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Database Security

1.   What is database security? Why is it important? Also discuss the various security issues.

Ans: Database security refers to protecting the database against unauthorized access or manipulation. The database system manages large bodies of information which needs to be protected from unauthorized persons. Thus, security plays an important role in database systems.

Database security covers the following issues.

Privacy: Only authorized persons should be allowed to access the database. In addition, only the part of the database that is required for the functions they perform should be available to them. In other words, users are allowed to access only the information that is pertinent to their jobs.

Database integrity: Database should be protected from improper modifications, either intentional or accidental, to maintain database integrity. Only the type of operations that need to be performed by the user should be allowed to them. For example, an employee who does not belong to accounts department should not be allowed to modify the balance sheet of the organization. The employees of accounts department only should be allowed to do so.