IBM has unveiled new
software from its Tivoli line that helps
companies monitor and protect databases from security threats, users with
hostile intentions and viruses.
IBM Tivoli Risk Manager 4.1 now supports the three leading database products
in the market, IBM DB2 Universal Database, Oracle Database and Microsoft SQL
Server. It features autonomic characteristics, which the Armonk, N.Y. outfit
has been implementing across all of its software lines of late as part of
its e-business on-demand strategy to keep systems up and running regardless
of obstacles or issues. IBM competes with the likes of Computer Associates,
BMC and Peregrine Systems in the management software sector of the IT
industry.
Risk Manager 4.1 compares and contrasts database security events with other
events across an organization’s network, including a company firewall and
Web server, and sends automated responses to administrators, such as server
reconfiguration,
patch deployments and account revocation. Because an administrator has such
a wide-open, dashboard view of what is going on, it allows them to determine
if security threats are real or false alarms.
The vendor provided an example of how Risk Manager 4.1 might stave off
intrusive and destructive behavior. For example, if someone attempted to
delete a database entry, an alert could be sent to Risk Manager, which would
immediately display user information taken from the database onto the
security dashboard to provide administrators the information they need
to take action.
Arvind Krishna, vice president of security products, Tivoli Software, IBM,
said this is a key component of IBM’s Automation Blueprint, a new method for customers to create on-demand electronic-business
environments.
“Database technology forms the foundation for many critical business
applications and Tivoli software helps protect that data regardless of what
database platform our customers are using,” Krishna said.
Security for computer systems in general is tremendously important, but
database experts, such as Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, say that secure
databases are of utmost importance. The argument is that the information on
databases is lost forever if it is trifled with by hackers, viruses or other
issues that hurt database performance.
Businesses have stepped up spending on security in the last couple of years.
Gartner recently said 2003 will be the first year in history in which more
than 5 percent of the IT budget will be spent on security.
“The focus on critical infrastructure protection means that the government,
utilities, transportation and energy sectors will be forced to spend more on
security,” said John Pescatore, vice president and research fellow at
Gartner. “In addition, increased enforcement of copyright laws and liability
concerns will force universities to increase security spending. Those
vertical industries will be the most attractive targets for security
vendors,” Pescatore said.
IBM Tivoli Risk Manager 4.1 is available now, but current customers may
download the new support for IBM DB2 Universal Database, Oracle Database and
Microsoft SQL Server on IBM’s Web site at no additional charge.
IBM Automates Security for Databases
