Similarities and Differences of DBMSS Security Features
Similarities and Differences of DBMS’S Security Features
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Abstract
There are differences as well as similarities of database security features offered by Commercial off the shelf DBMS’s Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Firebird and PostgreSQL. This paper examines the four database security features and suggests that certainly, Oracle is the most security rich DBMS available in the market.
In order to achieve this, the paper is segmented into three parts. The first part defines the key terms used end to end in the paper. The following section outlines the body of the paper which covers each of the features in details with prime emphasis to the database security problem the feature addresses. The last piece restates the thesis statement and highlights the main points as outlined in the lower segment as well as giving a clear recommendation on the database feature that organizations should perhaps purchase.
Keywords: Commercial off shelf, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Firebird, PostgreSQL, Database management system, SQL
Similarities and Differences of DBMS’S Security Features
Before the writer of the paper proceeds with the similarities and differences that subsists in the four database security features, it is detrimental to define the key terms used throughout the paper. Secondly to none, commercial off shelf refers to a computer program doped out to carry out specific tasks, and that the software can be used with minimal modifications. Generally, COTS refer to, either software or hardware products that are ready for use by the users and specified to undertake specific tasks. COTS products do not need any further customization since most of these products are user friendly. Virtually all programs purchased by live wares including operating systems and email programs are perfect examples COTS products (Rouse, 2010).
Secondly, Microsoft SQL Server is a Database Management system designed specifically for business enterprises. This software has additional features lacking in a standard SQL Server like transaction control and row processing (Rouse, 2010).
The other key term is Oracle that is one of the most popular database management systems. It has a range of features compared to other relational database systems (Chapple, 2012). Firebird, on the other hand, is a relational database management system that has many standardized features that can easily run most of the operating systems including Linux and windows. It has certainly demonstrated its high performance capability over the years since 1981 (ITBUSINESSEDGE, 2012).
Consequently, PostgreSQL is a relational database management system neither owned nor controlled by one company. As a result, PostgreSQL is majorly supervised by industrious developers and volunteers. Its features are similar to those of Oracle and other relational database management systems (n.a, 2010).
SQL is a standard computer language used to communicate with relational database management system. One of the main features of the SQL language is that it is that it is declarative or a non procedural language. The programmer does not need to specify step by step all the operations that the computer needs to carry out in order to achieve the desired results. In SQL, the user indicates to the database management system what needs to be done and then lets the system to accomplish the task in order to achieve the desired results (Mata, 2000).
Lastly, Database Management System is the software which lets the computer system carry out database functions by storing, extracting, adding and modifying data. Perfect examples of DBMS include Microsoft access, Microsoft SQL Server and oracle just to mention a few (Chapple Mike, 2012).
Problem and Motivation
In virtually all organizations, data on various issues within the organization is very important. It assists the managers in the organization to make sound decisions affecting them. It is therefore, the role of the managers of such organizations to manage their data in the most appropriate way. This is known as data management and is essentially essential in all organizations. It helps in data storage and retrieval. Database is an application program that stores and updates data. The database management system stores massive data. In most database systems, there subsists a logical storage of data such that, there are rows and columns thereby enabling easy access to such data. In data management, however, the most noteworthy aspect is data security. Virtually all organizations would like to secure and protect their data from any possible loss. In order to achieve this, various soft wares have been designed to support data management. Such database systems include; Microsoft SQL, Oracle, Firebird and PostgreSQL. However, these database systems have different features that support data management.
Background and Related Literature
Microsoft SQL Server, as highlighted above, is computer software specifically designed for enterprises and web based database applications. In the mid 1980s, Microsoft’s products were desktop focussed. At this time, client/server computing had not yet been developed, and most people used spreadsheet application programs to store their data. In the year 1992, Microsoft came up with desktop database management application programs including Microsoft access and Microsoft Fox Pro. At the same time, IBM had already developed some database managers including DB/2 and Informix that had full SQL query processor. Microsoft, a competitor, needed a similar product as that of IBM and thereby, later on coming up with Sybase that was one of its first DBMS’s products in the market. Over the years, Sybase has undergone various transformations and today known is as Sybase Adaptive Server. Later on Microsoft developed SQL Server that has over the years been modified to cater for the needs of the users. For example, the features that were missing in the SQL Server 2000 have been steadily improved with regards to scalability and availability. Besides, the entire performance of the Microsoft SQL Server is continuously addressed. In order to achieve this, the Microsoft developers use information from the antecedent users of SQL Server 2000 in order to develop more robust Microsoft SQL Server (n.a, The Evolution of Microsoft SQL Server, 2000).
In many firms, data are indispensable and, therefore, requires be properly managing and protecting. The Microsoft SQL protects the database against any unauthorized access that may cause destructions to the database. Such protection comprises of, physical, as well as network protection of databases.
In simple cases, the Microsoft SQL offers authorization to the live wares or the end users. In this regard, the SQL lets the user has access to the systems or objects in the system. System privileges allow the user to access the database while the objects privileges to change the various items within the database. The Microsoft SQL gives specific rights to users such that, they are the only end users who can either access the database or manipulate the objects within the system. Apart from the two crucial roles, SQL enables the system administrators to monitor the users of the data bases by only allowing the intended users to view objects and even manipulate the objects within the database.
A perfect example would be granting an individual, by the name Wilcox, the right to create tables in a given database. The Microsoft SQL avoids the difficult task of granting privileges to different users by creating related groups with identical privileges. In this regard, data entry operators and programmers may have different privileges. The task of database administrators is, therefore, to create separate roles for the two groups (Mata, 2000).
In comparison to the other relational database management system product like oracle, Microsoft SQL abbreviated as MSSQL, has almost similar features as those of the oracle. The only unique feature in the Oracle absent in the MSSQL is the superset feature that simplifies operations. The MSSQL is, however, frightfully much advanced as compared to Oracle keeping in mind that it has powerful features including absolute configuration and installation. Consequently, MSSQL is user friendly, and in most cases, MSSQL operators have the capacity to operate virtually all database activities. In order to operate the Oracle, it is usually beneficial to have vast skills in the application.
Microsoft SQL has demonstrated efficient grouping as well as availability. In line with this, MSSQL provides a remarkably quick cluster configuration compared to Oracle. In addition, the MSSQL has the capacity to enable different servers to share data among them. This feature has been properly addressed while using oracle since it is straightforward and efficient to use as compared to MSSQL.
The main data security feature that will be reviewed in the paper is simplicity across the relational database systems. In comparison to other database systems, MSQL’s security is easier to manage than any other server based relational database engine in the market.
The Oracle gives an automatic storage management system which simplifies storage of data in oracle, as opposed to MSSQL. This feature, however, has been quite unstable and up to now has several issues to be addressed. One of the recent versions has been devised called the release version with several patches. Although Oracle provides better features compared to MSSQL, oracle’s drawback is that, it is exceedingly difficult to install. In terms of administration, MSSQL, just like any other Microsoft product, has a Graphical User Interface. In short, MSSQL is user friendly (Gornsht, 2004).
In general, the Microsoft SQL has a number of advantages as compared to other products including earlier versions of SQL. The latest version of the product has the capacity to hide not only data in the database but also the database itself which avoids possible tampering by unintended users. Besides, it manages the access to the various types of data in the databases and also enhances data compression hence improving the speed in the entire system. Furthermore, it restricts other unintended groups from using essential data in the database (Mata, 2000).
As indicated earlier on in the paper, Oracle has some features absent in other database management systems products. In fact, it has portrayed to be powerful software just like the SQL. Its merits allow it to be tremendously popular across the globe. Several features have been designed aimed at improving efficiency of the new product.
Oracle has demonstrated effectiveness in large organizations including banks and other financial sectors. In fact, all banks make use of the software since it incorporates modern technologies and business applications specifically meant for banks and other business enterprises. Compared to other databases including one of Microsoft’s earliest versions, Sybase and the SQL, Oracle is fast as well as effective in undertaking operations in large organizations like banks. In addition, the oracle products released in the market on a regular basis serves the customers better, and this is perhaps the reason as to why oracle is retaining its large market share. Oracle meets all the requirements for an efficient database system that ensures data integrity including; atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability. One of the latest versions of Oracle has additional features; including the presence of a recycle bin where dropped tables could be deleted and stored in the recycle bin but eventually could be restored back just like the standard windows recycle bin.
As earlier on indicated data are obviously critical in almost every organization. Loss of data could cause problems to the organization. This problem has been adequately addressed by the latest version of the Oracle. This latest version utilizes the flash technology that enables recovery of data. The flash technology enhances faster data recovery thus simplifying data management in any organization (Geek, 2010).
Oracle protects databases by monitoring database activities on the network. Latest versions of Oracle prevent unauthorized transactions thereby avoiding external attacks to the database. Oracle on the other hand is easy to install just like the MSQL and does not require any changes to the existing application programs or databases
The other product is firebird that works well with almost all hardware and software components including Windows, MacOs and Linux. The most prominent feature present in firebird, that is absent in almost all other products, is a multigenerational feature where the firebird database also acts as an analytical data store. As a result, the writers and readers can work simultaneously even when accessing similar data. In short, the readers cannot block the readers if the two are accessing the same data.
Just like the two other types of products, firebird is user friendly and supremely much compatible with other products including ANSI SQL. Besides, it has been used in the financial sector thereby showing flexibility in its usage.
Furthermore, Firebird is readily available since it is free both in the commercial set up as well as in educational institutions. In line with this, Firebird is free because it charges no license, installation or activation fees. Consequently, Firebird provides online backups and easily creates copies for databases, however, large the database may be. The two features assist in the recovery of data which is quite useful to any given organization that deals with enormous data. As earlier on indicated, Firebird is highly compatible with other products. In line with this, Firebird is quite easy to install and to operate. Currently, there are more than one million firebird software developers and its popularity is still growing at an alarming rate (FIREBIRD, 2012).
Data and database management is extremely crucial in any given organization. Data storage is one of the most pressing problems in such organizations. As a result, it is necessary to devise software that caters for the problem of data and database management. Such software that ensures accuracy in the database as well as avoiding human error is possibly firebird.
Unlike other products, firebird provides unique features including referential integrity and multigenerational architecture. In fact, it is fully featured software that is highly compatible with other products and available to handle vast amounts of data. It is as well cost effective since it needs nil license fees as compared to other databases. Although it may not provide all the features that may be required by databases, firebird provides quite a number of features that could be used in database management.
PostgreSQL is as also an enterprise database that provides adequate support in database management. It has over the years served thousands of end users. This is because it is cost friendly which has enabled users all over the world to shift from other types of databases to PostgreSQL. PostgreSQL has provided features that can assist in database management including a number of Oracle features that are quite powerful. A key feature that PostgreSQL provides is language support which is absent in almost all other databases. In addition, it is remarkably easy to use and also cost friendly to the end user (DB, 2012).
PostgreSQL is one of the most advanced databases that meet the needs of most organizations compared to other database systems. Just like the firebird, this software has no licensing costs and, therefore, cheaper to end users. In most organizations and particularly businesses, cost is a hugely valuable variable which affects profitability. The main objective of businesses is to make maximum profits. In case the cost of running businesses is high, then, it means that the return would be unusually low. If businesses want to make higher profits, they need to cut down on the operations costs to a great deal. Businesses would be required to use cost effective software that support their data. One of such software would be PosgreSQL. In addition, the software requires extremely low maintenance cost compared to other database systems. Furthermore, research indicates that PostgreSQL has never crashed and, therefore, quite reliable and stable. Moreover, unlike other database systems, PostgreSQL can be customized to fit the end user’s needs without an additional cost. As if this is not enough, the database system is user friendly. Other additional features include; referential integrity and the presence of procedural languages just like the firebird. New versions have been designed to cater for the needs of most organizations. The latest version has the capacity to compress data thereby enhancing speed one of the main features in PostgreSQL is the presence of Gist that enables customization of data such that the data can be easily and appropriately accessed by the end users (DB, 2012).
Results and Conclusions
Most organizations deal with enormous amounts of data. In most cases, it would be difficult to handle such data manually. In order simplify data management the above software are paramount. These are normally computerized programs that possess numerous advantages. One of such advantages is a high speed in finding records from elephantine amounts of data.
From the above deliberations, it would be fair to suggest that indeed Oracle is the most security rich database management system on the market. In comparison to Microsoft SQL, oracle has more features and thereby more efficient. On the other hand, MSQL’s security is quite simple and easy to use compared to the other three. However, it does not provide all essential features required to handle complex data. This is a disadvantage to MSQL compared to Oracle. In short, it would be right to suggest that MSQL is better compared to Oracle in terms of simplicity. However, MSQL does not provide adequate features so as to qualify as the most security rich database in the market.
From an economist point of view, firebird and PostgreSQL would be more effective since they are cheap In fact; they are cheaper due since they require no licensing fee or maintenance fees. However, the two database systems do not provide all the features as provided by the first two. For efficiency, the writer would suggest that an organization should acquire a database system that meets almost all the needs of the organization. In case the database system does not meet all the needs, then it would be crucial to purchase two or more database systems that would then support the database management.
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