Effective Oracle Database 10g Security by Design (Paperback)

by David Knox (Author), David Knox (Author), McGraw-Hill (Author) "Securing the database may be the single biggest action an organization can take in proactively defending itself against the myriad of unforeseen hostile intruders..." (more)
Key Phrases: Oracle Label Security, Trusted Oracle, Oracle Policy Manager (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Oracle security expert David Knox explains how to design and develop an integrated, secure Oracle environment. In my experience in the security world, including 32 years at the Central Intelligence Agency, I've not found anyone with more experience in the theory and practice of protecting your data than David Knox. --Dave Carey, former Executive Director of the CIA

From the Back Cover

Protect Your Mission-Critical Data with Tips and Tricks from an Oracle Security Insider

Oracle expert David Knox has written the most practical, up-to-date book on Oracle Database 10g security available. With an emphasis on real-world problems and detailed solutions, Effective Oracle Database 10g Security by Design provides all the information you need to develop and deploy secure database applications. The entire security cycle is covered--from identification and authentication to fine-grained access control and encryption to effective auditing techniques. The material is presented with comprehensive yet easy-to-understand examples that show how to use all the security technologies in a complementary way.

• Assess database vulnerabilities and develop effective security policies
• Preserve user identity with in-depth analyses of JDBC connection pools, proxy authentication, and client identifiers
• Manage database users from a central directory without sacrificing security
• Lock down database access using secure application roles
• Leverage application and database security within Oracle’s Identity Management infrastructure
• Validate user privileges by using simple views and scripts
• Protect individual data elements by using the new Oracle DBMS_CRYPTO package
• Exploit database views to provide row-level and column-level fine-grained access controls
• Enforce need-to-know access and data privacy with Virtual Private Database and Oracle Label Security
• Ensure user accountability with Oracle fine-grained Auditing

David Knox is the chief engineer for Oracle’s Information Assurance Center and is one of the premier educators worldwide on Oracle security. While at Oracle he has worked on wide-ranging security programs for various customers including the U.S. Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, financial services companies, and healthcare organizations.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1st edition (June 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072231300
• ISBN-13: 978-0072231304
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #440,382 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent step by step how to guide for Oracle Security, October 5, 2004

By	S. Enevold "security enthusiast" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Unlike most of Oracle's documentation, which requires you to go through several manuals to accomplish something, this book provides a high to mid level step by step guide for implementing defense in depth and least privilege security for Oracle 10G databases. Granted, this book doesn't go extremely deep to the point of Thomas Kyte's reference manual, but it is an easy read and has specific examples that will help you do basic implementations of Oracle's strongest security capabilities.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested. You will find useful material, regardless of your expertise level.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible of Oracle Security, October 6, 2004

By	Marshall Presser - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If the solution to your Oracle security problem cannot be found in David Knox's Effective Oracle Security by Design, it cannot be found anywhere. This book is invaluable for anyone needing to understand or implement security in an Oracle 10g or 9i database or middle tier. In addition to clear explanations, there are tested code examples for virtually every task. I would strongly urge anyone concerned with building secure IT systems read this book and take its suggestions. Frankly, I'm not sure how else one could do it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Enough for the CIA, December 13, 2004

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It would be easy to be secure if all the data were in one room, there were no connections to the outside world (well I guess you have to have power coming in, but that's all), and there were no people who knew the data.

Unfortunately that's not the real world. Breaking the German and Japanese codes during World War II would have been meaningless if that information wasn't used to sink the submarines, divert the convoy, or be ready at Midway.

The situation hasn't changed, but the integral capabilities of the Oracle database itself have. As security has gotten ever more important, the steps you need to take get every more complex. At the same time, the users of your data can't be expected to agree, they have a job to do and if security systems prevent them from doing their job they will find ways to bypass or ignore the security system.

This book can be read on two levels. First it is an excellent primer on security in general. Second it is Oracle centric so that anyone responsible for security on an Oracle based system need go no further.

Note that the Foreward is by David Carey, former Executive Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. It is generally believed that a big contract from the CIA was Oracle's first major success. The implication is that the CIA worked with Oracle to develop the security system discussed here. If the CIA says it's good enough....