Section Overview

The security features which exist within the Oracle database are among the most extensive of any software product. Within this section we will focus on the basic security features which allow one to protect the data within their own schema. Of course, there are numerous other security features which a database administrator, network administrator and others should implement to protect the database as a whole and the enterprise. However, within the context of our discussion, these are the security features which we will consider:

• Altering one's own database password. Periodically changing ones password is the first line of defense in securing data within owned by a user.
• Object security. It is primarily the responsibility of the owner of database objects (e.g. the tables, views and so on) to manage access to those objects for other database users. The object security features allow the owner to determine how other users may, or may not, access their objects.