Course: MS2787 Designing Security for Microsoft SQL Server 2005

This two-day instructor-led course enables database administrators who work with enterprise environments to design security for database systems using Microsoft SQL Server 2005. The course emphasizes that students should think about the whole environment, which includes business needs, regulatory requirements and network systems, and database considerations during design. Students will also learn how to monitor security and respond to threats.

This course is intended for current professional database administrators who have three or more years of on-the-job experience administering SQL Server database solutions in an enterprise environment.

Before attending this course, students must:

Have basic knowledge of security protocols and how they work. For example, NTLM or Kerberos.
Have basic knowledge of public key infrastructure (PKI) systems. For example, how public and private keys work, strengths and weaknesses, and what they are used for.
Have working knowledge of network architectures and technologies. For example, how a firewall works, how IPSec works in networking context, common vulnerability points, etc.
Have working knowledge of Active Directory directory service. For example, security models, policies, group policy objects (GPOs), and organizational units (OUs).
Be able to design a database to third normal form (3NF) and know the trade offs when backing out of the fully normalized design (denormalization) and designing for performance and business requirements in addition to being familiar with design models, such as Star and Snowflake schemas.
Have strong monitoring and troubleshooting skills.
Have experience creating Microsoft Visio drawings or have equivalent knowledge.
Have strong knowledge of the operating system and platform. That is, how the operating system integrates with the database, what the platform or operating system can do, interaction between the operating system and the database.
Have basic knowledge of application architecture. That is, different methods of implementing security in an application, how applications can be designed in three layers, what applications can do, the interaction between applications and the database, and interactions between the database and the platform or operating system.
Have knowledge about network security tools. For example, sniffer and port scanning. Must understand how they should be used.
Be able to use patch management systems.
Have knowledge of common attack methods. For example, buffer overflow, replay attacks, etc.
Be familiar with SQL Server 2005 features, tools, and technologies.
Have a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 credential or equivalent experience.

In addition, it is recommended, but not required, that students have completed:

Course 2778, Writing Queries Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Transact-SQL.
Course 2779, Implementing a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Database.
Course 2780, Maintaining a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Database.
Course 2786, Designing a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Infrastructure

This course will help to prepare for the following Microsoft examinations:

70–443 - Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70–447 - MCDBA Skills to MCITP Database Administrator by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Module 1: Introduction to Designing SQL Server Security

This module introduces the principles and methodology of designing SQL Server security. This module also explains the benefits of having a security policy in place and the process of creating a security policy. In addition, this module teaches you the importance of monitoring the security of SQL Server.

Lessons

Principles of Database Security
Methodology for Designing a SQL Server Security Policy
Monitoring SQL Server Security

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Explain the principles of SQL Server security.
Describe the methodology to design a SQL Server security policy.
Explain the importance of monitoring SQL Server security.

Module 2: Designing a SQL Server Systems Infrastructure Security Policy

This module provides the guidelines for implementing server-level security using authentication methods. This module also provides the knowledge required to develop a Microsoft Windows server-level security policy. To enable you to do this, this module provides the guidelines to create password policy and determine service accounts permissions. In addition, this module explains how to select an appropriate encryption method to develop a secure communication policy. This module also explains the monitoring standards for SQL Server.

Lessons

Integrating with Enterprise Authentication Systems
Developing Windows Server-level Security Policies
Developing a Secure Communication Policy
Defining SQL Server Security Monitoring Standards

Lab 2A: Designing a SQL Server Systems Infrastructure Security Policy

Developing Microsoft Windows Server-level Security Policies
Developing a Secure Communication Policy
Integrating SQL Server Security Within the Active Directory Environment
Integrating SQL Server Security With Firewall Configurations
Discussing Systems Infrastructure Security Integration

Lab 2B: Creating an Infrastructure Security Inventory

Auditing the SQL Server Logins
Auditing the Windows Local Password Policy
Auditing SQL Server Service Accounts
Monitoring Security at the Enterprise and Server Levels

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Integrate SQL Server security with enterprise-level authentication systems.
Develop Windows server-level security policies.
Develop a secure communication policy.
Define security monitoring standards for SQL Server at the enterprise and server level.

Module 3: Designing Security Policies for Instances and Databases

This module explains how to design SQL Server instance-level, database-level, and object-level security policies. This module teaches the security monitoring standards for instances and databases.

Lessons

Designing an Instance-level Security Policy
Designing a Database-level Security Policy
Designing an Object-level Security Policy
Defining Security Monitoring Standards for Instances and Databases

Lab 3A: Designing Security Policies for Instances and Databases

Designing an Instance-level Security Policy
Designing a Database-level Security Policy
Designing an Object-level Security Policy
Discussing Database Security Exceptions

Lab 3B: Validating Security Policies for Instances and Databases

Auditing Existing Server Logins
Auditing SQL Server Roles Membership
Analyzing Existing Object Permissions
Monitoring Security at the Instance and Database Level

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Design a SQL Server instance-level security policy.
Design a database-level security policy.
Design an object-level security policy.
Define security monitoring standards for instances and databases.

Module 4: Integrating Data Encryption into a Database Security Design

This module provides the guidelines and considerations for security data using encryption and certificates. This module also describes various data encryption policies. Finally, this module shows how to determine a key storage method.

Lessons

Securing Data by Using Encryption and Certificates
Designing Data Encryption Policies
Determining a Key Storage Method

Lab 4: Integrating Data Encryption into a Database Security Design

Selecting a Data Security Method
Designing a Data Encryption Security Policy
Selecting a Key Storage Method

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Secure data by using encryption and certificates.
Design data encryption policies.
Determine a key storage method

Module 5: Designing a Security Exceptions Policy

This module provides guidelines for gathering business and regulatory requirements and comparing them with existing policy. This module also covers how to determine the exceptions and their impact on security.

Lessons

Analyzing Business and Regulatory Requirements
Determining the Exceptions and their Impact

Lab 5: Designing a Security Exceptions Policy

Identifying Variations from the Security Policy
Obtaining Approval of the Security Policy
Discussing the Results of Policy Approval Presentations

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Analyze business and regulatory requirements.
Determine the exceptions and their impact on security.

Module 6: Designing a Response Strategy for Threats and Attacks

This module provides guidelines to respond to virus and worm attacks, denial-of-service attacks, and injection attacks.

Lessons

Designing a Response Policy for Virus and Worm Attacks
Designing a Response Policy for Denial-of-Service Attacks
Designing a Response Policy for Internal and SQL Injection Attacks

Lab 6: Designing a Response Strategy for Threats and Attacks

Designing a Response Policy for Virus and Worm Attacks
Designing a Response Policy for Denial-of-Service Attacks
Designing a Response Policy for Internal Attacks
Validating a Security Policy

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Design a response policy for virus and worm attacks.
Design a response policy to handle the denial-of-service attacks.
Design a response policy to prevent internal and SQL injection attacks.

Recommended follow on course
MS2788 Designing High Availability Database Solutions Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
MS2789 Administering and Automating Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Databases and Servers
MS2790 Troubleshooting and Optimizing Database Servers Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005