backups.
Data encryption prevents unauthorized users from reading sensitive information, even if they gain access to it. Check out SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption to learn more.
In summary
Disaster recovery and security are essential practices for Microsoft SQL Server. For sectors like healthcare and banking, where data security and recoverability are non-negotiable, investing in these measures is a critical safeguard.
Download a SQL Server Security Self-Assessment
Securing your SQL Server is important, but knowing where to start that process can be the biggest challenge. So, we created our free SQL Server Security Self-Assessment to help you begin the process of identifying potential gaps in your security posture.
Consider a SQL Health Check or CIS Benchmark Assessment
If you’d like to know more about how The SERO Group can help assess your SQL Server estate with a SQL Health Check or a CIS Benchmark Assessment, schedule a no-obligation discovery call with us.
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