Tag Archives: network

Effective database activity monitoring (Page 1 of 2)

There are a number of reasons for organisations to deploy Database Activity Monitoring or DAM solutions, which can range anywhere from compliance to cover overall security.

DAM is a data centre technology, which monitors how the data that is stored in core databases and file servers is being accessed; it works on analyzing access behaviour to detect data breaches, if any; and takes action accordingly to mitigate them.

Various rules and regulations, compliance laws, etc also are increasingly forcing organisations to tighten their control over sensitive data they store, and have a verifiable audit trail that can be signed off, if required, by the appropriate organisational executives.

Database Activity Monitoring Architecture

Different DAM vendors have different ways of tracking activities in a database and therefore implementation of architecture is also slightly different.

A DAM with single appliance or single server architecture provides 1-to-1 mapping of a database server with a monitoring appliance; thus it acts both as a sensor and a collector of appropriate data. DAM with this configuration is good for a small database; however, for larger databases it might not be enough effective. Then there is DAM with 2-tier architecture, consisting of a centralised management server; this server collects information from a set of remote sensors or collection points. With this architecture there is a better degree of system scalability.

DAM with hierarchical architecture builds further onto the 2-tier architecture; this system is best suited for larger organizations; these DAMs are capable of supporting a larger number of sensors and collectors, distributed across a large enterprise.

Advanced Database Activity Monitoring Techniques

The process through which all SQL traffic to a database is monitored is called Network monitoring. Network monitoring allows monitoring multiple databases simultaneously; all the commands that are sent across to databases under scrutiny, are kept track of. The activities of users that are logged directly into the server via a local console are not recorded. Performance of a database is not affected by network monitoring, as no overhead is placed over the database directly.

In remote monitoring, a SQL collector is placed on the database with administrative privileges; the native database auditing is also enabled. The collector aggregates all activity collected by the auditing tools. This type of monitoring imposes an overhead on the database as logging is enabled on the database server, causing it to work more. The advantage of remote monitoring is that all database activities are collected, including that of a user who is logged directly into the server.

One can install local agents on each database that is being monitored, but it is not necessary that they would be successful in detecting all database activity; it would depend on how these agents have been configured, and how much closer to the database they are allowed to sit.

Firewall To Increase Internet Speed And PC Security

Hello to all home computer and internet users. Today in this article I am going to explain an importance of firewall software in your PC, what is firewall and how it can help you to improve speed of your internet connection and make your PC secured from internet threats.

Firewall is computer application that continuously monitors your network traffic. Firewall alerts you and prevents any abnormal behavior on network access or access to unauthorized websites. In short, Firewall is security guard sitting at the get of your computer network and do not allow any kind of data to go outside or to come in without your permission.

Top most reason of Low Internet Speed.

Many internet users might have experienced that their internet speed is slowing down after few days or months of fresh installation. That is because during these times you may have installed many applications software to meet your needs. Other reason may be virus infection to your computer.

Too many applications may slow down your computer and internet speed because of following possibilities.

1. Many applications keep checking for updates on internet by visiting vendor’s website.
2. Many applications like animated screensaver, your browser’s toolbar, games may behave like spy ware and keep informing their vendors about your computer preferences and your browsing habits.
3. If your PC is infected by viruses, there are chances that they are accessing internet behind the wall and you feel that your Internet speed is slow.

For first two of the above solution, you only need properly configured firewall software installed in your PC, while for the third solution, you need to make your PC virus proof first by installing and upgrading latest antivirus software.

There are many free firewall applications are available for home users but choosing the best requires some effort. If you are purchasing full PC security software kit from antivirus vendors, you may get inbuilt firewall but when you want to install free firewall from different vendor, I will recommend searching for the best. You may try ‘free Windows firewall software review’ keyword phrase to search in Google for reviews.

Once you have installed the firewall, it will start asking you about each application that is trying to access internet to allow them or deny. You can allow or deny each of the applications for that instant or permanently by selecting ‘Remember this setting for this application’ option. This way firewall will learn to allow internet access to the application say internet browser and antivirus update program only allowed by you, and will start blocking other instances from accessing and eating your internet bandwidth.

If any of the webpage or web server application tries to attack your PC on different TCP port in suspicious way, firewall will also block it and inform you about. If any of your network computers tries to harm your PC, you will also get notification of it. Hence I say that firewall software is of same importance as antivirus software.

Firewall To Increase Internet Speed And PC Security

Hello to all home computer and internet users. Today in this article I am going to explain an importance of firewall software in your PC, what is firewall and how it can help you to improve speed of your internet connection and make your PC secured from internet threats.

Firewall is computer application that continuously monitors your network traffic. Firewall alerts you and prevents any abnormal behavior on network access or access to unauthorized websites. In short, Firewall is security guard sitting at the get of your computer network and do not allow any kind of data to go outside or to come in without your permission.

Top most reason of Low Internet Speed.

Many internet users might have experienced that their internet speed is slowing down after few days or months of fresh installation. That is because during these times you may have installed many applications software to meet your needs. Other reason may be virus infection to your computer.

Too many applications may slow down your computer and internet speed because of following possibilities.

1. Many applications keep checking for updates on internet by visiting vendor’s website.
2. Many applications like animated screensaver, your browser’s toolbar, games may behave like spy ware and keep informing their vendors about your computer preferences and your browsing habits.
3. If your PC is infected by viruses, there are chances that they are accessing internet behind the wall and you feel that your Internet speed is slow.

For first two of the above solution, you only need properly configured firewall software installed in your PC, while for the third solution, you need to make your PC virus proof first by installing and upgrading latest antivirus software.

There are many free firewall applications are available for home users but choosing the best requires some effort. If you are purchasing full PC security software kit from antivirus vendors, you may get inbuilt firewall but when you want to install free firewall from different vendor, I will recommend searching for the best. You may try ‘free Windows firewall software review’ keyword phrase to search in Google for reviews.

Once you have installed the firewall, it will start asking you about each application that is trying to access internet to allow them or deny. You can allow or deny each of the applications for that instant or permanently by selecting ‘Remember this setting for this application’ option. This way firewall will learn to allow internet access to the application say internet browser and antivirus update program only allowed by you, and will start blocking other instances from accessing and eating your internet bandwidth.

If any of the webpage or web server application tries to attack your PC on different TCP port in suspicious way, firewall will also block it and inform you about. If any of your network computers tries to harm your PC, you will also get notification of it. Hence I say that firewall software is of same importance as antivirus software.