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        Database Security >> Database Security >> Database-Scanners
        
(Message started by: Pete Finnigan on Feb 7^th, 2006, 8:18am)

Title: Database-Scanners
Post by Pete Finnigan on Feb 7^th, 2006, 8:18am

Dear all,

our company is currently investigating on database-scanners for Oracle, SQL Server and DB2.

At the moment we're having a closer look on AppDetective / AppRadar from Application Security and NGSSquirrel from NGS Software.

Du you already have any experiences with these or other database-scanners?
Can you approve some database-scanners?

Upfront many thanks!

Kind regards,
Michael

Title: Re: Database-Scanners
Post by Pete Finnigan on Feb 7^th, 2006, 1:24pm

Hi Michael.

Depends what your scanning for. :)

In the Vulnerability scanner market you have Detective, Squirrel, Lumigents Vulnerability Manager, IPlock and stuff from the main host based monitors, such as Symantec and NetIQ (NetIQ don't do DB2)

If your monitoring for intrusion as well then
Radar, and the network appliances such as Imperva and Guardium.
Both the network appliances have small agents to monitor local access, but its not essential.

As far as what's best........ I don't have room to do a review here.

Can you give us some more detail on what scanning features your really looking for?

Kevin Else
NoFools

Title: Re: Database-Scanners
Post by Pete Finnigan on Feb 7^th, 2006, 4:02pm

Hi Kevin,

thank you for this information so far.

Our company already has a vulnerability management solution (network and OS layer) and an application scanner. We are looking for a database-scanner which scans our databases for security holes (penetration testing and security audit). Other aspects are secondary considered. A solution of more products, appropriate for each database system, is also possible. The quality of the scan is much more important than the costs.
A stand-alone product is preferred, so products like AppRadar will be analyzed secondary.

The scanner should have most of the following features:
- configuration: variable levels of audit / scan policy; possibility to create own audits / policies
- only little network impact (should also not influence other applications running)
- reports available in HTML, XML and / or ability to store reports in databases
- detailled reports with useful help / links / possibility to fix most of the security holes automatically
- very good support (e.g. reaction on new security holes, frequency of updates)
- good performance
- user-friendly

Best regards,
Michael

Title: Re: Database-Scanners
Post by Pete Finnigan on Feb 10^th, 2006, 11:20am

Hi Michael.

As a true standalone, your looking at the first three I mentioned. AppDet, Squirrel and Lumigent.

AppDet has a number of modules for Ora Apps as well, and tends to update quickly. Very simple to install

Squirrel is very simaliar to detective, but I admit to not having a lot of experience of it. Maybe someone else can comment on it?

The Lumigent product is quite new, about a year or so old. It doesn't update on new vuls as fast as the other two, yet. But it does cover vulnerabilities and configuration issues all the way through an application, so it includes checks on the OS, middle tier and application when it builds its threat analysis. Although these checks maybe duplicates of stuff you already have, it does have the advantage of having the knowledge of what effect a bad OS setting, for example, can have on the security of a database. They do a number of app modules as well, and the team has a lot of experience with apps like PeopleSoft.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

Title: Re: Database-Scanners
Post by Pete Finnigan on Feb 13^th, 2006, 8:55am

Thanks a lot for this information, Kevin.

Squirrel for Oracle has already been tested from one of my colleagues. This seems to be a quite good application, it covered most of our prepared security holes and gave also detailled reports.

I am also investigating on shadow database scanner and appsentry from integrigy. Does anyone already have experiences in these products?

Michael

Title: Re: Database-Scanners
Post by Pete Finnigan on Apr 4^th, 2006, 9:19pm

Above do-it-yourself software cover about 70-90% OF KNOWN related issues. Not so bad... (a bit less as common antivirus, this mean they are not yet mature) Part of the rest are not yet vendor patched BUT known - not even checked by commercial scanners. A limited part are known only by researchers. What about the rest of? I think a valuable collection of data no mater what engine use need a security specialist - (consultant, researcher) responsability and talent ... for the rest... Just think about the one who tried imperva issue before you are all get it patched and scanned ... It is one single simple ideea (as old as the develloper) ... and it is not the only one...
Take care...

Title: Re: Database-Scanners
Post by Pete Finnigan on Jul 21^st, 2007, 3:54pm

hi all,

Today I see this topic "TechTarget’s Information Security magazine and SearchSecurity.com Announce 2007 “Readers’ Choice Awards” winners"
at
http://www.techtarget.com/html/pr/pr-04022007.htm
. The Database Security product of Symantic get the GOLD award, and appdetective get the SILVER award.

Before see that topic, I think appdetective or SquirrelOracle is the best product for Database security.

But now, I dont know which is better ?

what you think about th award ?

Regards.

Title: Re: Database-Scanners
Post by Pete Finnigan on Jul 24^th, 2007, 1:37pm

The problem is that its like comparing apples and carrots, the award has a wide category definition. The symantec product is a network real-time detection and audit product, AppDetective and Squirrel are database scanners. They don't compare in this case.

cheers

Pete