Database Security for Businesses and How It Relates to PCI-DSS Compliance
What is a database?
Database is the collection of various types of data that is stored at one place and information is recalled from it to produce an output. It is just like a warehouse where you store all the goods and then later on when you need some fixed amount, you come to that warehouse and fetch the desired amount. A database stores every kind of information in it, in the form of 0s and 1s i.e. binary. It keeps them in several addresses on the memory at different locations. When we need it recalls that particular memory address and fetches the data stored there.
What is Database Security?
Database is the nerve centre of any information system. If the data stored in it gets deleted accidentally or lost in theft and one does not have an alternate copy for it then all that can done is – cried over ones short sightedness. In today’s world where crime is a bigger part of society, nothing is safe. And such essential data items that can lead to disaster should be kept out of the reach of a common person. For this purpose we use security measures. These measures are termed to be as Database Security.
There are numerous ways by which a data can be made impossible to reach for the hacker. Hackers are the virtual thieves who try to access such information without the permission of the owner. They are hardcore programmers and they deal in breaking through the security codes of a network to get the information in the database.
A company database is the most important data source for a server. It holds all the information regarding their clients. You can well understand lose of any such information can lead to blunders. Hence, big companies and small business houses, everybody, try on their level to put a security check on their database.
PCI-DSS Compliance
PCI Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) provides a platform,a working one, in which you can create a data security process that includes – prevention, detection and appropriate reaction to security breaches. PCI Security Standards Council provide a comprehensive layout of standard and supporting materials that help in enhancing payment card data security. Tools used for this purpose is – Self Assessment Questionnaires.
They are a set of questions provided by the PCI Council which help you in self assessment and maintenance of your security codes and data security.
How Database Security is related to PCI-DSS Compliance
Database security and PCI-DSS go hand in hand. Without proper code and protocols you cannot imagine to keep your data safe in an organized manner. PCI-DSS is not only about keeping data secure but also breaking them down into PTS (PIN Transaction Security) requirements. This further allows your data to be secure behind the bars of code and passwords.
PCI-DSS is all about database security. All the information which is stored in the database is not only being hidden from the outsiders but also from the insiders. We all cannot access the data of every level. All these checks and process of applying these checks are maintained PCI-DSS Compliance.
