If your business deals in large volumes of data, chances are that you are at least somewhat familiar with PostgreSQL, or you may use it actively in your data management strategy. PostgreSQL is a powerful relational database system, and it is completely open source. As of 2019, PostgreSQL was the second-most-common database solution for professionals. Thirty-four percent of more than 75,000 respondents reported that it was their first choice. By association, PostgreSQL API security is key issue that should be considered when using the PostgreSQL platform. The 2021 Open Source Security and Risk Analysis, or OSSRA, report highlighted the many risks of open-source software in general, as well as prolific security problems in many particular products. How can you reduce the risks of using PostgreSQL? This article covers the five top ways to better secure your PostgreSQL database solution.
Here's the key things to know about PostgreSQL Database Security:
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PostgreSQL Database Security refers to the array of practices, techniques, and tools employed to protect PostgreSQL, an advanced open-source relational database, from unauthorized access and cyber threats. This comprehensive security model includes several key features.
It offers a range of authentication methods such as password-based, Kerberos, and certificate-based authentication, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access the database. Additionally, role-based access control (RBAC) allows for detailed management of user and group permissions. To secure data, PostgreSQL supports SSL/TLS encryption for client-server communications and allows integration with external tools for disk data encryption, effectively safeguarding data both in transit and at rest.
The system is also designed to resist SQL injection attacks, a prevalent threat, by utilizing prepared statements and parameterized queries. PostgreSQL provides extensive logging capabilities, crucial for monitoring database activities, identifying potential security incidents, and complying with regulatory standards.
The active maintenance by the PostgreSQL community, which includes regular updates and patches, plays a crucial role in addressing known vulnerabilities, ensuring the database stays secure against the continuously evolving digital threats.
Securing a PostgreSQL database is crucial in safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of your information systems. Implementing robust security measures involves a combination of best practices, from configuring authentication methods to enforcing role-based access control.
Role-based access control (RBAC) is the process of preventing unauthorized users from accessing your database or particularly sensitive data within the storehouse through the use of uniquely defined "roles." RBAC restricts access depending on roles as defined by you. According to the PostgreSQL documentation, "A role can be thought of as either a database user, or a group of database users." You can then use various forms of authentication to control when and where to grant these roles access. Role-based access control ensures that users only have access to what they need at a given time, and with strict authentication it is a powerful tool for PostgreSQL security.
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption is a common protocol for protecting data through transport. Now many also use TLS (Transport Layer Secure). Both of these protocols control the transfer of information between servers or between server and client. They ensure no one can modify or access data during transport except as intended. PostgreSQL's security features include native support for SSL. You can also configure the system for TLS. Ideally, you should encrypt all traffic to ensure the greatest level of PostgreSQL security.
PostgreSQL "listens" for client connections and authorizes or rejects them based on a set of parameters. You can configure the database to only connect with safe and required networks, preventing any unauthorized network access. While the source code has this set as the default, some other builds may not. Users can ensure better security by adjusting the listen_addresses parameter. Setting this to localhost enables you to block unwanted network connections before they access the database.
You can also change the port that PostgreSQL uses to listen for these connections as desired. These options make it easier for users to configure PostgreSQL for their company's particular needs. Configuring the database to your specifications may take a lot of time and effort, but through DreamFactory you can build a secure REST (REpresentational State Transfer) API to Postgres in minutes with little or no coding.
RLS (Row-Level Security) is a protocol or policy that protects data on the level of individual rows in tables, per its name. Postgres lets you create these policies to restrict users to only accessing rows that are specific to their needs at the time. In this way, no one user has unlimited access to data that is unnecessary or not appropriate for them to view.
RLS just increases the customization of PostgreSQL security to a deeper level. It allows you to individualize every point of access to data, ensuring compliance and helping prevent security leaks and breaches. The system utilizes user accounts to funnel the data so that only the intended user sees it. DreamFactory has optimized user management features including SSO (single sign-on) to help keep users' accounts secure and much more.
There are two aspects of the built-in logging and monitoring system that you can enhance for better PostgreSQL security.
DreamFactory plays a pivotal role in enhancing the security of PostgreSQL databases, providing an additional layer of protection and management ease through its API management platform. Here’s how DreamFactory contributes to securing PostgreSQL databases:
Without adequate data security, you risk exposing sensitive client data as well as opening up your company to potential lawsuits and other problematic situations. Prioritizing the security of your database solution means following Postgres security best practices and determining the most secure API options. PostgreSQL security deserves your full attention, but you can simplify it through these measures. With these five tips, you can enhance your current level of database security and ensure that only authorized users access data.
DreamFactory provides a modern, no-code platform that ensures you comprehensively manage your PostgreSQL API security. With DreamFactory, you can instantly generate a fully documented and secure REST API saving you considerable time and developer effort in creating and deploying your PostgreSQL API.
Related reading:
How to Secure REST APIs: API Keys Vs OAuth