Security Risks in Database Migration
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Security Risks in Database Migration
As organizations become more reliant on database applications, companies may require to migrate their databases allowing for cheaper running which can then replicated to the consumers with reduced charges. This can be demonstrated with the recent move of Apple Inc.’s iCloud user data to Chinese servers. The move by the company was to reduce the expense of running the severs “inhouse,” however, brought about questions regarding data security for people using smart devices. Nevertheless, data migration can be daunting particularly when the event is unplanned or unwanted (Fisch, White, & Pooh, 2017). When companies migrate, they experience some risks and challenges as servers are moved from one location to another. Among the first issues is the loss of data or information (Fisch, White, & Pooh, 2017). In a recent study, it was estimated that this problem accounts for approximately fifty percent of all problems that occur during this process. The outcomes of this problem are viewed as damaging for both businesses and individuals using the services (Fisch, White, & Pooh, 2017).
Though this problem is common during database migration, it is not the only one, another issue is semantics risk (Malik & Patel, 2016). The term semantic risk is given or used in database security when data or information is imprecisely, or improperly stored resulting in misinterpretations that quickly escalate to adverse outcomes due to computation errors. Therefore, even if the data transfer to the new location was completely efficient some errors may occur when recompiling the data. There are possibilities that information can be unintentionally saved in the wrong location or folder. This can be especially harmful to organizations that deal with numbers or currency such as the various stock exchange organizations globally. In other words, sematic risk can be described as when misunderstanding results in misallocation (Malik & Patel, 2016). This can allow hackers to easily access data that should be properly secured by the various protocols in place. The final security issue with data migration is the risk of incompatibility, though compatibility can be tested, not all the data being sent will be compatible in some cases exemplifying them from security measures thus offering a breach or point of attack (Yunis, Yunus, Nawi, & Surin, 2017).
Overall, data security is important as demonstrated by the recent attacks and breaches that resulted in data leaks of high-profile companies for example Facebook. When migrating data from one server to another as done by Apple Inc. In the example offered, corporate data has to be accessed and for this reason, security cannot be left to chance as the information is both sensitive and critical (Kumar et al., 2017). The challenges and risks of insufficient security are as demonstrated in the prior sections of this paper. The outcomes of such mishaps to data can be loss of customers and depending on the scale of the problem, legal action can be taken up (Muslmani, Kazakzeh, Ayoubi, & Aljawarneh, 2018). For this reason, all data irrespective of the source should be handled with respect. By assessing the data being transferred and the costs that may arise from data breaches can offer a cost-effective means of data migration. However, this does not affirm that the data being migrated will be completely secure from breach or other forms of security issues.
Annotated Bibliography
Fisch, E. A., White, G. B., & Pooch, U. W. (2017). Computer system and network security. CRC press.
The authors of this publication take into consideration the complex nature of computer, network and database security. It therefore offers a step by step approach to the issues whilst providing the needed solutions. Each issue is handled independently allowing for easy comprehension.
Kumar, D., Ma, Z., Durumeric, Z., Mirian, A., Mason, J., Halderman, J. A., & Bailey, M. (2017). Security challenges in an increasingly tangled web. In Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on World Wide Web (pp. 677-684). International World Wide Web Conferences Steering Committee.
This article takes the approach to database security problems from a different perspective. The authors acknowledge that database security is becoming more necessary as humanity adapts to the internet-age. They further recognize that in the past two decades, the internet has become more complex and interconnected thereby resulting in shared vulnerabilities due to the complex security architectures implemented.
Malik, M., & Patel, T. (2016). Database security attacks and control methods. International Journal of Information, 6(1/2), 175-183.
The others to this study began by addressing the importance of databases in the digital world of today. This is then followed by the various forms of security issues such databases undergo from cyber attacks to data leaks. Finally, they address the various methods of security that can be implemented.
Muslmani, B. K., Kazakzeh, S., Ayoubi, E., & Aljawarneh, S. (2018, October). Reducing integration complexity of cloud-based ERP systems. In Proceedings of the First International Conference on Data Science, E-learning and Information Systems (p. 37). ACM.
Though the other sources identified in this reference have been recognized for offering an understanding to the problem at hand. The authors of this article take a different approach as the majority of the information is on creating solutions to the already complex database security architecture in place.
Yunus, M. A. M., Yunus, S. K. G., Nawi, N. M., & Surin, E. S. M. (2017). Study on Database Management System Security Issues. JOIV: International Journal on Informatics Visualization, 1(4-2), 192-194.
The authors of the journal article conducted various studies on the security of databases and the methods applied. They addressed the various unique as well as common challenges with database security. After the assessment they offered both simple and complex security measures for various levels of database security.
References
Fisch, E. A., White, G. B., & Pooch, U. W. (2017). Computer system and network security. CRC press.
Kumar, D., Ma, Z., Durumeric, Z., Mirian, A., Mason, J., Halderman, J. A., & Bailey, M. (2017). Security challenges in an increasingly tangled web. In Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on World Wide Web (pp. 677-684). International World Wide Web Conferences Steering Committee.
Malik, M., & Patel, T. (2016). Database security attacks and control methods. International Journal of Information, 6(1/2), 175-183.
Muslmani, B. K., Kazakzeh, S., Ayoubi, E., & Aljawarneh, S. (2018, October). Reducing integration complexity of cloud-based ERP systems. In Proceedings of the First International Conference on Data Science, E-learning and Information Systems (p. 37). ACM.
Yunus, M. A. M., Yunus, S. K. G., Nawi, N. M., & Surin, E. S. M. (2017). Study on Database Management System Security Issues. JOIV: International Journal on Informatics Visualization, 1(4-2), 192-194.