How can you secure data in legacy databases?

1 Identify and inventory your legacy databases

The first step to secure data in legacy databases is to know what you have and where it is. You should create an inventory of all your legacy databases, including their location, type, version, size, owner, and usage. You should also document their dependencies, connections, and integrations with other systems and applications. This will help you assess the current state of your data assets and identify any potential vulnerabilities or gaps.

2 Apply patches and updates regularly

One of the most common causes of data breaches is outdated or unpatched software. Legacy databases may have known security flaws or bugs that can be exploited by hackers or malicious insiders. You should apply patches and updates regularly to fix any issues and improve the performance and stability of your legacy databases. You should also monitor the vendor support and lifecycle of your legacy databases and plan for upgrades or migrations when necessary.

4 Limit and monitor data access

A third tip to secure data in legacy databases is to limit and monitor data access. You should follow the principle of least privilege, which means granting only the minimum level of access that users or devices need to perform their tasks. You should also segregate your data according to its sensitivity and classification, and apply different access controls and policies for different data types and roles. You should also monitor your data access logs and audit trails, and detect any unusual or suspicious activities or anomalies.

5 Backup and restore your data

A fourth tip to secure data in legacy databases is to backup and restore your data. Backups are copies of your data that you can use to recover from data loss or corruption caused by hardware failures, human errors, natural disasters, or cyberattacks. Restores are the processes of recovering your data from backups and restoring it to its original or desired state. You should backup your data regularly and store it in a secure and separate location. You should also test your backups and restores periodically and ensure that they work as expected.

6 Educate and train your staff

A fifth tip to secure data in legacy databases is to educate and train your staff. Your staff are your first line of defense against data breaches, but they can also be your weakest link if they are not aware or trained on data security best practices. You should educate and train your staff on how to handle data securely, how to avoid phishing and social engineering attacks, how to use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, and how to report and respond to data security incidents.

Securing data in legacy databases is not an easy task, but it is a vital one. By following these tips, you can improve your data security posture and protect your data from unauthorized or malicious access. You can also enhance your data quality, reliability, and availability, and support your business goals and objectives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?